About the position
Business Unit - Head Office
Department - A&G - Scr: Legal
The role of General Counsel will be responsible to develop the strategy and lead the legal team and function for the company. This will include partnering with top and senior management to deliver legal solutions to mitigate any risks relating to strategic priorities, business deals and practices. The role will oversee the:
- Preparation, review and delivery of business contracts across business functions,
- Analysing of bids and proposals,
- Project-based merger and acquisition (including disposals and winding down) due diligence and contractual drafting together with submissions to regulatory authorities
- Conclusion of conditions of licence subject to negotiation by Gaming Compliance and business
- Identification and assessment of Requests for Proposals
- Proposed new legislation, ensuring that the specifications of binding agreements with customers, vendors, and business partners are legal,
- Leading the resolution of pre claims, in a manner which fully protects the company's legal and commercial interests.
Description
The role will also oversee the management of the debt recovery portfolio, pre and post litigation, non-gaming compliance, management of a dispute resolution portfolio including those emanating from contractual disputes, litigated claims, review and appeal applications against regulators and other industry operators with a keen focus on the impact of the Competition and Consumer Protection Acts, while ensuring adequate training and awareness around group levels of authority. Assistance in managing the groups' intellectual property portfolio may also be required.
The role will be required to ensure all practices are in line with policy, frameworks and tools based on researched leading and industry practice, professional solutions, specialised projects, and legislative support to advise, enable and support business operations in achieving their objectives.
Requirements
Education
- Minimum undergraduate and LLB Degrees and Admitted as an Attorney
- Meets the requirements for a National key Employee Gaming License
Experience
- Minimum 10 years post qualification experience in an attorney firm and/or inhouse listed corporate environment, preferably as a general counsel
- Track record of leading professional and non-professional teams
Skills and Knowledge
- Strategic Thinking and providing direction
- Influencing and networking skills
- Managing Customer & Stakeholder relationships
- Decision-making skills and ability
- Emotional Maturity and intelligence
- Leading People and Managing Risk
- MS Office - other systems
- Corporate and Gaming legislation
- Commercial Law and Public Speaking
- JSE Listings Requirements
- Case preparation & litigation
- Working knowledge of Legislation and Regulations around the gaming and hospitality industries
- Financial and Business acumen
Key Performance Areas:
Deliver Legal Strategy and Plans
- Partner with business executives and business management across the company operations nationally with regards specialised and generalised areas of law related to:
- Legal claims, cases and representation whether insured or not
- Contracts and contract management
- Regulatory submissions and appearances including objections, Heads of Argument, petitions, comments
- Strategic mergers, acquisitions and disposals, including working knowledge of JSE Listings Requirements
- Insolvency and business rescue related matters
- Debt recovery practice
Legal Counsel
- Analyse and investigate case law and legislation relative to legal concerns, structure remedies and provide solutions /resolution to legal problems
- Provide legal representation in the company's commercial dealings
- Prepare for and attend litigation meetings, hearings and public hearings
- Provides feedback, recommendations to resolve legal issues and report back to management on challenges
- Monitors progress on cases and makes recommendations to GM's, and or Executives to achieve resolution
- Collaborate with senior and top management to devise efficient defence strategies
Governance & Sustainability
- Research and keep up to date with relevant legislation in corporate/commercial, hospitality and gaming law, as well as leading practice in the field
- Provide direction to enhance standards across policy and legal operations in line with leading practice
- Internal / external risks to the business growth are proactively identified, monitored and addressed
Stakeholder Relationship Management
- Acts as liaison between clients, business units, business leadership and third parties including Regulators on legal issues
- Present new legislation and legal strategy plans and analytics to Group Executives
- Communicates with Business Units on strategy, legal decisions and cases and support the implementation, ensuring their full understanding for implementation
- Represent the company and participate on various committees by invitation - including the social and ethics committee, Compliance Committee, risk committee and IT Governance committee
People Leadership
- Provide vision and inspirational leadership to enhance employee engagement and motivation within the legal function
- Create and ensure that a performance driven culture is nurtured and achieved
- Support the growth of a competent, motivated and rewarded legal team, providing coaching and development as is required among other responsibilities.
Desired Skills:
Desired Work Experience:
- 5 to 10 years Prosecutor / Advocate
