Commercial Litigation Associate – Johannesburg

Pinsent Masons; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Commercial Litigation Associate to join their growing Johannesburg team. This role offers the chance to work on high-stakes litigation matters, supporting a dynamic practice with a focus on corporate and commercial disputes. The ideal candidate will possess 3 to 6 years of post-qualification experience, showcasing strong drafting, researching, and communication skills. This forward-thinking firm values diversity and inclusion, providing an environment where all talent can thrive. If you're ready to take ownership of your work and make a significant impact, this opportunity is for you.

Qualifications

• 3-6 years post-qualification experience in corporate and commercial litigation.
• Strong academic performance and excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the team on complex high-stakes litigation matters.
• Manage client communications and deliver high-quality work.

Skills

Excellent drafting skills

Researching skills

Communication skills

Intellectual curiosity

Autonomous work

Education

Law degree

Professional qualifications

Job description

Commercial Litigation Associate – Johannesburg

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Job Schedule: Full time

Job Description:

The Johannesburg Litigation team is growing, and an opportunity has arisen for an ambitious, hard-working and resilient Associate to join the dynamic team.

The successful candidate will work alongside other members of the team, supporting them on complex high-stakes litigation matters and in growing their dynamic practice.

The Team

Building off the success of the market-leading Construction Disputes team, the firm has established a Commercial Litigation team to support clients with a broad range of dispute resolution needs.

The team handles a variety of complex corporate and commercial disputes for local and international clients in South Africa and has a specific focus on Mining and Energy.

The team works alongside other experts in the firm, in particular the Construction lawyers, Projects lawyers, Corporate Investigators, and Employment lawyers to help clients manage risk and resolve disputes.

The Candidate Required

We are interested in candidates who can display the right background, experience, and approach to be successful in this role, including the following:

1. 3 to 6 years post-qualification experience.
2. Substantial corporate and commercial litigation experience at a medium to large commercial law firm based in South Africa, or at a top-tier boutique firm or international law firm.
3. A track record of strong academic performance.
4. Excellent drafting, researching, and communication skills – candidates will be subject to practical assessments of these skills during the hiring process.
5. Intellectual curiosity, seeking to answer complex questions using rigorous and creative thinking.
6. The ability to take ownership of tasks and work autonomously to deliver high-quality work products and to directly manage client communications day-to-day.
7. While not essential, experience in mining, energy, and banking would be beneficial.
8. Exhibits behaviors and personal attributes consistent with the firm's core values of being 'approachable', 'bold', and 'connected'.
9. Right to work and reside in South Africa (and is South African qualified).

Apply for the role

If you are interested in applying for this role, please ensure you have submitted the following documents together with your application:

1. A concise CV setting out your background, qualifications, and working history (if applicable, starting with the most recent position held moving backwards) and any other information that may be relevant – this part of the CV should not exceed 1 page.
2. A concise past matter list, listing any reported cases that you have been involved in. If you are not able to list the matters due to confidentiality, you can provide an anonymized list of 5 cases containing clear descriptions of the nature of the disputes. The matters list should also not exceed 1 page.
3. Academic transcripts for all degrees and professional qualifications.
4. A Personal Statement / Covering Letter detailing your motivation for applying for this specific position (300 words or less).

About the Firm

Pinsent Masons is a global law firm, with over 3,000 employees operating out of 28 locations across Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.

We have a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality legal advice rooted in a deep understanding of the sectors and geographies in which our clients operate.

Our global reach ensures that we are well-placed to advise on complex multi-jurisdictional matters across a full range of legal disciplines.

As an inclusive employer, we are willing to consider any flexible working requests. Please note we only accept applications made via our recruitment portal.

At Pinsent Masons, we value diversity and inclusion. We are committed to creating a better workplace where all our talent can succeed and feel like they belong.

We want to attract, retain, and develop people at all levels and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates whatever your ethnicity, religion, age, physical or mental disability/long term condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by local law in the jurisdictions in which we operate.