Legal Counsel - (On-Site) Legal P&C & L&H Reinsurance

Swiss Re; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1 010 000 - 1 690 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading reinsurance company is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to provide legal support primarily in South Africa. You will draft legal documents, advise on regulations, and manage legal projects across the EMEA region. Candidates must be fully qualified lawyers with a minimum of five years of post-qualification experience, preferably in the (re)insurance industry. The salary range for this role is between R1,010,000 and R1,690,000.

Benefits

Performance-based annual bonus

Flexible working environment

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years post-qualification experience, preferably in a law firm or in-house.
• Experience in (re)insurance law and regulations.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of legal documents.
• Provide expert advice on legal matters including operations advisory and corporate governance.
• Manage legal components of projects and strategic initiatives.

Skills

Legal drafting

Negotiation

Influencing

Communication

Education

Fully qualified lawyer (bar exam) in South Africa

Job description

About the Role

As Legal Counsel in our P&C & L&H Reinsurance Advisory EMEA team, you will be a trusted legal partner to our business units across the region, with a primary focus on South Africa. You will enable successful completion of reinsurance business initiatives while ensuring proper governance and compliance with both external and internal requirements. Your adaptability will be key as you navigate various legal systems and cultures across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of legal documents.
• Provide expert advice on local regulatory and general legal matters including operations advisory, corporate governance, and employment law support.
• Support legal aspects of compliance matters such as data protection and market conduct.
• Manage legal components of projects and strategic initiatives within the EMEA region.
• Develop and improve templates, policies, and processes to enhance efficiency.
• Monitor and report on developments and trends in laws and regulations.
• Prepare and deliver presentations, legal reports, and training.
• Coordinate and optimize engagement with outside legal counsel.

About the Team

This role reports to the Head of Legal P&C & L&H Reinsurance EMEA. You will join a global team of passionate and business-oriented legal advisors operating in a culturally diverse environment. The team is committed to providing exceptional legal guidance while supporting the organization’s strategic objectives in the reinsurance sector.

About You

You are a strong communicator with a "can do" mindset who thrives when working independently and managing multiple requests with competing deadlines. As a dedicated and trusted business partner, you excel at building relationships and communicating complex legal and compliance concepts clearly and succinctly. You are comfortable sharing your thought process openly and welcome constructive challenge.

We are looking for candidates who meet these requirements:

• Fully qualified lawyer (bar exam) in South Africa (preferred) or an equivalent jurisdiction.
• Minimum of five years post-qualification experience, preferably in a law firm or in‑house in the (re)insurance industry.
• Experience in (re)insurance law and regulations.
• Understanding of regulatory and licensing topics in cross‑border scenarios.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).

Additional nice-to-have qualifications include:

• Experience working in a global organization.
• Knowledge of multiple legal systems.
• Proficiency in additional languages beyond English.
• Experience with digital tools and legal tech solutions.
• Background in project management.

Preference will be given to Employment Equity candidates.

For South Africa, the base salary range for this position is between R1,010,000 and R1,690,000 for a full‑time role.

The specific salary offered considers the requirements, scope, complexity, and responsibilities of the role, as well as the applicant’s profile including education, qualifications, expertise, specialization, skills, and experience. Depending on how closely you meet or exceed the requirements, the offered salary may fall below or above the advertised range. In addition to base salary, you may be eligible for additional rewards and benefits, including a performance‑based annual bonus.

About Swiss Re

Swiss Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance‑based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. We anticipate and manage a wide variety of risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. Combining experience with creative thinking and cutting‑edge expertise, we create new opportunities and solutions for our clients.

This is possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 14,000 employees across the world.

Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. We embrace a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability.

If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience.