Legal Counsel II

The Takealot Group, a dominant force in African e-commerce and the nation's most customer-centric online shopping destination, is actively seeking a skilled Legal Counsel II to bolster its legal department in Cape Town. This is an exciting opportunity to join a rapidly expanding, forward-thinking organisation that values innovation, integrity, and a dedicated work ethic. If you thrive in a challenging environment and are driven to contribute to significant growth, this role might be an excellent fit.

About the Role

As a Legal Counsel II within the Takealot Group, you will be instrumental in providing comprehensive legal support across various facets of the business. Your expertise will be called upon to safeguard the company's interests, ensure compliance, and facilitate smooth operational progress. This position demands a proactive approach, requiring you to anticipate legal needs and offer insightful guidance to different business units, including Takealot.com and MrD. The company fosters a dynamic and collaborative work environment, offering a flexible remuneration package designed to meet your individual needs, alongside a commitment to ensuring that no two days are the same, provided you embrace challenges and aspire to build something impactful.

The responsibilities of this Legal Counsel II are diverse and critical to the Takealot Group's ongoing success. Your key duties will encompass:

• **Contractual Expertise:** Drafting, scrutinising, and actively participating in the negotiation of a wide array of commercial contracts for entities within the Takealot Group, such as Takealot.com and MrD. This includes the ongoing improvement and updating of existing template documents.
• **Dispute Resolution:** Providing expert advice and managing general litigation matters, as well as handling specific dispute resolution processes.
• **Employment Law:** Offering counsel and managing legal affairs pertaining to employment law.
• **Franchise Network:** Advising on and attending to legal matters related to the franchise network.
• **Banking and Finance:** Providing legal guidance and managing aspects of banking and finance law.
• **Intellectual Property:** Overseeing the Takealot Group’s intellectual property portfolio, including assisting with the resolution of disputes concerning intellectual property.
• **Legal Monitoring and Research:** Keeping abreast of new legal developments that may impact the Group, conducting thorough legal research, and preparing legal opinions to guide decision-making.
• **Stakeholder Engagement:** Building and maintaining strong working relationships with internal stakeholders across Takealot.com, MrD, and the broader Group as needed.
• **Team Development:** Contributing to the mentorship and professional development of other members within the legal team.
• **Legal Tech Integration:** Assisting in the design, implementation, and management of software and AI technologies, including their associated standard operating procedures, to enhance the scalability and efficiency of legal service delivery to Takealot.com, MrD, and the Group.
• **General Legal Support:** Providing ad-hoc legal assistance to the wider legal team as and when required.

What They're Looking For

To excel in this role, candidates should possess a strong foundation in South African law and a proven track record in corporate and commercial legal practice. Essential qualifications and experience include:

• An LLB degree.
• Admission as an attorney or advocate in South Africa.
• A minimum of 5 to 8 years of post-admission experience. This experience should ideally be gained at the bar, within a reputable law firm, or in the in-house legal department of a large corporation.
• Demonstrated expertise in corporate and commercial law, with a particular emphasis on drafting and reviewing contracts.
• Previous experience in leading or mentoring legal professionals.

While not strictly required, experience within the e-commerce or retail sectors would be a significant advantage for this position. The Takealot Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and preference will be given to applicants from previously disadvantaged groups and individuals with disabilities.

In South Africa, a Legal Counsel II role with this level of responsibility in a large corporate environment typically commands a competitive salary, often falling within the R600,000 to R1,000,000 per annum range, depending on experience and the specific remuneration structure offered. Major e-commerce players, retail giants, and established financial institutions are common employers for such positions. Career progression often leads to Senior Legal Counsel, Head of Legal, or General Counsel roles, with opportunities to specialise further or broaden expertise in managing legal departments and strategic legal initiatives.

• LLB, admitted attorney or advocate in South Africa
• 5-8 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 corporate and commercial law is essential, and particularly in drafting and reviewing contracts
• Experience leading and/or mentoring legal professionals
• Preferred: Experience in e-commerce or retail would be ideal