Job Description

Legal Business Partner

• Take responsibility for being the legal business partner to the business unit and for providing a comprehensive legal support to the business unit, including stakeholder management and developing a detailed knowledge of the products, channels and features of the business unit in order to provide timely, appropriate and technically sound legal advice.
• Require minimal supervision and direction in providing professional support to the business unit, while ensuring that collegial relations are maintained with the rest of the Legal Department, which must be kept abreast of developments within the business unit. The standard required is akin to a legal professional running his or her own practice.
• It is expected of the incumbent to produce written legal opinions when requested to do so, to undertake research and to keep fully abreast of legislative developments in order to promptly and professionally serve the needs of the business unit.
• It is expected that the incumbent will at all times ensure that the advice provided is aligned with the overall strategic direction of the Group and with the risk appetite of the Group and that the Legal Manager is kept fully informed and abreast of developments within the business unit.

Legal Expertise

• Keep abreast of applicable laws, rules, standards and new developments applicable to the allocated industry.
• Interpret laws, rulings and regulations and ensure thereafter that legal documents and other contractual documents are effectively drafted, reviewed, interpreted and vetted.
• Advise on/review/prepare legal contracts, documents, briefs and opinions.

• Enable the company to comply with all relevant local, national, and international laws and regulations by reviewing, interpreting and advising on the relevant laws.
• Provide input into the design and approval of new and existing products by reviewing, advising and identifying legal and regulatory opportunities or gaps.
• Assist departments in reviewing and updating company policies to reflect changes in legislation by providing the necessary legal advice and input.

Contract Management

• Draft, review, and negotiate various complex commercial agreements, service contracts, policy documents and vendor agreements.

Risk Management

• Research and analyse implications of case law, legislation and regulatory matters that would affect the BU and report them to the Manager: Legal Services.
• Provide proactive legal risk management by identifying areas of improvement and gaps that pose legal risks for the BU and advise on mitigating them.
• Assist and support the Manager: Legal with developing legal strategies to manage and mitigate identified legal risks.
• Provide input into the necessary reports for the Manager: Legal to report on risk matters, litigation cases and agreements for Senior Management.

Dispute Resolution

• Represent the company in negotiations, mediation, arbitration, and litigation led by external legal counsel.
• Provide initial civil and commercial litigation advice, under the guidance of the Manager: Legal and Secretarial, after the proper research of precedents and interpretation of legal records such as legislation and case law. To determine the advisability of defending or prosecuting a lawsuit and then develop strategies and arguments in preparation for cases.
• Liaise with external legal counsel when needed, ensuring cost-effective legal service delivery with the approval of the relevant general manager or executive.

Coaching and Support

• Provide ongoing legal support and advice and coaching to various internal departments.

Financial Management

• Assist the Manager: legal in developing the budgetary requirements for the service area and associated functions by reviewing, analysing and forecasting the financial requirements through comprehensive engagements with the appropriate supporting areas, ensuring the appropriate finances are made available for the achievement of established objectives.

Stakeholder Management and Leadership

• Assessing and advising effectively to minimize and control risks to the BU and ensure that the systems, controls and processes are appropriate and relevant.
• Advise the Management of the organisation of their rights, responsibilities and obligations in business transactions.

• Provide professional support and advice to the Manager: Legal Services as and when required and attend to assigned additional tasks.
• Coach, guide and develop fellow team members and peers within the function by providing and sharing legislative updates and professional advice.
• Plan for skills development of appropriate domain knowledge across all sub-functions of the Division and provide a view of the skills base as well as rotation plans.

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognised university.
• Admission as an attorney or advocate in South Africa
• Minimum of 5-7 years post-admission experience in a legal role, within the credit, banking and financial services industry.
• Proficiency in MS Office and legal research tools.
• Excellent command of English; proficiency in Afrikaans or other South African languages is an advantage.
• Experience in insurance law and the regulatory environment specific to South Africa.
• Litigation Experience (advantageous)
• Involvement in product developments (advantageous)
• Previous experience overseeing a legally qualified subordinate (advantageous).

AVBOB