JOB VACANCY: IN-HOUSE LEGAL COUNSEL – REAL ESTATE & PROPERTY

Company: African Land
Location: Accra, Ghana
Department: Legal & Property Development
Employment Type: Full-Time
Experience Level: Mid–Senior Level

About African Land

African Land is a growing real estate development and investment company focused on identifying, acquiring, structuring, and delivering high-quality property development opportunities in Ghana.

Our business involves land acquisitions, strategic joint ventures with landowners, off-plan property sales, and the development of residential and commercial real estate projects.

As we continue to expand, we are seeking a highly competent, commercially minded, and detail-oriented In-House Legal Counsel with a strong background in Ghanaian property law and real estate transactions.

This is a hands-on role requiring an experienced legal professional who can confidently manage the legal aspects of our property transactions, from initial land verification and due diligence through to contract negotiation, project development, sales, and completion.

The Role

The successful candidate will serve as African Land’s primary in-house legal resource, working closely with the Property, Acquisitions, Development, and Management teams.

We are looking for a strong all-round property legal professional who understands both the legal complexities and commercial realities of real estate development in Ghana.

The ideal candidate will have substantial practical experience working within the real estate or property department of a reputable Ghanaian law firm and will be comfortable taking ownership of transactions from beginning to end.

Key Responsibilities

1. Land Acquisition & Due Diligence

• Conduct comprehensive legal due diligence on prospective land acquisitions and development opportunities.
• Verify land ownership, title, boundaries, encumbrances, and any existing disputes or third-party interests.
• Undertake and coordinate searches at the Lands Commission and other relevant governmental and regulatory institutions.
• Review indentures, leases, land title certificates, site plans, and supporting ownership documentation.
• Identify legal risks associated with land acquisitions and recommend appropriate measures to protect the company’s interests.
• Coordinate with surveyors, landowners, external lawyers, and relevant authorities to ensure land is legally suitable for development.
• Oversee the legal process from initial negotiations through acquisition, documentation, registration, and completion.

2. Joint Venture Agreements & Property Partnerships

• Lead the legal structuring, drafting, negotiation, and review of joint venture agreements with landowners, investors, and development partners.
• Advise on commercially appropriate joint venture structures, including land-for-development arrangements, revenue-sharing models, and unit allocation agreements.
• Ensure agreements clearly address ownership rights, development obligations, timelines, profit-sharing, default provisions, termination, and dispute resolution.
• Support management during negotiations with landowners and potential development partners.
• Identify and mitigate legal and commercial risks associated with joint venture transactions.
• Monitor compliance with agreed contractual obligations throughout the development lifecycle.

3. Property Development & Off-Plan Sales

• Draft, review, and negotiate off-plan property sale and purchase agreements.
• Prepare reservation agreements, purchaser contracts, payment schedules, and other relevant sale documentation.
• Ensure customer-facing contracts adequately protect the company while remaining commercially practical and legally compliant.
• Advise on contractual issues relating to construction timelines, variations, purchaser obligations, completion, and handover.
• Support the Sales and Property teams with contractual negotiations, customer queries, and transaction-related disputes.
• Manage the legal requirements associated with property transfers, assignments, leases, and registration.

4. Contract Drafting, Review & Negotiation

• Draft and review a broad range of legal agreements, including:
  • Land purchase and acquisition agreements
  • Joint venture and development agreements
  • Off-plan sale and purchase agreements
  • Lease and tenancy agreements
  • Consultancy and contractor agreements
  • Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)
  • Partnership, investment, and confidentiality agreements
  • Deeds of assignment, conveyances, and related property documentation
• Ensure all contractual documentation is accurate, enforceable, commercially appropriate, and aligned with Ghanaian law.
• Develop and maintain standard legal agreement templates for recurring company transactions.

5. Regulatory Compliance & Legal Risk Management

• Advise management on Ghanaian property laws, land administration procedures, planning requirements, and applicable real estate regulations.
• Support compliance with requirements imposed by relevant regulatory bodies and government agencies.
• Identify potential legal risks affecting property acquisitions, development projects, and commercial transactions.
• Assist with resolving land disputes, contractual disagreements, title issues, and other legal challenges.
• Liaise with external legal counsel where specialist advice, litigation, or representation is required.
• Maintain organised legal records, contract registers, and transaction documentation.

6. Commercial & Strategic Legal Support

• Provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice to senior management.
• Participate in property acquisition meetings, negotiations, and development planning discussions.
• Evaluate proposed business arrangements from both legal and commercial perspectives.
• Support the company in creating efficient legal processes that enable transactions to progress smoothly and within agreed timelines.
• Take responsibility for coordinating legal matters across the entire property development lifecycle.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential Requirements

• A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from a leading, highly regarded university in Ghana, preferably the University of Ghana, University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), or Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), or an equivalent recognised institution.
• Professional legal qualification and admission to practise law in Ghana.
• A minimum of 4–6 years of relevant post-qualification legal experience, preferably including substantial experience within the property or real estate practice of a reputable law firm in Ghana.
• Demonstrable experience in property transactions, land title verification, legal due diligence, and land acquisition documentation.
• Strong practical experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating joint venture agreements, land acquisition agreements, and property-related contracts.
• Sound knowledge of Ghanaian land law, property registration procedures, conveyancing, and real estate development transactions.
• Proven ability to independently manage property-related legal transactions from initiation to completion.

Highly Desirable

• Previous experience advising real estate developers, property investment companies, or institutional landowners.
• Direct experience structuring landowner–developer joint ventures.
• Experience preparing off-plan sale agreements for residential or mixed-use developments.
• Established working knowledge of the Lands Commission, land registration processes, and relevant property regulatory bodies.
• Experience with complex land ownership structures, including stool lands, family lands, leasehold interests, and customary land transactions.
• Exposure to construction-related contracts, development finance, and real estate investment arrangements.

Key Skills & Personal Attributes

We are seeking someone who combines strong technical legal expertise with a commercial, proactive, and solutions-driven mindset.

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Exceptional attention to detail: Ability to identify legal risks, documentation inconsistencies, and potential issues before they become problems.
• Commercial awareness: Understanding that legal advice must support commercially viable property transactions.
• Strong drafting skills: Ability to produce clear, comprehensive, and legally robust agreements with minimal supervision.
• Excellent negotiation skills: Confidence in dealing with landowners, lawyers, investors, developers, and other stakeholders.
• Independence and ownership: Ability to manage transactions proactively and take responsibility for progressing matters.
• Problem-solving ability: Practical judgment in navigating Ghana’s land ownership, registration, and development challenges.
• Organisation and efficiency: Ability to handle multiple property transactions simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Integrity and professionalism: High ethical standards, discretion, confidentiality, and sound professional judgment.
• Communication skills: Ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to non-legal colleagues and senior management.

What We Expect

This is not simply a document-review or administrative legal support position.

We expect the successful candidate to become a trusted legal partner to the business, capable of independently handling the majority of our day-to-day property legal requirements.

The individual must be able to:

1. Take a proposed land opportunity and guide the company through the entire legal due diligence and acquisition process.
2. Structure and prepare a comprehensive joint venture agreement that protects African Land’s commercial interests.
3. Draft and manage off-plan sale agreements and other property transaction documents.
4. Identify legal risks early and present practical solutions rather than simply highlighting problems.
5. Coordinate effectively with external lawyers, surveyors, regulators, landowners, and internal stakeholders.
6. Help build a reliable, organised, and scalable in-house legal function as the company grows.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to play a central role in a growing real estate development company.
• Direct involvement in significant land acquisitions, development projects, and strategic joint ventures.
• Close collaboration with senior management and key business decision-makers.
• A dynamic working environment with meaningful responsibility and professional development opportunities.
• A competitive remuneration package commensurate with qualifications, experience, and capability.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit:

• An up-to-date CV detailing relevant legal and real estate experience.
• A cover letter outlining their experience in property law, land acquisitions, joint ventures, and real estate transactions.
• Details of their professional legal qualifications and admission to practise in Ghana.

Applications should be sent to: [Insert recruitment email]
Application Deadline: [Insert deadline]

Email Subject: Application – In-House Legal Counsel (Real Estate & Property)

African Land is an equal opportunity employer. Selection will be based on qualifications, relevant experience, technical competence, and suitability for the role.