Senior Banking Litigation Attorney

About the role

A leading and well‑established legal practice is seeking a highly experienced Senior Litigation Attorney to join its Foreclosure and Secured Asset Litigation team. The role requires a commercially astute attorney with extensive High Court litigation experience in banking, insolvency and recoveries, operating at both strategic and operational levels.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage a portfolio of defended and undefended foreclosure and secured asset litigation matters.
• Develop litigation strategy, risk assessments, and recovery plans for banking clients.
• Handle High Court litigation from inception through to finalisation, including opposed applications and trials.
• Draft and settle complex legal documents such as pleadings, affidavits, heads of argument and appeal documentation.
• Manage Rule 46A applications and judicial oversight processes.
• Engage directly with banking executives and credit‑risk stakeholders on strategy and reporting.
• Oversee execution processes including warrants, sales in execution, and liaison with sheriffs and conveyancers.
• Lead, mentor and manage a team, ensuring high performance and quality standards.

Required profile

• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa with at least 15 years post‑admission experience.
• Extensive High Court experience in defended and undefended banking litigation and complex high‑value secured recoveries.
• Strong expertise in foreclosure, secured lending litigation, insolvency, business rescue, liquidation and deceased estates.
• In‑depth knowledge of the National Credit Act, Insolvency Act, Companies Act, Administration of Estates Act, Uniform Rules of Court and Superior Courts Act.
• Proven ability to engage with banking clients at senior management level.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Experience with legal case management systems such as DM1, CACS, Excalibur, OCS or Lexpro.
• Comfort with digital court platforms and electronic document systems.
• Ability to prepare detailed legal and recovery reports.