Job Description
A Legal Associate role supporting Acumen's social enterprise programs in East Africa, focusing on legal compliance, contract review, deal documentation, and project management to facilitate impact-driven investments and initiatives in Kenya and the broader region.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensure compliance of Canadian and Kenyan laws for organizational activities and maintain legal status of local entities
- Develop and implement internal processes to ensure programme compliance with legal and donor requirements
- Review and draft contracts related to programme activities, including charitable, commercial, intellectual property, data privacy, employment, and governance issues
- Support the investment team with due diligence, deal documentation, and coordination with outside counsel for early-stage investments
- Assist in developing and managing legal projects, including collaborating across teams, creating milestones, and improving processes
Requirements
- Minimum of 2 years experience practicing transactional law and supporting legal projects across various stakeholders.
- Fluency in English required.
- Permanently authorized to work in Kenya, with a license to practice law.
- Experience in contract drafting and review for all programme activities, including general contract, intellectual property, data privacy, employment, governance, and formation matters.
- Familiarity with legal issues specific to Kenya, and willingness to become familiar with relevant legal issues specific to Canada.
- Ability to assess potential legal liabilities associated with various business activities and support the implementation of risk management protocols.
- Ability to work proactively and under pressure, supporting projects to completion and managing multiple workstreams simultaneously.
- Good project management and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to keep stakeholders informed and ensure deadlines are met.
- Strong organizational and diplomacy skills, including excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through in legal and compliance matters.
- Experience with legal compliance related to non-profit and/or investment regulations is a plus.
- Ability to support legal compliance with Canadian laws and Kenyan laws, including maintaining the legal status of local entities, coordinating governmental filings and registrations, and developing compliance policies.
- Experience in conducting due diligence assessments and collaborating with teams to answer questions and resolve deviations from processes.
- Support in deal documentation, including assisting with conducting due diligence, managing deal processes, drafting and reviewing investment documentation, and coordinating with outside counsel.
- Support in supporting the AEA investing team on early-stage equity, debt, and other investments, including assisting with regulatory approvals and filings.
- Ability to develop and implement internal processes to ensure compliance with donor requirements and legal standards.
- Experience supporting legal aspects of programme delivery, including ensuring adherence to internal and external requirements.
- Strong commitment to the organization’s mission and values, with enthusiasm for social impact work.
- Ability to remain calm and pragmatic in unexpected or emotionally charged situations, demonstrating resilience, resolve, empathy, and humor.
- Familiarity with financial concepts, investment vehicles, investments, acquisitions, and similar transactions is desirable.
- Experience with venture capital investing and in-house legal experience is a plus.
Benefits & Perks
Compensation/salary range
Work schedule
Work environment perks
Support for professional development and legal support in multiple jurisdictions
Opportunity to work on impactful social enterprise projects
Collaborative team environment
Flexible work arrangements across different time zones
Ready to Apply?
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