Legal Counsel

Airgas; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 45 000 - 75 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in Southern Africa seeks a Legal Officer to support the Head of Legal with corporate governance, contract management, and compliance across its operations. The ideal candidate will have an LLB and experience in South African labour law and contract negotiation. This role offers the opportunity to engage in diverse legal matters within a dynamic organization.

Qualifications

• Admitted Attorney or equivalent experience.
• Experience in corporate governance and compliance.
• Knowledge of South African labour laws.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support across various business functions.
• Manage corporate governance and compliance initiatives.
• Negotiate and draft contracts for the organization.

Skills

Corporate governance

Contract negotiation

Labour law knowledge

Compliance auditing

Legal research

Education

LLB or equivalent

Job description

How will you CONTRIBUTE and GROW?

In this position, the incumbent is accountable to provide assistance to the Head of Legal - Southern Africa, on legal matters relating to the company and its affiliated companies within Southern Africa, including but not limited to : pre-litigation and litigious claimscommercial, contractual or civil disputeslabour and employment lawinterpretation and / or negotiation of a wide range of commercial, operational and supply chain contractsprovision of legal support to the various functions of the organisation in the areas of business development, sales and marketing, finance, procurement, human resources, engineering, operations and maintenanceassist in the management of corporate governance, legal and regulatory compliance, and statutory secretarial dutiesMain Accountabilities : Corporate Governance & Company SecretariatAssist in preparing and reviewing board and shareholder documentation, including agendas, resolutions, board packs, and minutes.Support compliance with the Companies Act, King IV Principles of Corporate Governance, and Group frameworks.Maintain statutory registers and ensure timely submissions to the CIPC.Prepare and file amendments to company records (e.g., changes in directors, officers, share registers, resolutions).

Facilitate board, statutory committee, and shareholder meetings, including drafting agendas, minutes, and resolutions.Provide governance training to directors, prescribed officers, information officers, and statutory committee members.Liaise with regulators such as the B-BBEE Commission, Competition Commission, Information Regulator, and othersmercial & Contractual WorkDraft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts including supply, procurement, distribution, partnership, and services agreements.Support the contract lifecycle (renewals, amendments, terminations).

Advise business stakeholders on risk allocation, obligations, and rights.Provide legal input in tenders, bids, and procurement processes.Maintain proper filing and management of executed contracts.Labour & Employment LawProvide day-to-day advice to HR on labour relations and employment law.Draft and review employment contracts, HR policies, and procedures.Advise on misconduct, disciplinary, grievance, and incapacity matters.Support restructuring, retrenchment, and collective bargaining processes.Represent the company in CCMA proceedings and liaise with external labour attorneys.Ensure compliance with South African labour laws, including the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Employment Equity Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act.Debt Recovery & Litigation SupportDraft and issue letters of demand, acknowledgements of debt, breach notices, and other legal correspondence.Manage external debt collection attorneys and business rescue practitioners.Lodge claims in business rescue, liquidation, or sequestration proceedings.Attend creditors' meetings and liaise with liquidators and curators.Support litigation, arbitration, and mediation, including briefing and managing external counselpliance & Regulatory MattersMonitor developments in laws and regulations across Southern Africa, with focus on corporate, commercial, labour, safety, consumer, data privacy, and competition law.Assist with compliance programs including ethics, anti-corruption, data protection, and Code of Conduct initiatives.Support internal and external compliance audits and regulatory inspections.Contribute to updating the compliance risk management plan.Provide compliance and ethics training across the organisation.Advisory & Business PartneringProvide legal advice to Sales, Commercial, Operations, Finance, HR, and other functions.Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda on emerging risks.Ensure legal advice is pragmatic, business-oriented, and aligned with Group strategy.Act as a legal partner in strategic projects and business development.Handle Ethical Alerts in coordination with the Head of Legal.Departmental Administration & Knowledge ManagementMaintain departmental records, templates, and precedents.Prepare regular legal reports and updates for management.Support the monitoring of legal spend and external counsel performance.Develop internal training materials, guidance notes, and tools.___________________Are you a MATCH?

Educational RequirementsEducation : LLB, or Bachelor of Laws / Bcom of Laws with LLB degree or equivalentExperienceAdmitted Attorney (or

We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.