Legal Services Executive

SUMMARY:
Our client, a prominent business name in the Eastern Cape, with subsidiary companies operation in retail, distribution, and logistics businesses; is seeking to employ a vastly experienced Legal Services Executive to join their Group Executive Team based in Port Elizabeth.

POSITION INFO:
Requirements: Educational LLB degree, with postgraduate qualification in Corporate Law, Tax, or Competition Law advantageous. Admission as an Attorney or Advocate in South Africa. Technical Legal Expertise Advanced drafting and negotiation skills for complex commercial agreements. Strong command of: M&A legal frameworks Corporate restructures and reorganisations Tax aspects of transactions and corporate structures Competition law compliance Preference share and equity instrument structuring Cross-sector regulatory compliance Strategic and Analytical Skills High-level analytical capability to assess legal risk in diverse industries. Ability to structure transactions with commercial, tax, and regulatory optimisation. Strong problem-solving skills with a commercial mindset. Ability to issue clear, concise, and defensible initial legal opinions. Leadership and Communication Executive presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders. Strong communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues into actionable business guidance. Experience managing external counsel and multidisciplinary teams. Personal Attributes High integrity and sound ethical judgement. Commercially astute with strong business orientation. Ability to operate under pressure and manage multiple high-value matters simultaneously. Strategic thinker with a proactive approach to risk mitigation. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across diverse business units. Responsibilities: Transactional Legal Support Draft, negotiate, and review agreements relating to: Mergers and acquisitions Joint ventures and strategic partnerships Preference shares structures, equity instruments, and funding arrangements Business disposals, reorganisations, and restructures Corporate Governance and Compliance Oversee compliance with the Companies Act 71 of 2008, King IV, and internal governance frameworks. Ensure group-wide compliance with: Competition law requirements Sector-specific regulatory frameworks (energy, food processing, gambling, etc.) Tax legislation including Income Tax Act, VAT Act, and sector-specific tax regimes Regulatory and Sector-Specific Advisory Advise on licensing, operational compliance, and regulatory obligations across investee sectors: Energy: NERSA licensing, environmental compliance, PPAs Beverages and Dairy: food safety regulations, labelling, supply agreements Fishing and Processing: quotas, maritime regulations, export compliance Agricultural Processing: health standards, distribution agreements Gambling: licensing, compliance frameworks, regulatory reporting Executive Leadership and Strategic Input Participate in executive-level strategy formulation, investment evaluation, and risk management. Provide legal insight into capital allocation, restructuring initiatives, and portfolio optimisation. Engage with external counsel, regulators, and transaction advisors. Support the Board and its committees with legal analysis, reports, and recommendations Monitor legislative developments affecting the Group and prepare impact assessments. Maintain and update group policies, delegations of authority, and compliance registers. Provide guidance on board processes, resolutions, shareholder communications, and statutory filings. Prepare initial legal opinions on transaction feasibility, risk exposure, regulatory implications, and tax considerations. Conduct legal due diligence on prospective investments and divestments. Structure transactions to optimise tax efficiency, regulatory compliance, and shareholder value. Please note that if you do not receive a response within 2 weeks, your application has been unsuccessful.