Senior Counsel, Litigation Management

Job Description

Established in 1985, the Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group), is an African regional multilateral development bank, with a mandate to finance and foster trade, regional economic integration, and sustainable development in Africa. TDB Group counts several subsidiaries and strategic business units including Trade and Development Banking, TDB Asset Management (TAM), the Trade and Development Fund (TDF), TDB Captive Insurance Company (TCI), the ESATAL fund management company and TDB Academy. For more information, visit www.tdbgroup.org.

The TDB Volunteer Program is an initiative of TDB Group whose aim is to promote volunteerism as a mean for expanding and diversifying the talent pool available for the advancement of sustainable development in TDB Group’s Member States. The TDB Volunteer Program seeks to attract qualified and highly motivated volunteers who are passionate about development finance, with outstanding technical, professional and leadership qualities, to support the work of TDB Group through its various constituent business units and affiliated institutions.

TDB Volunteers are not TDB Group staff members. They are neither subject to the TDB Group Staff Manual (The Staff Rules, Regulations and Conditions of Services) nor to the pay, benefits, or other conditions contained therein. They are nevertheless TDB personnel and are governed by the terms of the Conditions of Services for TDB Volunteers (CSTV), including any amendments that may result from future revisions of the CSTV. TDB Volunteers receive an allowance and medical insurance coverage.

Interested and qualified candidates who are nationals of TDB Member States are, therefore, invited to apply for the subject position under the TDB Group Volunteer Program.

Job Summary: The Senior Counsel, Litigation Management, leads and manages TDB’s litigation portfolio and oversees all aspects of contentious matters, including legal risk mitigation, pre-litigation strategy, dispute resolution, and coordination with external counsel. The role requires collaboration with internal stakeholders, including operational, financial, and compliance teams, to ensure institutional interests are protected and disputes are resolved efficiently and strategically. The role reports to the Deputy General Counsel.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Represent the institution in legal disputes before courts, arbitral tribunals, and administrative bodies.
• Develop litigation strategy and oversee execution of the approved strategy through external counsel and internal resources.
• Manage all stages of litigation, from risk assessment and pleadings through hearings, settlement, and enforcement.
• Advise management and business units on legal risks, exposures, and potential dispute resolution strategies.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and applicable legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Prepare reports and briefings for senior management and governance bodies on significant legal proceedings.
• Maintain a litigation docket and case database with up-to-date tracking and analysis.
• Monitor developments in international dispute resolution practices and incorporate learnings into institutional processes.
• Liase with member states, partner institutions, and multilateral bodies on cross-border enforcement and jurisdictional matters.
• Coach, mentor and supervise junior team members in the Legal Department to ensure they acquire the right skills to support timely delivery of quality legal services.

Qualifications and Competencies

• A Master’s degree in Law (LLM) and Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) or a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited institution.
• Qualification to practice law in any juridisction relevant to TDB’s business or in any of the TDB’s member countries.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience as a litigation and dispute resolution-focused lawyer. Prior international work experience in a commercial, financial, or legal advisory institution or public sector financial body (e.g., international law firm, multi-national corporate, bank, insurance company, investment advisory firm, DFI, Ministry of Finance, National Treasury, Sovereign Wealth Fund) is a plus.
• Proven track record and experience in dealing with international law, commercial litigation, sovereign immunity, and enforcement mechanisms.
• Strong legal drafting, problem solving, negotiation, organizational and planning skills with the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, manage dynamic priorities, and work under pressure to deliver on strict deadlines.
• A results-oriented individual with excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of another offical language of TDB Group’s Member States (French or Portuguese) would be an added advantage.

Duty Station: The duty station is Nairobi, Kenya.

Nationality: The Senior Counsel, Litigation Management (National TDB Volunteer) must be a citizen of the duty station country.

Application Procedure

Interested and qualified candidates should express their interest by submitting their applications by 7 September 2025.

The application package should include a resume, cover letter, academic and professional certificates, full contact address, and three reference names and contact information.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further processing. TDB is an equal opportunities employer. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Deadline for Applications: September 7, 2025

“While we try our best to keep our information updated, the closing date of the actual job source may be changed by the recruiter without prior notice. With this, please make sure to check the official job link when submitting your application. Thank you.”