Senior Legal Advisor – Unlisted Investments

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

A leading institutional investment organisation, managing one of the largest and most diverse asset portfolios on the African continent, is seeking a seasoned Senior Legal Advisor to join its Unlisted Investments Legal team. The role requires a high-performing, commercially astute attorney with extensive experience in corporate, commercial, and banking & finance law, particularly in private/unlisted transactions.

This opportunity is suited only to candidates operating at senior advisory level within investment, corporate finance, or financial services environments.

Purpose of the Role

To deliver specialist legal advisory services across unlisted investment transactions. This includes providing legal opinions, executing complex deals, leading negotiations, mitigating legal risk, and ensuring alignment with investment policies, legislation, and governance frameworks.

Minimum Requirements (Strict Criteria)

? LLB Degree
? Admitted Attorney of the High Court
? 6–8 years’ post-admission experience specifically in:

• Corporate & commercial law

• Banking & finance transactions

• Investment management or private markets legal work

Preferred additional exposure:

• Financial services, private equity, project finance, structured finance
• Cross-border transactions within Sub-Saharan Africa
• Advisory experience involving equity, debt, mezzanine, or hybrid instruments

Key Responsibilities

• Provide legal opinions and advisory support on corporate, commercial, and investment-related matters
• Conduct comprehensive legal due diligence across diverse transaction types
• Draft, review and negotiate complex investment, finance, and commercial agreements
• Structure and execute unlisted transactions, including:
  – Private equity
  – Debt and mezzanine funding
  – Project finance
  – Mergers & acquisitions
  – Energy (oil & gas; renewable energy)
  – Venture capital
• Support litigation, arbitration, restructures, workouts, and business rescue processes
• Advise on legislative changes affecting investments (e.g., FAIS and related legislation)
• Manage interactions with external counsel and internal stakeholders
• Ensure compliance, contract governance, and transaction post-management (including SharePoint/eFront)
• Provide training to internal teams on legal and regulatory matters
• Supervise junior legal staff
• Lead and support investment-related projects

Competencies and Skills

• Strong transaction execution track record
• Solid corporate/commercial drafting capability
• Investment and financial analysis fundamentals
• Commercial judgement and problem-solving ability
• Negotiation and deal-structuring skills
• Ability to work under pressure on complex, high-value transactions
• Excellent writing, research, and communication skills
• High levels of professionalism, ethics, and attention to detail