Senior Commercial Lawyer - Remote

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first policy

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Commercial Lawyer to join a fully remote legal department serving across South Africa. You will handle high-volume, complex tech agreements and provide strategic advice on IP, data privacy, and governance.

You will support business development and product teams, develop standardized templates, and ensure regulatory compliance in a fast-paced remote environment.

Qualifications

• LLB degree or equivalent qualification.
• Admission as an Attorney or Advocate in South Africa.
• 7+ years in commercial law with tech/IP focus.
• Experience drafting/negotiating sophisticated tech agreements.
• Strong knowledge of data privacy and corporate governance.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate SaaS, master service, partnership, and licensing agreements.
• Advise on corporate governance, data privacy, IP protection, and dispute resolution.
• Guide business teams on legal risks in new ventures.
• Manage IP portfolio including trademarks, patents, copyrights.
• Ensure compliance with POPIA and international data standards.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Negotiation skills

Legal research

Remote collaboration

Education

LLB degree

Admission as SA Attorney/Advocate

Tools

Legal research tools

Virtual collaboration platforms

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading technology firm renowned for its innovative solutions, is seeking an accomplished Senior Commercial Lawyer to join their fully remote legal department. This role offers the ultimate flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere in **South Africa**. You will be instrumental in managing complex commercial transactions, advising on intellectual property, and ensuring robust contractual frameworks. This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned legal professional who thrives in a dynamic, tech-forward, and remote-first environment. We are looking for an individual with a strong commercial acumen and a passion for cutting‑edge legal work, supporting our client's rapid growth and innovation strategy, **Randburg** based professionals are encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a high volume of complex commercial agreements, including SaaS agreements, master service agreements, partnership agreements, and licensing deals.
• Provide expert legal counsel on a broad range of commercial matters, including corporate governance, data privacy, intellectual property protection, and dispute resolution.
• Advise business development, sales, and product teams on legal risks and opportunities associated with new ventures and initiatives.
• Manage and protect the company's intellectual property portfolio, including trademarks, patents, and copyrights.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including POPIA and international data protection standards.
• Conduct thorough legal research and analysis to support strategic decision‑making.
• Collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams, external counsel, and regulatory bodies.
• Develop and implement standardised contract templates and legal processes to improve efficiency.
• Stay abreast of emerging legal trends and technologies impacting the tech industry.
• Proactively identify and mitigate legal risks across the organisation.

Requirements

• A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or equivalent qualification.
• Admission as an Attorney or Advocate in South Africa.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in commercial law, with a significant focus on technology, intellectual property, and complex contracting.
• Demonstrated expertise in drafting and negotiating sophisticated commercial agreements within the technology sector.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property law, data privacy regulations (POPIA), and corporate governance.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and negotiation skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced remote environment.
• Proficiency in legal research tools and virtual collaboration platforms.
• Self‑motivated, highly organised, and capable of working autonomously.
• Must have a dedicated home office set‑up and reliable high‑speed internet.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance‑based bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holidays.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering maximum flexibility.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
• Engage with cutting‑edge technology and innovative legal challenges.
• A dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative remote culture.
• Contribution to a leading global technology firm.