Legal Counsel: Intellectual Property

Job Summary

The prospective candidate should have the requisite legal qualification and between three (3) – five (5) 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 as this will be required across the Group and various international jurisdictions.

 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 and across AGL as may be required.

·       Demonstrates strong relationship management skills with clients

·       Plan and manage projects and matters through to completion, including around resourcing with the requisite support and supervision

·       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 on matters although supervision and support will be required as and where appropriate.

·       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 invoicing and reporting in respect of external spend as part of internal and external stakeholder relationships

·       Drive innovation and development of digital capabilities where required

·       Add value in commercial transactions as well as technical discussions and assist in training provided by the Team that is beneficial / informative to internal stakeholders.

·       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.

·       Engage in productive and robust debate in the faces of challenges, although support and supervision will be provided in such instances.

·       Risk and Control: Build strong risk partnerships with colleagues in other functions (especially key control areas) to entrench legal policies and control requirements

·       Fully understands the role of Legal in AGL and how it interacts with other functions and the business units across AGL.

·       Proactively collaborates across different teams and geographies within Legal to break down silos 

·       Provide objective and constructive feedback and openly shares knowledge and expertise

·       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

·       Support will be provided to enable the development of relationships with internal and external stakeholders, but it will be the responsibility of the candidate to foster such relationships.

• Admitted Attorney specializing in Intellectual Property and Commercial Contracts (Required);

• Three 3 to 5 years post qualification experience (PQE Required);

• Experience working in a Financial Institution (Preferred).

Education

Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank.

Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised