Legal Advisor - Mergers & Acquisitions

Placements24; Paarl; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based bonus

Medical aid and retirement fund

Generous annual leave

Professional development support

High-profile Paarl transactions

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced M&A Legal Advisor to lead and advise on major transactions in the Paarl winelands. The role requires admitted SA counsel with extensive M&A and corporate law background, strong drafting and negotiation skills, and discipline handling complex deal work under tight timelines.

The on-site position collaborates with deal teams and senior management, offering significant exposure to high-profile acquisitions, divestitures, and restructurings in a growth-focused

Qualifications

• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of SA with 7+ years in M&A and corporate law.
• Proven track record leading complex M&A deals from inception to completion.
• Strong knowledge of South African corporate law and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent drafting, negotiating, and structuring of complex agreements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage legal aspects of M&A transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, JVs, and restructurings.
• Conduct comprehensive due diligence on target companies and assets.
• Draft, review, and negotiate SPAs, APAs, and JV agreements.
• Advise on deal structuring, risk allocation, and deal completion mechanics.
• Coordinate with external counsel, financial advisors, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with governance, securities, and competition laws.
• Provide post-transaction integration support.
• Stay abreast of M&A market trends and best practices.
• Offer pragmatic, business-focused legal advice to senior management.

Skills

M&A expertise

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Education

LLB or equivalent

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent business group with significant strategic growth objectives, is seeking a highly skilled Legal Advisor to specialize in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). This pivotal role is based in the heart of the Western Cape's winelands, Paarl. The successful candidate will be instrumental in supporting the company's expansion strategy by providing expert legal counsel on all phases of M&A transactions, from initial due diligence and structuring to negotiation, drafting, and closing. This position requires a deep understanding of corporate law, transaction mechanics, and risk assessment within the context of significant deals. This is an on-site role, fostering close collaboration with deal teams and senior management in Paarl. We are seeking an ambitious and experienced M&A lawyer to drive critical transactions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage legal aspects of M&A transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings.
• Conduct comprehensive legal due diligence on target companies and assets.
• Draft, review, and negotiate key transaction documents, such as Share Purchase Agreements (SPAs), Asset Purchase Agreements (APAs), and Joint Venture Agreements.
• Advise on deal structuring, risk allocation, and deal completion mechanics.
• Coordinate with external legal counsel, financial advisors, and other transaction stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with corporate governance, securities law, and competition law regulations relevant to transactions.
• Provide legal support for post-transaction integration activities.
• Stay abreast of market trends and best practices in M&A law.
• Advise on related corporate law matters as required.

Requirements

• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa with a minimum of 7 years' post-qualification experience, with a significant focus on M&A and corporate law.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex M&A transactions from inception to completion.
• In-depth knowledge of South African corporate law, company law, and regulatory requirements governing transactions.
• Exceptional skills in drafting, negotiating, and structuring complex legal agreements.
• Strong understanding of financial statements and business valuation principles.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and project management abilities.
• High level of commercial acumen and ability to provide pragmatic, business-driven legal advice.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage senior stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines inherent in M&A deals.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary package, reflecting the seniority and specialization of the role.
• Significant performance-based bonus opportunities tied to successful deal execution.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund provisions.
• Generous annual leave and professional development support.
• Opportunity to work on high-profile, impactful transactions in the Paarl region.
• A stimulating and challenging work environment within a growth-focused organization.