Senior Corporate Lawyer South Africa (BettingOperations / iGaming)

Black Pen Recruitment; Durban; Remote; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency seeks a dedicated legal professional to ensure compliance for wagering entities in South Africa. The ideal candidate will be an admitted attorney with over 8 years of experience in corporate law, particularly within regulated sectors like betting or fintech. Responsibilities include managing licenses, drafting contracts, and overseeing disputes. Fluent English is essential, and knowledge of Afrikaans or another local language is preferred. This position is remote, offering the opportunity to work in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Admitted attorney with 8+ years of experience in corporate/commercial law.
• Expert knowledge of gambling regulations and exchange-control rules.
• Must be fluent in English; Afrikaans or other local language preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain compliance and governance for South African wagering entities.
• Manage license applications, renewals, and corporate filings.
• Draft and negotiate commercial agreements including sponsorships.
• Guide finance on SARB approvals and tax risks.
• Conduct legal due diligence for M&A in Africa.
• Oversee disputes and manage litigation counsel.
• Conduct governance training for leadership.

Skills

Corporate/commercial experience

Knowledge of National Gambling Act

Legal drafting and negotiation

Fluent in English

Fluent in Afrikaans or local language

Education

Admitted attorney

Job description

Our client believes in the power of Virtual Advancement—leveraging digital innovation and strategic foresight to help businesses excel in a rapidly evolving world. With a focus on agility and adaptability, they work alongside organisations to simplify complexity, enhance operations, and implement strategies that foster long‑term success.

Their team partners with startups, SMEs, and large enterprises across various industries, enabling clients to harness technology, data, and strategic insight to gain sustainable competitive advantage. From expanding into new markets to building resilient financial roadmaps, our client serves as a trusted advisor committed to creating meaningful impact Whether the goal is operational optimisation or future‑focused growth, our client delivers the clarity and capability needed to navigate change and lead with confidence

Role Overview

Keep our client’s South‑African wagering entities fully licence‑compliant, financially efficient, and ready for growth across the continent.

Job Type: Full‑time / Permanent

Location: South Africa

Workplace: Remote

Requirements

• Admitted attorney, 8 + years’ corporate / commercial track record in betting, fintech, or other regulated sector.
• Expert knowledge of National Gambling Act, provincial regulations, and SARB exchange‑control rules.
• Fluent English; Afrikaans or another local language strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Governance & filings – Maintain flawless CIPC records, B‑BBEE certificates, UBO registers, and provincial‑board corporate returns.
• Licence management – Lead new applications, renewals, share‑change approvals, and key‑person vetting with Gauteng, Western‑Cape, and other boards; brief the MLRO on any conditions attached.
• Commercial contracts – Draft / drive negotiations for affiliate, data‑feed, sponsorship, and white‑label agreements; embed gambling‑act requirements and CPA provisions.
• Exchange‑control & tax – Guide finance on SARB approvals for dividends, loans, and IP royalties; flag thin‑cap risks and withholding‑tax triggers.
• M&A / expansion – Run legal due diligence for new African targets; manage data rooms, closing opinions, and post‑merger integrations.
• Dispute oversight – Own vendor, player, and regulator disputes; instruct and manage litigation counsel under capped‑fee or AFA terms.
• Policy & training – Roll out signing‑authority limits and director‑induction packs; run annual governance training for local leadership.