Senior Collections Litigation Attorney – Department Head

About the role

The client is seeking an experienced Senior Collections Litigation Attorney to lead and manage a Collections Litigation Department based in Cape Town. This senior leadership position requires deep expertise in collections, foreclosures, and vehicle & asset finance (VAF) litigation, as well as strong people‑management capabilities.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the Collections Litigation Department, including attorneys, candidate attorneys, legal secretaries and support staff.
• Oversee day‑to‑day management of collections litigation matters, ensuring efficient progress from instruction to resolution.
• Review and approve legal documentation, pleadings, notices and applications related to foreclosures, VAF and debt collections.
• Monitor departmental workflows, court dates, deadlines and outstanding matters, driving performance against targets.
• Liaise with clients, financial institutions, advocates, sheriffs and courts, maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.
• Identify operational challenges and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and compliance.
• Provide regular reporting on departmental performance, recoveries and key matters.

Required profile

• LLB degree or equivalent legal qualification and admission as an attorney in South Africa.
• Significant post‑admission experience in collections litigation, foreclosures and VAF.
• Proven track record of managing high‑volume collections matters within banking or financial services.
• Previous departmental leadership or management experience is essential.
• Strong knowledge of debt recovery legislation and regulatory environment.

Required skills

• Legal drafting and litigation management.
• Debt recovery and collections litigation processes.
• Foreclosure and vehicle & asset finance (VAF) litigation expertise.
• Leadership and people‑management abilities.