Principal Legal Counsel - Sandton at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• In the words of Jeffrey Carr, vice president and general counsel of FMC Technologies, a Chicago-based manufacturer of oil and gas exploration equipment – “The best M&A lawyers are tenacious without being overbearing, realistic without being risk-averse. They have to be consummate negotiators to know what their clients want and find consensus without sacrificing the client’s objectives“.
• The Absa Group is seeking a talented, commercially-minded and proactive lawyer to join its Group Corporate / M&A legal function. You will form part of a small professional team of lawyers with responsibility for M&A activity of the Absa Group notably in South Africa and the rest of Africa. You will also work to drive continuous improvements, commercial and operational excellence throughout the deal processes.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Provide best-in-class end-to-end M&A legal advice in a leadership context in respect of transactions across multiple jurisdictions, adopting a collaborative business-partnering approach
• Work collaboratively with other teams within the Legal function to ensure effective and fully aligned end-to-end legal support to wider business colleagues in an M&A transaction context in relation to structuring, due diligence, disclosure and other key issues
• Co-ordinate and manage internal and external legal support and support from other functional colleagues (e.g. Corporate Development, Finance, Tax, HR and Treasury and Corporate Governance ) in a cross-discipline / multi-jurisdiction context
• Manage external legal counsel in an efficient and cost-effective manner
• Support corporate team on other strategic corporate projects, such as capital raisings, rights issues, special dividends
• Identify and pursue opportunities to improve Absa Group’s approach to M&A transactions, including via the development of toolkits, internal templates for core transaction documents
• Identify opportunities to develop and improve operational efficiencies, processes and systems and capture and reapply knowledge
• Advise, influence and support key stakeholders at all levels across our regional operations to ensure close alignment between the Legal function and business areas and identify and progress value creation opportunities

Key skills

• Analysing information and dealing with complexity;
• Excellent drafting skills
• Ability to navigate a set of financial statements
• Effective communication (both oral and written) and excellent negotiating skills
• Excellent project management capabilities
• Power of persuasion
• Effective leadership
• Sound risk and reward assessment capabilities with the ability to take risks
• Possessing In-depth Business Awareness with a thorough understanding of commercials
• Excellent at Time Management and multitasking
• Self-assuredness, and a calm mind
• Excellent Problem-solving skills

Qualifications

• At a minimum a LL.B degree but preferable to also have a B.Com or LL.M degree and an admitted attorney or advocate
• 9+ years of experience as a corporate transactions’ attorney focused on M&A and investments or at a top tier international law firm
• Experience with M&A and investments involving a bank, technology companies, insurance companies and banking subsidiaries
• Experience in cross boarder M&A transactions
• Familiarity with a wide variety of transaction types (e.g., public company, private company, joint venture, stock purchase, asset purchase, divestments, cross-border, etc.)
• In depth understanding and ability to apply the Banks Act, Companies Act, JSE listing requirements, FRS Act
• Ability to work independently while being able to contribute successfully to cross-functional teams.
• Ability to take a business-oriented approach while identifying and balancing legal risks and providing succinct, accurate and pragmatic advice
• Exceptional analytical skills, independent judgment, a desire to learn, and an ability to take on and prioritise a wide variety of complex matters
• Outstanding relationship-building skills
• Can-do attitude, able to work under pressure, tight deadlines and to manage the expectations of clients

Education

• Postgraduate Degrees and Professional Qualifications: Law (Required)