Legal Officer

Job Title: Legal Officer Department: Legal Reports To: Managing Director Direct Reports: 0 Location: Nairobi, Kenya Job Overview The Legal Officer will manage all legal and regulatory matters across digital lending and fintech operations, including payments, remittance, and associated financial services. The role covers litigation, arbitration, data protection claims, and regulatory compliance, while providing clear and actionable legal guidance to the Board and senior management. This position requires strong expertise in financial services regulation, including digital lending, payment systems, remittance frameworks, AML/CFT, and data protection within the Kenyan context. The Legal Counsel will play a central role in ensuring that all products, partnerships, and operations are legally sound, regulator-ready, and commercially viable in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. Key Responsibilities Manage and oversee all litigation matters, including a high volume of small claims cases arising from lending, recovery,customer disputes and internal employee matters. Represent the company in court and manage external counsel in specialized matters. Lead arbitration proceedings, including preparation of pleadings, evidence, and settlement negotiations. Respond to demand letters, statutory notices, and pre-litigation correspondence. Manage and defend data protection and privacy-related lawsuits and claims, including handling DPA complaints and investigations. Provide legal advice on regulatory exposure under central bank regulations, digital lending rules, payments, consumer protection laws, and data protection legislation. Issue formal legal opinions and advisory memoranda to the Board and senior management on legal risk. Review, draft, and approve all legal agreements prior to execution, including loan agreements, terms and conditions, vendor contracts, technology agreements, partnership agreements, data processing agreements, and employment contracts. Ensure customer-facing documentation, lending disclosures, and recovery communications are legally enforceable and defensible. Advise management on enforcement strategies, recovery actions, and dispute mitigation from a legal standpoint. Support Board matters from a legal advisory perspective, including review of resolutions, major transactions, and statutory obligations. Monitor legal and regulatory developments and advise management on legal implications. Maintain oversight of litigation trackers, case strategy, and external counsel performance. Provide legal input on new products, digital platforms, and partnerships to ensure legal compliance and enforceability. Identify and escalate legal risks that may expose the company to financial loss, penalties, or reputational harm. Requirements Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Law from a recognized institution. Advocate of the High Court of Kenya with a valid practicing certificate Minimum 4–6 years of post-qualification experience, with exposure to fintech, digital lending, payments, or financial services Proven experience managing litigation, small claims, and arbitration cases. Strong track record in contract review, drafting, and legal documentation approval. Experience handling data protection, privacy claims, and regulatory investigations. In-depth knowledge of financial services law, digital lending regulations, consumer protection, and data privacy legislation. Ability to provide legal advisory support to senior management and Boards.