The Head of Legal is responsible for leading the Legal function and acting as a strategic partner to the business. The role ensures effective management of legal risk, supports business growth initiatives, and strengthens governance and regulatory engagement.
Success in this role is defined by:
• Delivering timely, high-quality legal support to the business
• Proactively identifying and mitigating legal and regulatory risks
• Enabling strategic transactions and new business models
• Building a high-performing Legal team and sustainable function
Role Mandate
Over the next 12–18 months, the role is expected to:
- Stabilize and optimize Legal operations following leadership transition
- Improve turnaround time and service quality of legal support
- Strengthen regulatory relationships and proactive compliance
- Position Legal as a trusted advisor in strategic business decisions
Job Responsibilities:
Strategic Legal Leadership
- Act as trusted advisor to senior management on high-impact and complex matters
- Lead legal support for strategic transactions (partnerships, bancassurance, new models)
- Ensure Legal is embedded early in business decision-making
Governance & Regulatory Leadership
- Strengthening governance frameworks and internal controls
- Lead regulatory engagement and manage key regulatory issues
- Anticipate regulatory changes and prepare the organization proactively
Legal Operations & Leadership
- Oversee end-to-end legal service delivery (contracts, advisory, disputes)
- Improve turnaround time, quality, and consistency of outputs
- Optimize use of external counsel and internal resources
Stakeholder Management & Engagement
- Build strong relationships with senior leaders, Group Office, and regulators
- Act as key interface between Legal and business units
- Drive cross-functional alignment on legal and risk matters
Corporate Secretarial & Governance
- Oversee corporate secretarial function and board governance
- Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations
Job Requirements:
- At least a Bachelor's degree in Law
- Accounting or Finance background is a plus
- 10–15 years total legal experience, with strong background in financial institutions
- Must have direct experience engaging regulators (e.g., Insurance Commission)
- Exposure to strategic transactions, bancassurance/distribution, and regulatory matters
- Proven leadership of legal teams and management of external counsel
- Preferred to have at least 5 years experience in a life insurance company's Legal Department or Legal and Compliance Department.
- With proven leadership of legal teams both internal and external counsels and exercising authority over:
-Legal opinions
-Contract thresholds
-External counsel management
