Commercial Contracts Lawyer

Placements24; East London; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Provident fund

Professional development opportunities

Competitive salary

Job summary

Placements24 in East London, Eastern Cape, seeks a Commercial Contracts Lawyer to join its legal team. You will draft, review, and negotiate service, transportation, procurement, and partnership contracts while providing pragmatic guidance to business units.

The role requires 3–5 years PQE with an LLB and SA admission, and you will manage contract lifecycles, advise on risks, and collaborate with procurement, sales, operations, and finance teams.

Qualifications

• LLB degree from a recognized university.
• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
• 3–5 years of post-qualification experience in commercial contract law.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Solid understanding of South African contract law and related principles.
• Excellent drafting skills with high accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills for non-legal stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple contracts and prioritize tasks.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including SLAs and NDAs.
• Advise stakeholders on contractual risks, obligations and implications.
• Ensure contracts comply with South African laws and regulations.
• Manage contract lifecycle from initiation to renewal.
• Conduct legal research and provide clear advice.
• Assist with dispute resolution related to contracts.
• Collaborate with procurement, sales, operations and finance.
• Maintain an organized contract repository and version control.
• Contribute to standard templates and legal policies.

Skills

Drafting

Analytical thinking

Communication

Prioritization

Client focus

Education

LLB degree

Admitted Attorney (SA)

Job description

About the Role

A leading logistics and supply chain company with a significant operational base in East London is seeking a skilled Commercial Contracts Lawyer to enhance its legal team. This role is vital for supporting the company's extensive operations by ensuring that all contractual arrangements are legally sound, commercially advantageous, and accurately reflect business agreements. The successful candidate will be responsible for drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of contracts, including service agreements, transportation contracts, procurement agreements, and partnership deals. Our client is committed to operational excellence and seeks a legal professional who can provide pragmatic and timely advice to its business units. This position offers a superb opportunity to engage with complex contractual matters within a dynamic and growing industry. The role is based in East London, Eastern Cape , offering a chance to contribute to the legal framework of a major player in the regional economy. We are looking for a detail-oriented lawyer with strong drafting capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate various commercial contracts, including service level agreements (SLAs), terms and conditions, and NDAs.
• Advise business stakeholders on contractual risks, obligations, and legal implications.
• Ensure contracts comply with relevant South African laws and industry regulations.
• Manage the contract lifecycle, from initiation and negotiation to execution and renewal.
• Conduct legal research on specific contract law issues and provide clear advice.
• Assist with dispute resolution related to contractual matters.
• Collaborate effectively with procurement, sales, operations, and finance teams.
• Maintain an organized repository of contracts and ensure version control.
• Provide input on the development of standard contract templates and legal policies.
• Stay updated on legal developments affecting commercial agreements in the logistics sector.

Requirements

• LLB degree from a recognized university.
• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of post-qualification experience in commercial contract law.
• Proven experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a variety of commercial agreements.
• Solid understanding of South African contract law and related legal principles.
• Excellent drafting skills with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain legal concepts clearly to non-legal professionals.
• Ability to manage multiple contracts and prioritize tasks efficiently.
• Proactive and client-focused approach.
• Experience in the logistics or supply chain industry is a significant advantage.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary package, commensurate with experience. Benefits include comprehensive medical aid coverage, a provident fund, and opportunities for professional development. The company provides a collaborative and dynamic work environment in East London . Employees benefit from working on significant commercial agreements and have opportunities for career progression within the organization. This is an excellent opportunity for a contracts lawyer to further their career in a key industry.