Legal Advisor

Lesaka Technologies Inc.; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

Lesaka Technologies Inc. is seeking a legal professional to support the Merchant Division, focusing on compliance with legal requirements and management of legal risks. The role involves drafting and negotiating multiple agreements, advising on regulatory requirements, and managing litigation.

Candidates should have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and at least 3 years of post-articles experience, preferably in the financial services or payments industry. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years post-articles experience at a top-tier law firm or in-house experience.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation applicable to businesses in the payment and financial services industries.
• Experience in drafting and negotiating commercial agreements.

Responsibilities

• Attend to legal requirements for the Merchant Division.
• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements and documents.
• Advise on legal position and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and assess legal risks for various product offerings.
• Manage litigation and legal disputes.

Skills

Stakeholder collaboration

Problem-solving skills

Contractual drafting

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

Job description

Key Responsibilities

The key responsibility of this role is to attend to all legal requirements which stem from the Lesaka Group, with a focus on the Merchant Division of the Lesaka Group, under instruction from the group general counsel and the management team of the Merchant Division. The person will work with the existing legal advisors across the Lesaka group.

• Draft and/or review and/or comment on and/or negotiate various agreements and other documents relevant to the conduct of the business (e.g. arrangements with suppliers, customers, business partners, etc. and customer terms & conditions).
• Interpret and advise on existing contractual arrangements.
• Advise on legal position and regulatory requirements applicable to the business.
• Identify and assess legal risks for the various product offerings, processes and functions and develop risk mitigation strategies (where appropriate). This includes staying abreast of developments in the regulatory framework and proactively identifying any concerns and/or risk in conducting the business.
• Manage and oversee litigation and legal disputes, including instructing and engaging external counsel, where necessary.
• Administration and other legal related support to the Merchant Division of the Lesaka Group.

Qualifications and Experience

• The candidate must have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from an accredited university within South Africa.
• The candidate must have at least 3 years post-articles experience at a top-tier South African law firm, alternatively proven in-house experience preferably within the national payment industry and/or financial services industry.
• It would be advantageous if the candidate has knowledge of, and experience advising on, the relevant legislation applicable to the businesses within the Lesaka Group (e.g. the Companies Act, National Payment Systems Act, relevant SARB directives, PASA frameworks, Financial Intelligence Centre Act, National Credit Act, Protection of Personal Information Act, Consumer Protection Act).
• Experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements.

Competencies

• Ability to collaborate and build strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Problem-solving and solution driven mindset.
• Commercial approach, rather than technical legalese.
• Excellent contractual drafting, analysis, and review skills.
• High level of professionalism and strong interpersonal skills.
• Eagerness to learn and develop skillset and knowledge base.
• Thorough and impeccable attention to detail.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Adaptable and flexible in order to manage the evolving legal and business landscapes.
• Strong administration and organisation skills.
• The ability to work under pressure while maintaining high standards and excellent quality of work.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Team player, but ability to operate independently.
• Take initiative and display a work ethic that demonstrates going over and above what is expected.