Junior Legal & Risk Counsel - Logistics & Compliance

Kontak Recruitment; Durban; On-site; ZAR 391,000 - 502,000; Full time

Job summary

Kontak Recruitment in Durban, KZN, is seeking a Junior Legal and Risk Counsel to support the Head of Legal and Risk. The role covers commercial contracts, insurance, governance, regulatory compliance and operational risk management.

You will review and draft agreements, assist with negotiations, monitor legislation, and contribute to internal compliance and risk policies. A strong LLB, completed articles or equivalent experience, and excellent drafting and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• LLB degree.
• Completed articles or equivalent experience within a corporate, commercial legal, risk or compliance environment.
• Good legal drafting and contract interpretation skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Commercial awareness and sound judgement.
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational ability.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a high-volume environment.
• Ability to work independently while recognising when matters should be escalated.
• Professional integrity, discretion and strong stakeholder-management skills.
• Exposure to commercial law or contract drafting would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of international legal frameworks applicable to the logistics industry would be advantageous.
• Experience within the logistics, supply chain or maritime industry would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Review, negotiate, amend and draft commercial, operational and corporate agreements.
• Assist with service-level agreements, master service agreements, memoranda of understanding, joint ventures, acquisitions and sale agreements.
• Review lease, finance and security agreements, including loans, guarantees, suretyships, pledges and cessions.
• Prepare and review confidentiality, intellectual property and data-protection documentation, including NDAs and trademark-related agreements.
• Review third-party and customer contracts, identify legal, commercial and insurance risks, and recommend appropriate amendments.
• Assist with contractual negotiations when required.
• Collate information and documentation for disputes and litigation and liaise with external attorneys and relevant stakeholders.
• Manage the daily contract-approval process under the Marine Liability Insurance Programme and elevate material risks where appropriate.
• Research legislation and prepare draft legal memoranda for review by the Head of Legal and Risk.
• Provide support relating to transport and ports legislation, maritime conventions, environmental laws, labour legislation, POPIA, sanctions, anti-corruption requirements, the Companies Act, competition law and tax legislation.
• Monitor legislative changes and assess their potential impact on business operations.
• Assist with developing, implementing and updating internal compliance and risk-management policies and procedures.
• Support marine liability and group insurance programmes, including contractual risk assessments and policy interpretation.
• Coordinate insurance renewals, claims, cell-captive administration and engagements with external stakeholders.
• Support major projects, acquisitions and business-development initiatives through legal due diligence.
• Participate in risk committee meetings and assist with risk registers, mitigation actions and operational risk monitoring.
• Maintain registers relating to contracts, ethics, training declarations and trademark renewals.
• Analyse claims, survey and risk trends and prepare management and committee reports.
• Attend relevant meetings and accurately record minutes.
• Assist with corporate governance matters, including board resolutions and statutory records.

Skills

Legal drafting

Contract interpretation

Written communication

Verbal communication

Commercial awareness

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Stakeholder management

Independent work

Escalation when needed

Research

Education

LLB degree

Job description

Kontak Recruitment in Durban, KZN, is seeking a Junior Legal and Risk Counsel to support the Head of Legal and Risk. The role covers commercial contracts, insurance, governance, regulatory compliance and operational risk management.

You will review and draft agreements, assist with negotiations, monitor legislation, and contribute to internal compliance and risk policies. A strong LLB, completed articles or equivalent experience, and excellent drafting and communication skills are essential.