Legal and Governance Officer

LEGAL AND GOVERNANCE OFFICER

LEGAL AND CORPORATE SECRETARIAT DEPARTMENT

GUARDIAN GROUP

JOB OBJECTIVE:

The Legal and Governance Officer is responsible for providing legal advice and expertise to the GHL Trinidad subsidiaries. He / she will be required to deliver key corporate governance products and activities in support of the corporate governance framework and effectively and efficiently assist with the management of the Company’s corporate secretarial matters. The Legal and Governance Officer will support the Company’s subsidiary boards to comply with standard legal and regulatory requirements and with GHL policies and practices and develop systems to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, guidelines, international best practice and group policies. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Provides advice and legal interpretation to senior management and staff on legal matters/issues. 

• Drafts and/or reviews legal documents/instruments including but not limited to contracts, deeds, leases, and bonds. 

• Reviews existing laws and regulations pertinent to the Group and prepares relevant notes or memorandums to Boards and senior management. 

• Assists the Senior Manager Legal and Group GC & CS with the development of systems and procedures, and the development of strategies/mechanisms to improve the effectiveness of legal services delivery. 

• Prepares Board and/or Committee reports on legal/litigation matters for Group companies.

• Conducts legal research and provides, legal advice or legal opinions as requested.

• Prepares or review of briefs to external counsel.

• Develop and maintain an electronic compliance management system for the Legal &CS department.

• Ensure accurate and timely filing of all regulatory compliance requirements in the Legal & CS department including but not limited to the Companies registry, the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission).

• Accurate and timely preparation of Board and Committee reports.

• Ensure compliance with all Laws, By-laws, Guidelines and Charters.

• Ensure compliance with statutory filing requirements for all the jurisdictions in which the main subsidiaries operate.

• Review and analyze new legislation and changes to legislation, regulatory, guidelines and update the department’s compliance and reporting systems.

• Review regulatory correspondence and follow up on key matters where necessary.

• Assist with maintaining and updating the governance framework, monitoring compliance with requirements in the framework.

• Coordinating board and committee meetings, monitoring certain business processes.

• Establishing and maintaining a record of operational procedures manuals.

• Support the Senior Manager Legal & Company Secretary in delivering key enabling processes, to facilitate efficient and effective service delivery.

• Assist the Senior Manager Legal & Company Secretary with the implementation and review of procedures/policies to comply with laws, regulations and guidelines.

• Ensure compliance with all Laws, Articles, By-laws, Guidelines and Charters.

• Organise, prepare agendas, minutes at Board, Board Committee and Shareholder Meetings and other attendant matters including arranging for the execution of Board Minutes, round robin resolutions, Members’ resolutions, and other corporate documents.

• Assist with the maintenance and update all statutory registers including Register of Members, Register of Directors, Register of Secretary, Register of Charges, Register of Beneficial Ownership, Register of Directors’ interests etc. as required by law.

• Amend and ensure timely filing of all changes to the Group companies details including business names, registered office, appointment of directors and officers, and updating all necessary records with the Registrar and other regulatory bodies.

• Assist with the arrangement of training for Directors on changes in legislation or developments in Corporate Governance trends and practices.

• Assist with conducting a periodic assessment of the Board’s structure as well as its governance practice.

• Maintaining the companies’ records and developing and maintaining confidential information and record keeping systems.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Laws from a recognized University.

• Legal Education Certificate or equivalent.

• A minimum of  five (5) years’ experience as an Attorney at Law.

• A Member in good standing of the Law Association of Trinidad & Tobago.

EXPERIENCE

• Two years’ experience in a legal and/or compliance function (preferably in a Group of companies)

• Two years’ experience as Corporate Secretary.