In House Attorney

SUMMARY:
Our client a Financing Services Specialist (Asset-Rental Finance) seeks a candidate to establish, manage, and oversee the in-house Legal function with a strong focus on collections and litigation, enforcement of contractual agreements and security, and end-to-end legal risk management to protect the company’s interests.

POSITION INFO:
Key Responsibilities:

1) Customer & Attorney Queries

• Resolve escalated customer/attorney queries promptly and prevent re-escalation.
• Clarify the company’s legal stance under Rental Agreements and related contracts.

• Draft and issue: Letters of Demand, Combined Summons, Particulars of Claim, Rule 72 Mediation Notices, annexures, settlement agreements/AODs.
• Appoint, brief, and manage correspondent attorneys nationally; handle all court/sheriff correspondence.
• Track service of summons, sheriff returns, undefended/defended matters; diarise and drive timelines.
• Manage handed-over matters with external attorneys through trial, judgment, and execution.
• Prepare for trials and witness testimony; attend where required.
• Arrange and manage recovery, storage, and sale of repossessed equipment; manage sales in execution.
• Conduct/oversee tracing (in-house and via agents), fraud charge processes, and PI engagement for large matters.
• Attend Business Rescue and Liquidation/Sequestration meetings; lodge and manage claims with BRPs/Liquidators/Trustees.
• Negotiate settlements where feasible and cost-effective.
• Keep current with court practice directives and relevant case law.

• Review and update resolutions, guarantees, sureties, trust deeds, cessions, Master Rental, supplier and recourse agreements.
• Maintain compliant templates and internal legal policies; track statutory and case-law changes.

• Provide legal opinions on contract interpretation and legislative compliance.
• Conduct due diligence on new business; assess legal/financial risk on transactions.
• Ensure proper execution of security and contractual instruments.

• Verify and approve correspondent/sheriff invoices and disbursements before submission to Accounts.
• Minimise external legal spend through effective in-house management.

• LLB; Admitted Attorney (Right of Appearance in the High Court advantageous).
• 2-3 + years post-admission litigation/collections experience, ideally within asset-rental finance/credit/secured lending.
• Demonstrated track record drafting and running summons/POC in Magistrates’ and High Court, managing correspondents and sheriffs, and executing judgments/recoveries.
• Strong contracts background across guarantees, sureties, cessions, master rental and supplier/recourse agreements.
• Practical exposure to Business Rescue, Liquidations/Sequestrations, and creditor claim processes.

• High integrity, accuracy, and attention to detail; strong interpersonal communication.
• Stakeholder management across internal teams, external counsel, sheriffs, BRPs, and courts.