Senior Legal Advisor - Pretoria at South African Bureau of Standards (SABS)

Purpose Statement

• To provide specialist legal counsel, support and guidance to the SABS on a wide range of legal matters including commercial issues and corporate transactions, regulatory and compliance, Intellectual Property, and litigation management.

Minimum Requirements    

• Diploma + Advanced Diploma / B-Degree in Law  
• Admitted Attorney or Advocate – Legal Practice Council (LPC)
• 8 years relevant legal advisory work experience (Post Admission)
• 4 years specialist experience

Duties and Responsibilities    
Funtional Management

• Provide specialist legal advice on required remedial actions following the receipt of complaints and investigation reports on SABS intellectual property infringements.
• Negotiate, draft or vet contracts, subcontracts and all agreements required for the operations of the SABS.
• Coordinate legal efforts for all litigation matters, including the briefing of attorneys and counsel affecting the SABS.
• Take proactive steps together with business to mitigate any potential litigation matters that may impact the SABS.
• Provide specialist legal advice and assistance with regard to enforcement of claims against customers, consortium partners and subcontractors.
• Provide specialist support and legal assistance with regard to any corporate legal affairs affecting the SABS.
• Support in processing of queries in terms of commercial, corporate and civil law.
• Review legal instruments to ensure adequate protection of SABS’s intellectual property.
• Research trends and developments in all relevant legislation matters.
• Detect early notification of risky and potentially litigious matters from business units in order to provide timeous legal advice and avoid potential and unnecessary litigation.
• Consult with business units and external legal counsel on litigation strategy when required.
• Coordinate internal stakeholders to prepare briefs and recommend litigation remedies.
• Provide well-researched and cogent advice to business units regarding potentially litigious matters.
• Proactively manage external legal service providers by providing clear and well-informed instructions in pending litigation matters.
• Provide written comments on litigation documents prepared by external legal counsel in order to ensure that the SABS’ position in all litigation matters is fully and properly articulated, and thereby protect the SABS’ interest.  
• Manage litigation matters for and against the SABS and its subsidiaries within scope of control. 
• Research and draft, legally sound, implementable and timely opinions as required by the SABS and its subsidiaries to inform key decisions.
• Research and draft all legal correspondence and relevant documents on behalf of the SABS and its subsidiaries.
• Provide general legal support and advice to management and business units to protect the reputation of the SABS and its subsidiaries.
• Ensure that all records relating to all matters are properly kept and archived when matters are closed. 

Risk and Compliance Management

• Assist in identifying and adhering to fraud controls, risk prevention principles, sound governance and compliance processes, and tools to identify and manage risks
• Support and provide evidence to all internal and external audit and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain quality risk management standards in line with regulatory requirements.
• Maintain and enforce all related Service Level Agreements to minimise business risk and ensure business continuity.
• Adhere to all relevant laws, policies and Standard Operating Procedures throughout the organisation.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain effective internal and external stakeholder relationships for the purpose of expectations management, knowledge sharing and integration, and to manage the organisation’s reputation.
• Represent and participate in the organisation’s committees and tasks teams when required.
• Convene and attend meetings and present relevant information stakeholders when required.
• Ensure the provision of excellent customer service.
• Resolve queries and problems within span of control and within agreed time frames.
• Follow up on unresolved queries and complaints where required.
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders regarding follow-up of information, as required for tender requests.
• Provide subject-matter advocacy and expertise to all relevant stakeholders.