Legal Advisor – Commercial Banking Sandton, Johannesburg - FTC
Job Description
A leading commercial bank is seeking an experienced Legal Advisor to join its Commercial Banking division on a 6-month fixed-term contract to provide maternity cover.
This is an exciting opportunity for an Admitted Attorney with experience in commercial banking, lending transactions, trade finance and secured finance to support high-value banking transactions and provide commercially focused legal advice across a broad range of banking products.
Working closely with Credit, Sales and Business teams, you will provide legal oversight throughout the transaction lifecycle, from structuring and drafting through to negotiation, execution and enforcement.
The Opportunity
As a Legal Advisor within the Commercial Banking division, you will provide legal support on complex lending and transactional banking matters while ensuring compliance with banking regulations, internal policies and legal best practice.
You will work with internal stakeholders, external legal advisors and corporate clients to negotiate and finalise documentation supporting a wide range of commercial banking products.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Banking Legal Support
- Draft, review, negotiate and implement commercial banking and finance agreements.
- Provide legal oversight on lending transactions and transactional banking matters.
- Identify legal risks and provide commercially practical solutions.
- Support transaction structuring alongside Credit and Business teams.
- Ensure legal documentation complies with applicable legislation and internal policies.
Banking & Finance Documentation
Prepare, negotiate and finalise documentation relating to:
- Import Finance
- Trade Finance
- Debtors Finance
- Borrowing Base Lending
- Supplier Finance
- Working Capital Finance
- Asset Finance
- Term Debt Facilities
- Credit Card Facilities
- Overdraft Facilities
- Third-Party Payment Provider Agreements
- Corporate Payment Channel Agreements (Rapid Payment Programme)
Security & Transaction Documentation
Draft, review and negotiate:
- Facility Agreements
- Security Agreements
- Cessions
- Pledges
- Mortgage & Notarial Bonds
- Guarantees
- Property Security Documentation
- Indemnity Agreements
- Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
- Intercreditor Agreements
- Mandate Letters
- Term Sheets
- Expressions of Interest
- Letters of Good Standing
Legal Risk & Governance
- Review constitutional documents including MOIs, Trust Deeds and Board Resolutions.
- Review operational and commercial agreements.
- Ensure legal advice is commercially sound and practically implementable.
- Support legal compliance across banking products.
- Manage Conditions Precedent for lending transactions.
Advisory & Stakeholder Management
- Work closely with Credit, Sales and Product teams.
- Liaise with external attorneys.
- Negotiate legal documentation directly with clients and their legal representatives.
- Support new product development and legal implementation.
- Assist with restructures, distressed debt, business rescue and insolvency matters.
- Assist with complaints, Ombud matters and litigation queries.
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications
- Admitted Attorney.
- LLB Degree.
Experience
- Minimum 3 - 5 years' post-admission experience.
- Experience within commercial banking, banking & finance or financial services.
- Strong experience drafting and negotiating lending and security documentation.
- Experience supporting commercial lending transactions.
- Exposure to transactional banking products.
- Experience managing legal workstreams and transaction execution.
Technical Knowledge
Strong working knowledge of:
- Commercial Banking
- Banking & Finance Law
- Lending Products
- Trade Finance
- Import Finance
- Working Capital Finance
- Asset Finance
- Debtors Finance
- Borrowing Base Lending
- Supplier Finance
- Security Agreements
- Facility Agreements
- Guarantees
- Cessions
- Pledges
- Bonds
- Intercreditor Agreements
- Conditions Precedent
- Mandate Letters
- Term Sheets
- Corporate Governance
- Insolvency
- Business Rescue
- National Payment System
- Payments Association of South Africa (PASA)
Personal Attributes
- Strong commercial acumen
- Excellent drafting and negotiation skills
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Strong stakeholder management skills
- Solutions-driven mindset
- Ability to work in a fast-paced banking environment
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
Remuneration
Market Related
Why Apply?
This is an excellent opportunity to join one of South Africa's leading commercial banks and gain exposure to sophisticated banking and finance transactions within a collaborative legal team.
Brought to you by AGC Legal Recruitment
Required Skills
Legal Advisor, Banking Attorney, Commercial Banking, Banking & Finance Lawyer, Corporate Commercial Lawyer, Trade Finance, Import Finance, Admitted Attorney, Borrowing Base Lending, Debtors Finance, Lending Finance, Supplier Finance, Working Capital Finance, Asset Financ, Lending Products, Facility Agreements, Security Agreements, Terms Sheets, Cessions, Pledges, Financial Services, Contract Drafting
Experience Required
3 - 10 years
Practice Area / Sector
Not the Right Fit?
If this role isn't quite right for you, we'd still love to hear from you. AGC Legal regularly places candidates in legal, compliance, risk and governance positions across EMEA, the Commonwealth and beyond.