Banking and Finance Lawyer (Bilateral & Syndicated Loans)

Cognia Law; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international law company is seeking a professional to draft and negotiate bilateral and syndicated loan agreements. The role involves managing the full deal lifecycle, ensuring compliance with regulations, and fostering relationships with stakeholders. Candidates should possess a law degree from a top South African institution and have 2-8 years of PQE in banking and finance law. Previous experience in drafting LMA-style agreements is essential, along with a proactive approach to transaction management.

Qualifications

• Admitted attorney with 2-8 years' PQE in banking & finance law.
• Experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating LMA-style facility agreements.
• Ability to manage complex transaction workflows.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and finalise LMA-style bilateral and syndicated loan agreements.
• Oversee the full deal lifecycle, from initial draft through to financial close.
• Build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Drafting and negotiating loan agreements

Relationship management

Regulatory compliance

Transaction coordination

Education

Law degree from a leading South African tertiary institution

Job description

Role Purpose

You'll collaborate closely with global banking relationship teams to lead, negotiate, draft, and finalise bilateral and syndicated loan documentation, driving deals from initial term sheet to financial close.

Why Cognia Law

Cognia Law is an international law company, providing consulting, flexible resourcing and managed legal services to law departments and law firms. The company brings cost-effective, process-optimised and technology-enabled solutions to solve clients’ most pressing legal challenges. Cognia Law collaborates with those who are game changers in adjacent areas delivering holistic, value-based solutions and world-class delivery with best-fit talent.

Cognia Law is a Chambers-ranked law company and has a reputation for really making a difference and being focused on solving clients’ problems and enabling sustainable change in the legal sector. The key to success is our people – not only do we attract and retain the best legal talent but focus on enabling our team to realise their full potential.

For more information visit: www.cognialaw.com

Role Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Draft, negotiate, and finalise LMA-style bilateral and syndicated loan agreements, including security documents, legal opinions, and corporate authorisations.
• Lead deal negotiations, ensuring effective management of committed, uncommitted, leveraged, and investment-grade facilities.
• Oversee the full deal lifecycle, from initial draft through to financial close, collaborating seamlessly with internal teams (relationship managers, credit risk, compliance) and external counsel.
• Proactively build and maintain trusted relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, ensuring effective transaction coordination.
• Stay updated on local and international regulatory developments, advising internal teams to ensure continued compliance.

• Law degree from a leading South African tertiary institution.

• Admitted attorney with 2–8 years’ PQE in banking & finance law, specifically bilateral and/or syndicated lending.
• Proven track record in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating LMA-style facility agreements (investment-grade and/or leveraged finance).
• Demonstrable experience managing complex transaction workflows with proactive risk escalation.

Advantageous

• Prior secondment or in-house banking experience.
• Post-graduate qualification (LLM, PGDip) specialising in Banking or Finance law.
• Exposure to cross-border financing and understanding of evolving regulatory environments.