In-house Counsel - Mergers & Acquisitions

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Provident fund

Life insurance

Hybrid work model

Career progression

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa seeks an experienced In-house Counsel focusing on Mergers & Acquisitions to support strategic growth.

You will lead end-to-end M&A, JV and corporate restructuring, advise the board, coordinate external counsel, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive standardized processes.

Candidates must be admitted attorneys with 7+ years post-qualification experience, strong drafting and negotiation skills, and the ability to provide commercially pragmatic advice.

Qualifications

• Must be admitted as an attorney in SA with 7+ years post-qualification experience focused on M&A and corporate law.
• Experience handling end-to-end M&A, including cross-border deals.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and analytical skills.
• Ability to provide commercially pragmatic legal advice.
• In-house experience at a large corporation or top-tier law firm.

Responsibilities

• Lead all legal aspects of M&A transactions, including due diligence, structuring, term sheets, sale and purchase agreements and related documents.
• Advise the board and senior management on acquisitions, divestitures and strategic partnerships.
• Coordinate external legal counsel on M&A matters.
• Ensure compliance with corporate laws, securities regulations and stock exchange rules.
• Assist with corporate reorganizations, capital markets transactions and governance.
• Manage post-transaction integration legal workstreams.
• Develop and implement standardized M&A processes and documentation.

Skills

Drafting & Negotiation

Analytical skills

Business acumen

Project management

M&A experience

English fluency

Education

Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a diversified industrial conglomerate with significant operations across Rustenburg, North West , is seeking a highly skilled and experienced In-house Counsel specializing in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). This critical role will support the company's strategic growth objectives by managing all legal aspects of M&A transactions, joint ventures, and corporate restructuring. The successful candidate will work closely with the executive team, finance department, and external advisors to ensure seamless execution of deals, from initial due diligence to post-completion integration. This is a demanding yet rewarding position for a legal professional who thrives in a fast-paced corporate environment and possesses a strong commercial orientation. The role offers broad exposure to high-value transactions and the opportunity to influence business strategy at the highest level.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all legal aspects of M&A transactions, including due diligence, transaction structuring, drafting and negotiating term sheets, sale and purchase agreements, and ancillary documents.
• Advise the board of directors and senior management on legal implications of potential acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic partnerships.
• Oversee and coordinate the work of external legal counsel engaged on M&A matters.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant corporate laws, securities regulations, and stock exchange rules.
• Assist with corporate reorganizations, capital markets transactions, and general corporate governance matters.
• Manage post-transaction integration legal workstreams.
• Provide legal support for commercial contracts and other corporate legal matters as needed.
• Develop and implement standardized M&A legal processes and documentation.

Requirements

• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa with a minimum of 7 years of post-qualification experience, with a significant focus on M&A and corporate law.
• Demonstrated experience in managing end-to-end M&A transactions, including complex cross-border deals.
• In-depth knowledge of corporate law, contract law, regulatory compliance, and M&A best practices.
• Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to provide commercially pragmatic legal advice.
• Experience working in-house at a large corporation or in the M&A practice of a top-tier law firm.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work effective under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Fluency in English, with strong written and verbal communication skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive executive salary and bonus structure.
• Comprehensive medical aid, provident fund, and life insurance benefits.
• Significant exposure to strategic business decisions and high-value transactions.
• Opportunity for professional growth and development in a dynamic corporate setting.
• A hybrid work model offering flexibility for employees in Rustenburg, North West .
• Collaborative and results-oriented work environment.
• Potential for long-term career progression within a leading organization.
• Access to state-of-the-art resources and legal technology.