Name: Mohamed Afir
Position: General Counsel North Africa and Legal & Compliance Consultant for Morocco & Algeria
Company:Unilever Maghreb

Worked in the current position for 3 years

Sector: Legal in the FMCG sector

Years in-house:  10 years

An overview of my role is: The general counsel is the company’s main attorney and primary source of legal advice in the different areas of law. On my day-to-day tasks, I can touch on all areas of the company’ activities, handling legal issues for every department and making sure all marketing communications are above the board. I’m also in charge of handling legal crises, compliance issues, public policy advocacy, labor law, contracts drafting and negotiation, monitor governance and risks, M&A and restructuring projects, and issues around intellectual property and competition.

The best thing about my current job is: There are a couple of things actually. I can start by saying that I do love being part of such an organization that is continuously in search of new innovative ideas and different ways of doing things while you participate in exciting projects, going from planning, through manufacturing and till reaching the end consumer needs. The legal team is also very creative and constantly comes up with some exciting new projects with a tendency on digital solutions to the legal function and operations. I also like to draw upon broader industry knowledge and develop a wider skill set and thus not having the role of “just a lawyer” but a full business partner.

The most challenging thing about my current job is: Help to build a business and find the right approach in a versatile and unpredictable environment and sometimes unclear or contradicting legislative rules

My most pivotal career move: Obviously, moving from a business law firm attorney position to an in-house role

Hardest lesson I have learned as a lawyer: Make no move is sometimes the right move. When I was younger, I used to frequently want more and faster, bigger role, another employer for other challenges. I learned that keeping the same role and function for some time till you fully own it and master it takes time and gets you better opportunities with time or in parallel.

What advice would you give your younger self? Dream big, but take action, everything is doable. Be a giver, not a taker. In the long run, the giver always wins. 

Who are the key influencers that have shaped you along the way? Some of the managers (lawyers or not) I have met during my career. I used to play basketball and Michael Jordan has always been an example of determination, high competition spirit and hard work.

My favourite pro bono or volunteer activity is:  My Youtube channel on helping people to learn how to negotiate and get legal general knowledge. I also really enjoyed being a pro bono UNHCR lawyer during my first years of practice defending the sub-Saharan refugees’ rights.

Most rewarding achievement in my current or former role/s. Actively participating in a successful product innovation launch till reaching the patients’ needs and cure.

If I were not practicing law, I would probably be: A scuba diving instructor.

I’m currently reading: The 7 habits of highly effective people.

My current music playlist includes: BlackCoffee DJ, Best of Blues Rock, my own electronic music mixtapes (I do play house music on turntables).