Senior Legal Advisor - Corporate (Midrand) at Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)

Job Description    

The role of the Senior Legal Advisor is to provide leadership in the delivery of reliable, accurate, timely and well-informed advice to the DBSA on corporate legal issues including labour matters and the potential legal implications of various corporate strategies and business initiatives and projects. To provide guidance and leadership to junior legal advisors.

Key Responsibilities    

Legal Advisory Functions

• Provide legal advice and support to DBSA’s corporate units including Finance, Treasury, Procurement, Strategy, Human Capital, Information Communications Technology (ICT) , Communications and Marketing unit.
• Research and communicate the risks and legal issues involved in a broad range of commercial transactions and operational issues specific to DBSA’s corporate unit.
• Draft/vet and review a variety of corporate legal contracts including services, consultancy, software/hardware support, lease, finance and grant agreement.
• Ensure compliance with various legislation, policies and regulations.
• Provide general legal advice on procurement, supply chain and tender process.
• Direct negotiation with the service providers and consultants.
• Manage corporate litigation.
• Participate in procurement and investment committees of the DBSA.
• Monitor developments in the legal field and provide updates to management.
• Identify matters requiring specialist legal input and instruct and liaise with appropriate external counsel.
• Liaise with external attorneys and prepare comprehensive brief to attorneys where necessary.
• Manage the legal budget for appointment of external legal service provider and ensure work is done cost effectively.

Key Measurements of Outputs

• Time taken to prepare and or review contracts, agreements and legal opinions.
• Quality and accuracy of agreements, opinions and solutions provided.
• Effective management of legal claims and litigation risks.
• Management of total case / agreement / opinion / other legal costs.
• No litigation due to contractual errors and or omissions.
• Effective monitoring of the contracts and agreements.
• Clean audit.

Expertise & Technical Competencies    

Minimum Requirements:

• A Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) or Legal post graduate qualification.
• Admitted Attorney/Advocate of the High Court of South Africa.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in High Court litigation and/or corporate insolvency.
• A minimum of 5 years post qualification experience in a commercial/finance/banking or corporate law environment gained at a commercial banking, specialist law firm/ corporate or similar institution.

Desirable Requirements:

• Private public partnership experience.
• Experience in legal investment.