Legal Advisor, Business & Commercial Banking

Standard Bank Group is a leading Africa-focused financial services group, and an innovative player on the global stage, that offers a variety of career-enhancing opportunities – plus the chance to work alongside some of the sector’s most talented, motivated professionals. Our clients range from individuals, to businesses of all sizes, high net worth families and large multinational corporates and institutions. We’re passionate about creating growth in Africa. Bringing true, meaningful value to our clients and the communities we serve and creating a real sense of purpose for you.

To provide legal advisory and transactional support to the Business & Commercial Banking business unit by drafting, reviewing and negotiating credit, security and other banking-related documentation, conducting legal due diligence, identifying and mitigating legal risk, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. To act as legal counsel to the Bank in negotiations and provide commercially focused legal advice in support of business objectives.

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Law.
• Qualified lawyer with a minimum of 5 years’ post-qualification experience in banking and finance law.

Experience Required

• 5–7 years’ experience in the provision of legal advice, drafting, vetting, reviewing, disseminating and negotiating legal documentation.
• At least 5 years’ experience within the legal, financial, corporate or commercial sectors.
• Experience identifying and mitigating legal risk.
• At least 3 years’ leadership or people management experience (direct or indirect), where applicable.
• Strong, demonstrable experience in credit transactional work within business or commercial banking.
• Proven track record negotiating complex lending and security documentation.

• Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of credit lending and other legal documentation, including facility agreements and security documents.
• Provide legal advice on complex bank transactions and structured facilities.
• Manage legal risk on transactions and product documents, escalating significant issues appropriately.
• Act as a senior point of contact within the Legal Division for the Business & Commercial Banking business unit on contractual and credit-related legal queries.
• Coach, mentor and supervise junior legal team members.
• Manage relationships with external law firms, including negotiating fees and overseeing instructions.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Ability to work independently and provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Strong communication and influencing capability.
• High levels of integrity and professional judgement.

Technical Competencies:

• Sound understanding of banking products and services.
• Credit and lending documentation expertise.
• Strong legal drafting and negotiation skills.
• Legal risk identification and management.
• Financial services regulatory and compliance knowledge.

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