Senior Legal Counsel - Intellectual Property at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

• To develop tactical strategy and delivery plans, formulate associated practice/s and to ensure operational implementation and adoption in terms of legal methodology, governance and delivery objectives. To provide highly specialised legal advice and support to the dedicated area of support.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Accountability: Leadership & Management

• Demonstrates strong relationship management skills with clients
• Plan and manage projects and matters through to completion, including around resourcing
• Contribute to the development and implementation of team objectives and strategy, and provide high quality support to the business as required by interacting with different legal and business stakeholders.
• Work independently with minimal supervision and demonstrate the ability to supervise where appropriate

Accountability: Commercial

• Demonstrate strong analytical skills and solve complex problems creatively and effectively
• Drives good cost control behaviour, especially around external spend, consistently delivers against a broad range of competing target
• Manage external counsel and represent AGL on relevant industry forums and professional bodies where required
• Drive innovation and development of digital capabilities where required
• Add value in commercial as well as technical discussions, and provide training that is beneficial / informative to internal clients 

 
Accountability: Risk and Control: 

• Actively raise the profile of the Legal function and improve on Legal Key Risk
• management and awareness by embedding legal policies and control requirements in all areas of the business.
• Provide appropriate challenge and equally be robust in the face of challenge | Risk and Control: Build strong risk partnerships with colleagues in other functions (especially key control areas)
• Fully understands the role of Legal in AGL and how it interacts with other functions and the business.

Accountability: Teamwork: 

• Proactively collaborates across different teams and geographies within Legal to break down silos
• Provide objective and constructive feedback and openly shares knowledge and expertise

Accountability:  Technical

• Acts as a trusted adviser to business and other infrastructure areas, and understands market and legal developments and their impact on business
• Contribute to industry-wide initiatives and have a good network amongst peer group externally

Education and Experience:

• The prospective candidate should have the requisite legal qualification and a minimum of ten (10) years post admission experience as well as being an admitted attorney of the high court.
• Experience in matters of a commercial and contractual nature will be valuable including the drafting, negotiating and reviewing and vetting of various types of agreements and contracts across the Group. Exposure to various bodies of legislation across an array of jurisdictions including local, regional and international legislation and providing advice across the geographical footprint and various business areas of the Group in respect of such legislation. 
• Previous experience and exposure to Intellectual Property matters will be advantageous as well exposure to commercial, financial and regulatory matters and various types of entities in the private and public sector which the Group may engage and contract with.  
• To develop tactical strategy and delivery plans, formulate associated practice/s and to ensure operational implementation and adoption in terms of legal methodology, governance and delivery objectives. To provide highly specialised legal advice and support to the dedicated area of support.

Education

• Bachelor Honours Degree: Law, Military Science and Security (Required)