Legal Counsel

Fempower; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 700 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading South African consulting firm is seeking an experienced professional to lead their Intellectual Property (IP) management and contracts portfolio. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in IP law, contract law, and regulatory compliance, with a strong emphasis on strategic leadership. Responsibilities include overseeing the IP portfolio, ensuring compliance with legal standards, and managing the legal department. Strong problem-solving and communication skills are essential for this role, along with proficiency in legal business tools.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years of experience in Patent and Design Law, and general Intellectual Property law.
• Experience in contract law and regulatory compliance.
• Knowledge of litigation processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership in managing and protecting the IP portfolio.
• Oversee and enhance the contracts portfolio ensuring alignment with company's goals.
• Develop and implement IP strategies including trademarks for brand protection.
• Manage the legal department effectively.
• Monitor legal developments for compliance and regulatory adherence.
• Conduct audits of the contracts portfolio for compliance.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication skills

Commercial acumen

Education

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent

Engineering qualification (Electronics/Electrical)

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)

Legal research databases

Job description

Purpose

To provide strategic leadership in managing and protecting the IP portfolio. To oversee and enhance the contracts portfolio, ensuring all agreements are aligned with the company's goals, to develop and implement comprehensive legal strategies across all areas of the business; and to ensure regulatory compliance by monitoring legal developments and guiding the company accordingly.

Key Responsibilities

• Functional guide IP development in technical projects to ensure the company's intellectual property aligns with strategic goals and is well-protected throughout its lifecycle.
• Manage the company's IP portfolio from identification to the end of the lifecycle, ensuring all IP assets are properly registered, maintained, and enforced.
• Develop and implement the IP strategy, including the use of marketing instruments such as trademarks to protect and promote the company's brand.
• Formulate and execute efficient offence and defence legal strategies to safeguard the company's interests.
• Responsible for the effective management of the legal department.
• Develop, implement, and review all company policies to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and laws.
• Monitor the ever-changing legal landscape, proactively implementing measures to ensure the company remains compliant with new regulations.
• Conduct regular audits of the entire contracts portfolio to ensure compliance with legal and company standards.
• Draft, review, and approve contracts to ensure they are legally sound and align with the company's strategic goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent.
• At least 8 years of experience in Patent and Design Law, and general Intellectual Property law, contract law, and regulatory compliance.
• Engineering qualification (Electronics/Electrical) would be advantageous.
• Knowledge of litigation processes.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem‑solving skills.
• Good interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Thoroughness and attention to detail.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Effective time management and ability to prioritize tasks.
• Resilience under pressure and ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Superior communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• A strong commercial acumen and understanding of the business environment.
• Proficiency in using legal and business tools such as Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) and legal research databases.