Hope Wangechi

I am an Advocate committed to making the most of every opportunity to develop my legal and advocacy skills. I am experienced in: - 

Corporate Law

Insurance Law

Legal compliance 

Legal research

Litigation

Conveyance

Legal drafting

Manager- Legal Claims

Britam General Insurance Co. Ltd, September 2017- to date;

Duties and Responsibilities

• Make presentations to the Board especially to the Risk Committee and advising on how to mitigate legal risks
• Attend executive management committee to take minutes of the committee and provide legal advisory
• Research and interpret regulatory requirements of new products and/or services
• Provide assistance to the operational areas with day-to-day regulatory compliance issues
• Ensure Insurance regulatory compliance issues
• Provide high quality legal opinions to enable effective management of legal risks
• Prepare and issue Service Level Agreements and Letters of engagements for appointment of advocates and other service providers.
• Negotiating out of court settlements with a view of saving costs within set targets
• Pursue recovery with other insurance companies/third parties and ensuring none of the matters expires 
• Approving payments of legal fees and judgments and or discharge Vouchers within TATs as per SODA
• Ensure safe custody of the insurance instruments and documents such as organization seal, charged documents and suit papers, and ensure confidentiality and privacy of all legal data of the business
• Provide legal advice to the division on all legal matters related to its activities and mandate premised on a platform that is well researched, reasoned and timely
• Ensuring insurance business is compliant with all statutory requirements;
• Advising management on the interpretation, impact and effect of the relevant laws and general conditions affecting their various areas of operation;
• Providing strategic legal advice, including advice on business and product development
• Liaison with the various regulatory agencies, including but not limited to IRA
• Ensuring the team updates reserves timely and participates in any reserves review activities.
• Supervise timely updating of all operational data/registers
• Supervise, train and develop the team the technically and equip them with necessary skills
• Respond to demand letters and making best efforts to sort out disputes before they are referred to a court of law
• Monitor external and panel lawyers on conduct of court matters;
• Preparation of weekly & monthly legal reports/presentation
• Liaise with company staff on required documentation, witnesses etc. with respect to matters in court;
• Attend management meetings for various business units and offer legal advisory

Legal Assistant

UAP- Old Mutual Group, October 2014- September 2017;

Duties and Responsibilities

• Pursuing all recoveries on behalf of the company.
• Liaising with law firms on the UAP Panel and ensuring the company’s interests are safeguarded
• Facilitating medical claims and follow-up arbitration cases.
• Offering training to our clients on the claim processes and policy compliance
• Appointment of doctors, investigators and advocates and ensuring they comply with the customer service charter
• Review of claim reserves and analysis of claim files on quarterly basis
• Analysis of advocates performance on yearly basis
• Drafting contracts on behalf of the company
• Case management of legal files.

Legal Assistant

ICEALION GENERAL BUSINESS LTD, August 2013- October 2014;

Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitoring progress made by our external advocates on a regular basis.
• Interpret insurance policies and contracts, establish and adjust/update reserves in accordance with company policies and guidelines.
• Registration of new claims upon verification of the relevant policy cover.
• Negotiating for the most favorable quantum through our advocates, or in-house in accordance with the guidelines in the “Quantum of Damages”.
• Monitoring the advocates’ fees to ensure they are within the Advocates Remuneration order
• Pursuing all recoveries from Third Parties.
• Maintaining a record of all such claims and monitoring the progress.     
• Appointment of doctors, investigators and instruction to Advocates.
• Handling of correspondence in accordance with the mail procedure.
• Processing of payments.
• Attending court hearings as and when required.
• Preparing the weekly, monthly and other reports for the Section.

Lawyer

Maina Rogoi & Company Advocates, January to December 2012;

Duties and Responsibilities

• Involved in cases of litigation, arbitration and regulatory investigations.
• Audio typing legal documents for private clients.
• Conveyance, preparing charges, transfers, leases and all matters pertaining land transactions
• Monitoring and staying abreast of legal issues and changes in the law 
• Handles Civil, Probate, Matrimonial disputes and Commercial transactions matters 
• Drafting court documents such as petitions, affidavits, plaints, notices, legal opinions, citations, memorandums, and all pleadings
• Court attendance and litigation
• Managing and forwarding on requests from Clients for legal assistance.
• Reviewing and analyzing large volumes of documentary evidence.
• Filing and administrative responsibilities.
• Assisting with the completion of Agreements.
• Coordinating and arranging meetings and diary schedules.
• Preparing legal opinions, correspondences, fee notes, reports

• Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public- 2019
• Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Member of the Law Society of Kenya
• Post Graduate Diploma in Law– Kenya School of Law 2013
• Bachelors Degree of Laws (LL.B) - Second class Honors, University of Nairobi, 2005-2010
• Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E), Bahati Girls Secondary School, 2000-2003 (A minus)
• Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (K.C.P.E), Kamuka Boarding Primary School, (1991-1999)