Introduction
Accountable for analyzing and identifying the legal risks and implications of all of the business's transactions, keeping the senior management in all departments and relevant stakeholders informed of developments in laws and regulations that potentially affect the business. Provide specialist legal advice on legal disputes and litigation matters to ensure legal soundness of operations and effective execution of commercial transactions across the business.
Role Purpose
Accountable for analyzing and identifying the legal risks and implications of all of the business's transactions, keeping the senior management in all departments and relevant stakeholders informed of developments in laws and regulations that potentially affect the business. Provide specialist legal advice on legal disputes and litigation matters to ensure legal soundness of operations and effective execution of commercial transactions across the business.
Requirements
Relevant Legal degree (B Com, BA, B Juris or B Proc)
Master of Law (LLM)
Admitted attorney or advocate in South Africa
Post graduate qualification preferred
At least 8-10 years' post admission experience in managing corporate law
Solid compliance and corporate commercial experience preferably from a law firm
Demonstrable experience in merger and acquisition processes
Solid experience in insurance industry specifically short term and life insurance
At least 10 years leadership experience of which a minimum of 5 years must be at senior management level
Managing a legal team and providing legal counsel to senior management
Demonstrable experience gained at a law firm highly advantageous
Duties & Responsibilities
Provide expert advice to business on various legal and technical matters in line with legal framework and best practice
Manage litigation related matters to enable a consistent approach and mitigate risk
Provide the business executive leadership with a view of legal issues and status of risks and provide expert opinion on any matters arising from this forum
Ensure that all legal execution documents are executed in accordance with relevant industry legislation and requirements
Provide legal advice to all stakeholders on any corporate legal related matters to ensure soundness of commercial operations enabling business to achieve its objectives
Advise, assist or lead on legal negotiations, including the reviewing and drafting of all legal documentation
Provide legal advice on client and supplier contractual matters to business stakeholders
Review and ensuring that all relevant client and supplier contractual documents are in line with business and legal requirements
Review, anticipation and guard against legal risks facing the company in projects and transactions
Update and educate the business on changes or amendments to business laws and advise how this may affect the business and provide plans to address changes
Develop and drive the implementation of a legal strategy and framework in line with business strategic objectives that ensures stakeholders receive optimal legal support
Communicate and distil best practice legal concepts into business, ensuring that lessons learned are communicated both within and outside the legal community
Identify opportunities to develop new processes and practices to strengthen the quality and consistency of legal opinions
Develop and maintain a platform for sharing legal options, agreements and repositories of information to support the consistency and quality of legal opinions across the business
Continuously monitor the environment to proactively identify potential legal risks and notify the relevant stakeholders of risks and potential solutions to mitigate legal risk
Review legal documents for technical correctness and ensure that the latest legal precedents have been included in the documents
Provide support in structuring, negotiating and drafting agreements and documentation in line with business requirements and best practices
Provide legal advice and recommend solutions on strategic projects and initiatives
Draft and periodically review standard legal documents or templates in collaboration with the legal community
Provide authoritative, expert advice and litigation support to stakeholders
Build and maintain relationships with clients and internal and external stakeholders
Contribute to the process of negotiating objective and realistic service level agreements, monitor appropriateness and recommend adjustments
Define service practices which build rewarding relationships, encourage innovation and allow others to provide exceptional client service
Deliver on service level agreements made with clients and internal and external stakeholders in order to ensure that client expectations are managed
Make recommendations to improve client service and fair treatment of clients within area of responsibility
Participate and contribute to a culture which builds rewarding relationships, facilitates feedback and provides exceptional client service
Create a positive work climate and culture to energise employees, give meaning to work, minimise work disruption and maximise employee productivity
Demonstrate exemplary leadership behaviour, through personal involvement, commitment and dedication in support of organisational values
Select and recruit suitably qualified talent in line with Employment Equity principles and Guardrisk values
Drive a culture that guides and directs best practice, fostering an environment of continuous learning, improvement and cohesiveness
Enable a learning and growth culture whereby information regarding successes, issues, trends and ideas are actively shared between team members
Execute effective workforce planning practices to ensure that staffing requirements are accurately forecasted
Identify employee growth and development needs and schedule interventions to enable ongoing development, training and personal growth
Effectively manage performance within the team in order to ensure business objectives are achieved
Encourage innovation, change agility and collaboration within the team
Support the building of the team's capability in order to ensure that the team is equipped to strategically partner with business and provide leading solutions
Contribute to the financial planning process within area
Identify opportunities to enhance cost effectiveness and increase operational efficiency
Manage financial and other company resources under your control with due respect
Provide input into the risk identification processes and communicate recommendations in the appropriate forum
Competencies
Business acumen
Client commitment
Motivating and Inspiring
Drive for results
Judgement and decision making
Collaboration
Innovative
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