Senior Corporate Lawyer (South African/iGaming)

Black Pen Recruitment; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a qualified attorney to ensure legal compliance for South African wagering entities. This position focuses on governance, licence management, and commercial contracts, requiring over 8 years' experience in regulated sectors. Candidates must possess expert knowledge of gambling laws and be fluent in English. Competitive relocation package available for those based in Dubai or interested in hybrid arrangements.

Benefits

Full accommodation

Flight tickets

Other relocation expenses

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in regulated sectors such as fintech.
• Expertise in compliance with gambling laws and regulations.
• Strong negotiation skills for commercial contracts.

Responsibilities

• Maintain CIPC records and corporate filings.
• Manage licence applications and renewals.
• Draft agreements ensuring compliance with gambling laws.
• Guide finance on exchange control approvals.
• Conduct legal due diligence for acquisitions.
• Manage disputes and coordinate with legal counsel.
• Implement governance training for local leadership.

Skills

Corporate/commercial experience in betting

Expert knowledge of National Gambling Act

Fluency in English

Education

Admitted attorney (South Africa qualified)

Job description

Our client believes in the power of Virtual Advancement, leveraging digital innovation and strategic foresight to help businesses excel in a rapidly evolving world. With a focus on agility and adaptability, they work alongside organizations to simplify complexity, enhance operations, and implement strategies that foster long-term success.

Their team partners with startups, SMEs, and large enterprises across various industries, enabling clients to harness technology, data, and strategic insight to gain sustainable competitive advantage. From expanding into new markets to building resilient financial roadmaps, our client serves as a trusted advisor committed to creating meaningful impact. Whether the goal is operational optimization or future-focused growth, our client delivers the clarity and capability needed to navigate change and lead with confidence.

Role Overview

Keep our client’s South African wagering entities fully license-compliant, financially efficient, and ready for growth across the continent.

Job Type: Full-time/Permanent

Location: Either South Africa, Dubai, Malta, or Thailand

Workplace: Hybrid

Relocation Package: Full accommodation, flight tickets, and other expenses

Relocation Package will be sponsored

Requirements

• Admitted attorney (South Africa qualified), 8+ years’ corporate/commercial experience in betting, fintech, or other regulated sectors.
• Expert knowledge of the National Gambling Act, provincial regulations, and SARB exchange-control rules.
• Fluent in English; Afrikaans or another local language strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Governance & filings: Maintain accurate CIPC records, B-BBEE certificates, UBO registers, and provincial-board corporate returns.
• Licence management: Lead new applications, renewals, share-change approvals, and key-person vetting with various boards; brief the MLRO on any conditions attached.
• Commercial contracts: Draft and negotiate agreements for affiliates, data feeds, sponsorships, and white-label arrangements, ensuring compliance with gambling laws and CPA provisions.
• Exchange-control & tax: Guide finance on SARB approvals for dividends, loans, and IP royalties; identify risks related to thin capitalization and withholding taxes.
• M&A / expansion: Conduct legal due diligence for new African targets; manage data rooms, closing opinions, and post-merger integrations.
• Dispute oversight: Manage vendor, player, and regulator disputes; coordinate litigation counsel under capped-fee or AFA terms.
• Policy & training: Implement signing-authority limits, director induction programs, and conduct annual governance training for local leadership.