Sun King

Off-grid solar home systems provider

Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel & Legal SupportPosted on Nov 10

Full-timeLomé, TogoNo salary listedIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience, with a strong background in corporate law, commercial transactions, and litigation.
A Bachelor's degree in Law (LL.B.) from a recognised institution, with professional qualification and admission to the Bar in a relevant Francophone jurisdiction.
Demonstrated experience engaging with government enforcement agencies, judicial authorities, and regulatory bodies within a Francophone market.
Sound knowledge of local corporate laws, regulatory frameworks, and business compliance requirements.
Familiarity with international fundraising and financing documentation standards, including NVCA and LMA frameworks, and their applicability to the local legal environment.
Strong analytical, critical-thinking, negotiation, and dispute-resolution skills.
Ability to interpret complex legal matters, assess risks, and provide practical, business-oriented legal solutions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French.
Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal teams, external counsel, government agencies, and business partners.

Responsibilities

Participate in cross-functional projects and initiatives to minimize legal risks and help achieve business goals.
Develop risk mitigation strategies and implement preventive measures.
Ensure the organization complies with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.
Monitor changes in legislation and regulations, and adapt company policies and procedures accordingly.
Handle legal due diligence by investors and their advisors.
Ensure completion of pre- and post-funding conditions in a timely manner, and handle periodic legal reporting and compliance.
Develop frequently used fundraising templates, including NDAs, term sheets, ESG policy matters, and standard disclosures.
Register, protect, and manage company intellectual property rights, including trademarks, patents, and copyrights.
Handle proprietary-property disputes and licensing arrangements.
Oversee the drafting, review, and negotiation of contracts and legal documents.
Provide guidance on contract terms and ensure they are in the company's best interest.
Ensure applicable ESG obligations are reflected in customer and supplier contracts.
Manage contract disputes and resolutions as necessary.
Manage and oversee litigation and legal proceedings involving the company.
Work with external legal counsel when necessary.
Seek cost-effective solutions and negotiate settlements where possible.
Ensure the company operates in compliance with corporate governance standards.
Maintain knowledge of industry-specific regulations and compliance requirements.
Establish relationships with relevant regulatory agencies and oversee regulatory submissions as needed.
Create and develop a roster of preferred attorneys and law firms across geographies for the listed legal activities.
Provide legal advice and guidance to various departments within the company.
Develop and deliver legal training and education programs to enhance legal awareness throughout the organization.

Desired Qualifications

Proficiency in English is considered an advantage.

Job Location: Lome, Togo.

About the Role:
Sun King is looking for a Legal Counsel who will manage legal strategy, ensure compliance, support legal transactions, and handle partnerships and projects across francophone countries. The ideal candidate will oversee various corporate legal processes, including mergers, compliance matters, transactions, partnerships, and legal due diligence. Success in this role requires exceptional negotiation abilities and strong people skills.

1. Legal Strategy and Compliance

Participate and contribute to cross functional projects and initiatives to minimize legal risks and ensure achievement of the business goals.
Develop risk mitigation strategies and implement preventive measures.
Ensure the organization complies with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.
Monitor changes in legislation and regulations, adapting the company’s policies and procedures accordingly.

2. Fundraising – Negotiations and Documentation

Handle legal due diligence by investors and their advisors.
Ensure completion of all conditions related to funding (both pre-and-post) in a timely manner and handle periodic reporting/compliances related to legal.
Develop standard templates used frequently in fundraising, like NDAs, term sheets, ESG policy matters, standards disclosures, etc.

3. Intellectual Property

Register, protect, and manage the company’s intellectual property rights, including trademarks, patents, and copyrights
Handle proprietary property disputes and licensing arrangements.

4. Contract Management and standardization – Customers, Suppliers, and Service Providers

Oversee the drafting, review, and negotiation of contracts, and legal documents
Provide guidance on contract terms and ensure that they are in the company’s best interest.
Ensure any and all obligations with respect to ESG are reflected in customer and supplier contracts to the extent applicable.
Manage contract disputes and resolutions as necessary.

5. Litigation and Dispute Resolution (including Tax and HR)

Manage and oversee litigation and legal proceedings involving the company.
Work with external legal counsel when necessary.
Seek cost-effective solutions and negotiate settlements where possible.

6. Corporate Governance

Ensure that the company operates in compliance with corporate governance Standards.

7. Regulatory Affairs

Maintain knowledge of industry-specific regulations and compliance requirements.
Establish relationships with relevant regulatory agencies and oversee regulatory submissions as needed.

8. Networking & Administrative functions

Create and develop a roster of preferred attorneys and law firms across geographies for various activities listed above.
Provide legal advice and guidance to various departments within the company
Develop and deliver legal training and education programs to enhance legal awareness throughout the organization.

Minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience, with a strong background in corporate law, commercial transactions, and litigation.
Bachelor's degree in Law (LL.B.) from a recognised institution, with professional qualification and admission to the Bar in a relevant Francophone jurisdiction.
Demonstrated experience engaging with government enforcement agencies, judicial authorities, and regulatory bodies within a Francophone market.
Sound knowledge of local corporate laws, regulatory frameworks, and business compliance requirements.
Familiarity with international fundraising and financing documentation standards, including NVCA and LMA frameworks, and their applicability to the local legal environment.
Strong analytical, critical-thinking, negotiation, and dispute-resolution skills.
Ability to interpret complex legal matters, assess risks, and provide practical, business-oriented legal solutions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French, with proficiency in English considered an advantage.
Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal teams, external counsel, government agencies, and business partners.

About the Company

Sun King

Off-grid solar home systems provider

Sun King designs, manufactures, distributes, and finances solar home energy products for off-grid communities in Africa and Asia. Its range includes solar lanterns and solar home systems with inverters and storage that can power lights, radios, phones, and household appliances, all financed through a pay-as-you-go model with small mobile money installments after a low upfront payment. The company differentiates itself with an end-to-end approach—handling product design, manufacturing, distribution, and financing—supported by a large field-agent network and strategic acquisitions like PayGo Energy to expand into clean cooking. Its goal is to increase energy access by helping households leapfrog kerosene and unreliable grids, aiming to reach millions of homes and businesses, including over 2 million in Ethiopia by 2030.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: Debt Financing
Total funding: $864.9M
Headquarters: Chicago, IL
Founded: 2008

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