Senior Legal Advisor - Commercial

Job title: Senior Legal Advisor - Commercial

Job Location: Gauteng, Johannesburg

Deadline: April 07, 2025

Deal management

• Analyse the commercial aspects of the transaction.
• Draft, vet, and negotiate a range of commercial agreements e.g. term sheets, loan agreements, sale of shares, sale of business, security documents, etc. in line with NEF’s funding terms and conditions.
• Ensure agreements are legally accurate and in accordance with the term sheet and as approved by the Investment Committee.
• Ensure agreements are compliant with the latest legal developments.
• Provide prompt and sound legal advice and support to NEF, in particular the Fund Management Division.
• Consult regularly with the team on proposed structures, developments, and legal implications thereof.
• Attend due diligence assessments relating to NEF’s investments.
• Conduct due diligence on transactions to support investment teams.
• Provide legal input to submission papers prepared for Investment Committee(s).
• Participate in Committees as requested.
• Conduct presentations as part of the deal team.

Quality Assurance

• Build understanding of legal issues, risks, and obligations through advice, communications, and training for clients.
• Give input to ensure appropriate legal policies and practices are in place to manage the legal obligations and legal risks of the department effectively.
• Manage costs/budget for work carried out externally and legal costs of litigation.
• Identify legal risks and recommend mitigation methods for the risks relating to NEF’s investments.
• Monitor progress on work done by legal advisors.
• Check and supervise other legal advisors’ agreements.
• Provide skills transfer and mentoring to other legal advisors.
• Monitor and mentor legal advisors and paralegals.

Ad Hoc

• Ensure legal seminars and/or workshops are held.
• Conduct ad-hoc activities as allocated by General Counsel and/or Legal Services Manager and Principal.

Qualification Requirements

• Postgraduate financial qualification is an added advantage.
• Admitted Attorney.

Experience / Skills Required

• Minimum 5 years’ post-articles experience in a similar environment i.e. Private equity, Corporate finance, Management Consulting, etc.
• Experience in securities law; and/or
• Experience in insolvency law; and/or
• Solid experience in commercial law; and/or
• Proven working knowledge of Company law, Tax law, and NCR.
• Experience in legal due diligence.
• Working knowledge of finance.
• Experience in mergers and acquisitions is advantageous.
• In-depth knowledge of laws and legal processes in respect of NEF core business (primarily relating to Corporate Finance, Structured Finance, and Investment Banking).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proven experience in negotiations.
• Ability to engage at all levels.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Professional and courteous to all clients (internal and external).
• Accuracy in preparing legal documentation.
• General litigation and business rescue experience.