Senior Legal Counsel (Generalist)

About the role

This senior legal counsel position is based in South Africa and is designed for a highly autonomous professional who will act as a strategic legal partner to the business. You will own end‑to‑end mandates across corporate, commercial and regulatory matters, supporting international expansion and complex transactions.

Key responsibilities

• Lead legal support for international expansion, including entity structuring, market entry strategy, regulatory approvals and operational launch across multiple jurisdictions.
• Draft, review and negotiate complex commercial agreements such as trading, technology, vendor, service and partnership contracts.
• Support corporate transactions including M&A, joint ventures, investment structures and due diligence.
• Own cross‑functional legal projects with compliance, finance, operations, HR and senior leadership.
• Monitor evolving regulatory frameworks and provide actionable guidance to internal stakeholders.
• Manage licensing, regulatory obligations and ongoing compliance in regulated jurisdictions.
• Act as trusted advisor on commercial, regulatory, employment and people‑related legal matters, engaging directly with executive leadership.
• Coordinate external counsel to ensure high‑quality, cost‑efficient outcomes.

Required profile

• Qualified lawyer with at least 7 years post‑qualification experience.
• Strong background in a top‑tier law firm or leading international/regional practice.
• Proven ability to handle complex, multi‑jurisdictional legal matters independently.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to align legal advice with business objectives and risk appetite.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of simplifying complex legal concepts.
• Highly organized, deadline‑driven and able to manage competing priorities in fast‑paced environments.

Required skills

• Proficiency with Google Workspace.
• Experience using AI platforms such as Gemini.
• Experience using AI platforms such as Claude.