Legal Counsel – Alternative Investments & Financial Services | Johannesburg

SUMMARY:
Legal Counsel – Alternative Investments & Financial Services | Johannesburg

POSITION INFO:
Reporting To: Chief Risk Officer About the Client A leading investment manager based in Johannesburg is seeking an experienced, commercially astute Legal Counsel to join their team . The firm operates across SADC and specializes in alternative investments, private credit, and asset management . Role Overview The Legal Counsel will provide strategic legal support across group business activities, focusing heavily on alternative investment structures, credit transactions, and corporate commercial law . You will act as a key commercial partner, mitigating legal risk while actively supporting business growth across local and cross-border jurisdictions . Key Responsibilities Transactional & Commercial Law: Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including investment management agreements (FAIS compliant), bilateral loan funding, securitisations, DMTNs, and ISDA\/GMRA agreements . Deal Structuring & Risk Management: Advise on complex deal structures, perform legal due diligence, manage conditions precedent, and oversee post-investment legal management, workouts, and turnarounds . Cross-Border Expansion: Provide legal input for foreign expansion initiatives within the SADC region, evaluating international legal frameworks and strategic partnerships . Corporate Governance: Advise on the Companies Act and general South African corporate legislation . Stakeholder Management: Work closely with Risk, Compliance, Investments, and Finance teams, while managing relationships and costs with external legal counsel . Key Requirements Qualifications: LLB degree (or equivalent recognized legal qualification) . Admissions: Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa . Experience: 4-8 years post-qualification legal experience, ideally from a top-tier law firm's banking\/finance team or in-house within asset management, banking, or private credit . Technical Expertise: Strong working knowledge of South African financial services law, corporate law, and complex contract negotiation (both listed and unlisted structures) . Cross-Border Funding: Experience with cross-border funding structures and SADC regional arrangements is highly advantageous .