5 Conflict Resolution jobs in South Africa

An
Associate or Senior Associate
role has become available to join the
Dispute Resolution
department at the
Johannesburg
offices of
ENS
.

OVERVIEW

The candidates will be expected to work, amongst others, with clients, counsel, correspondent attorneys and sheriffs, as well as be involved in and manage elements of pre-litigation, litigation processes (such as applications, actions, arbitrations and appeals) and alternative dispute resolution matters (such as negotiation or mediation).

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Consulting with clients and/or counsel
• Giving high quality legal advice to clients
• Discussing complex legal issues with clients, attorneys and counsel
• Analysing probable outcomes based on legal research
• Interpreting laws, rules and regulations
• Drafting legal opinions
• Drafting correspondence, pleadings and notices
• Gathering and compiling evidence
• Participating in the interview of witnesses and preparing witness statements
• Preparing cases for hearing by way of trial, applications or arbitration
• Maintaining the confidentiality of legal documents and client records
• Litigating in civil courts, tribunals and arbitrations
• Building and maintaining excellent relationships with clients
• Assisting directors with preparation of training and other presentations
• Undertaking the legal work to the highest professional and client care standards
• Contributing to the Team's and the firms Knowledge Banks

KEY REQUIREMENTS

The candidate should be an attorney admitted to practise in South Africa. In addition thereto, the candidate should possess the following:

• At least 3 years post articles experience in commercial litigation
• Strong academic background
• Court, arbitration and mediation experience will be an advantage
• A thorough knowledge of the procedural requirements of civil litigation, arbitrations and mediations
• Passion for litigation
• Keen to learn and grow
• The ability to self-regulate
• The ability to successfully work as a member of a team
• Being proactive in achieving goals and exceeding goals
• Going the extra mile
• Ability to work well under pressure without compromising work quality or standards
• Ability to handle high volumes and many matters as well as meet deadlines with the view to adding value to the business by delivering the required results
• Ability to assist with knowledge transfer to junior professionals and other fee earners and take advantage of team interactions
• Ability to produce consistent high quality work
• Display honesty and integrity at all times
• Ability to communicate well in writing and verbally, with good presentation skills
• Being proactive in marketing yourself, the team and the firm

It is also essential that the candidate demonstrates the ability to understand the needs of clients and to communicate effectively with them, as well as to manage client relations and practice management, in general. In addition, the candidate must be ambitious, achievement-oriented, focused and able to work well under pressure in a deadline-driven environment.

This is a demanding but stimulating position which will require working outside of normal office hours, when necessary.

ENS is committed to transformation and achieving equity in its workplaces. Preference will therefore be given to suitably qualified and skilled EE candidates. The closing date for all applications is close of business on
20 October 2025.

Ourclient is seeking a seasoned professional to act as a senior representative for our client’s long-term insurance division, engaging with various Ombudsman offices and regulatory authorities. This role focuses on alternative dispute resolution, providing expert guidance on legal and risk management matters to internal stakeholders. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring effective, compliant responses to client concerns and maintaining positive industry relationships.

Key Responsibilities:

• Actively support our client’s culture-building and transformation initiatives, including staff engagement activities and surveys.
• Participate in corporate social responsibility programs to advance business objectives.
• Identify and recommend process, system, and policy improvements, supporting the rollout of new practices.
• Ensure all complaints are accurately logged in the CRM database, providing a clear reference for tracking and resolution.
• Maintain thorough documentation for each complaint by recording physical and electronic copies as needed.
• Drive improvements in client service by identifying process gaps and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Work closely with business units to provide timely and satisfactory responses to complaints, monitoring progress to ensure optimal outcomes.
• Mitigate reputational and financial risks by addressing service gaps and compliance issues.
• Stay informed of relevant legislative updates and industry changes to ensure compliance and effectiveness in the role.
• Foster a growth-oriented environment by engaging in professional development and training to enhance skills and career growth.
• Share insights and knowledge with team members, maintaining a collaborative and informed workplace.
• Respond promptly to client and regulatory queries, ensuring accurate documentation, timely responses, and well-negotiated recommendations.
• Support claims processing by delivering necessary documentation and evidence for client claims.
• Develop and sustain effective relationships through workshops, forums, and regular updates on regulatory requirements.
• Engage proactively with the Ombudsman and regulatory bodies, ensuring timely and thorough responses to complaints to prevent penalties.
• Convey Ombudsman recommendations to the relevant business units, coordinating with unit managers to drive appropriate action.

Qualifications:

• Matric / Grade 12 / National Senior Certificate
• Advanced Diploma/National First Degree
• Admitted Attorney
• RE 5 Certification

Experience Required:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in long-term insurance dispute resolution with a focus on Ombudsman liaison and regulatory compliance.

Who are we?

Sanlam Life and Savings (SLS) is focused on serving our retail and corporate clients in South Africa and further developing our strategic advantages in the South African market. Sanlam Life and Savings consists of the following business units Retail Mass, Corporate, Risk and Savings, Glacier and various business enabling functions. The Sanlam Life and Savings Office provides strategic direction, coordination and support to the four clusters, as well as performing governance oversight that includes assurance provided by second line of defense functions in SLS, to enable us to meet our business objectives.

What will you do?

Core Tasks:

• Represent Sanlam's Litigation and Dispute Resolution Unit at required internal and external stakeholder engagements.
• Review and draft legal documents (among others: particulars of claims, legal notices etc).
• Provide various business with on time, up to date understandable, practical and relevant legal advice.
• Analyse disputes; consider, negotiate, implement and manage appropriate solutions.
• Facilitate the involvement of external lawyers.
• Mentor and train other legal advisors
• Consider practical and cost-effective dispute resolution alternatives.
• Research, prepare and draft opinions when required.
• Manage litigation matters.

What will make you successful in this role?

Role Requirements:

Qualifications:

• LLB or higher law degree
• Admitted attorney or advocate

Experience:

• At least 7 years' litigation experience (court appearances and alternative dispute resolution ADR)

Knowledge and Skills:

• Good knowledge of legislation impacting Sanlam, including the FSRA, Insurance Act and Prudential Standards, Retirement funds legislation, FAIS Act and Code of Conduct.
• Good knowledge and understanding of contract negotiating and drafting.
• Sound knowledge of legal research and writing of legal opinions.
• Analysis of and determining business impact of regulatory developments.
• Good knowledge of litigation and ADR processes.
• Drafting of pleadings and notices
• Computer skills (MS Office)
• Knowledge of the Financial Services industry
• Understanding of commercial contracts
• Experience in managing litigation matters

Personal Attributes

Business insight - Contributing through others

Builds networks - Contributing through others

Manages complexity - Contributing through others

Persuades - Contributing through others

Core Competencies

Being resilient - Contributing through others

Collaborates - Contributing through others

Cultivates innovation - Contributing through others

Customer focus - Contributing through others

Drives results - Contributing through others

Build a successful career with us

We're all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers.

Closing date: 19 September 2025

Our commitment to transformation

The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace as we believe that these are key components to ensuring a thriving and sustainable business in South Africa. The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.