Legal Counsel (Regulatory and Compliance)

The Takealot Group, a prominent player in South Africa's e-commerce landscape, is actively seeking a Legal Counsel specialising in Regulatory and Compliance to bolster its Cape Town-based legal team. This is an exciting opportunity within a fast-paced, hyper-growth environment that values integrity, intelligence, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. If you are a driven legal professional eager to contribute to a dynamic organisation and thrive on challenges, this role might be the perfect fit.

About the Role

As a Legal Counsel focused on Regulatory and Compliance, you will play a crucial role in safeguarding Takealot's operations by ensuring adherence to a complex web of legal requirements. You will be instrumental in developing and maintaining the organisation's regulatory and compliance framework, proactively identifying and mitigating risks. This position demands a sharp legal mind capable of navigating diverse legal domains and providing practical, actionable advice to various business units.

Your responsibilities will encompass a broad spectrum of legal and compliance-related activities. You will be expected to:

• Conduct thorough research into a wide array of legislation, with a particular focus on product compliance across various categories, consumer protection, competition law, and general trade regulations relevant to the South African market.
• Support the implementation and ongoing refinement of monitoring and oversight mechanisms designed to continuously assess and enhance the effectiveness of the organisation's overarching regulatory and compliance programme.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of template legal documents.
• Provide clear, concise, and insightful regulatory and compliance advice and guidance to stakeholders across the organisation, demonstrating a deep understanding of the operating environment.
• Assist in the resolution of disputes and provide support in regulatory litigation matters.
• Stay abreast of new legal developments that could impact the business and advise accordingly.
• Undertake legal research, draft well-reasoned legal opinions, and offer general legal counsel as required.
• Support the maintenance of legal compliance across all business functions, ensuring adherence to both South African operational requirements and any applicable international standards. This includes assisting in the rollout of policies and procedures related to legal compliance and key risk areas.
• Aid in the drafting and review of policy documents, including providing input on commercial contracts from a regulatory and legal compliance perspective.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive training and communications programme to elevate staff awareness and understanding of regulatory and compliance obligations.
• Assist in the collation of information and data necessary for management and shareholder reporting.
• Provide general support to the wider legal team as needed.

What They're Looking For

To excel in this role, candidates should possess a strong academic foundation and relevant professional experience. Key requirements include:

• An LLB degree and admission as an attorney or advocate in South Africa.
• Between one and three years of post-admission experience, gained either at the bar, within a reputable law firm, or in the in-house legal department of a substantial corporation.
• Essential experience in regulatory and/or compliance law.
• Experience in regulatory law, coupled with knowledge of e-commerce, retail, and/or litigation law, would be highly advantageous.

The Takealot Group is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and seeks individuals who are respectful, intelligent, collaborative, and dedicated to delivering an exceptional customer experience.

In South Africa, a Legal Counsel role with this focus typically commands a competitive salary, often structured as a total remuneration package that allows for flexibility. Employers in this space range from established e-commerce giants like Takealot to other significant retail operations and technology-driven businesses. Career progression can lead to senior legal positions, head of compliance roles, or specialisation in niche areas of law relevant to the digital economy.

• LLB, admitted attorney or advocate in South Africa
• 1-3 years post-admission experience at the bar, a well-established law firm, or in the in-house legal department of a large corporate
• Experience in regulatory and/or compliance law is essential
• Experience in regulatory and e-commerce, retail and/or litigation law would be ideal [Preferred]