255 Head Of Legal jobs in South Africa

Cape Town or Johannesburg, ZA - Hybrid (Remote and In Person).

Envusa Energy is a licensed energy trader and a 50-50 joint venture between EDF power solutions and Anglo American. The company is at the forefront of delivering innovative renewable energy solutions to private offtakers across Southern Africa and is on track to deliver 3–5 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.

With its first 520 MW of wind and solar projects already under construction and expected to supply power by Q4 2025, Envusa Energy is helping to decarbonize industry and create a sustainable energy future. As part of a global partnership, Envusa brings together EDF’s renewable expertise and Anglo American’s leadership in sustainable mining.

The Head of Legal will provide strategic legal leadership to Envusa Energy and its group of companies, reporting directly to the CEO. This senior role requires you to act as a trusted advisor to the ExCo and project leaders, ensuring that all business activities—from development and bidding to financing, construction, and operations—are legally sound, compliant, and strategically aligned.

You will lead a growing legal function, manage relationships with external counsel, and oversee all regulatory, contractual, and governance obligations. This is a pivotal position with responsibility for safeguarding Envusa’s legal interests, managing risk exposure, and contributing to the company’s long-term success in the renewable energy sector.

• Develop and execute Envusa’s legal strategy aligned to corporate and project objectives
• Act as the legal advisor to the CEO, ExCo, and project teams on all legal and contractual matters
• Lead, mentor, and develop the legal team to ensure growth and succession planning
• Ensure consistent legal support across all Envusa subsidiaries and entities
• Legal Compliance & Risk Management
• Ensure compliance with South African and international laws and regulations
• Monitor, interpret, and implement legislative and regulatory changes
• Identify potential legal risks and implement risk mitigation strategies
• Oversee regulatory affairs and act as liaison with authorities and industry regulators
• Contract Management
• Draft, review, and negotiate multi-million Rand contracts, including PPAs, IAs, Construction & EPC contracts, O&M contracts, Finance agreements and vendor agreements
• Maintain contract templates, processes, and best practice standards
• Manage legal disputes, litigation, and arbitration matters
• Collaborate with and manage external counsel when required
• Oversee intellectual property rights, licensing, and IP-related disputes
• Ethics, Compliance & Governance
• Drive a strong culture of ethics, compliance, and integrity across Envusa
• Develop and deliver compliance and governance training to staff and board members
• Ensure compliance with the Companies Act, King Code, and corporate governance frameworks
• Ensure statutory reporting obligations are met and legal budget is well managed

• LLB degree and admission as an attorney or advocate (essential)
• Minimum 15 years’ professional legal experience with at least 10 years in project development, construction, and project finance
• Strong knowledge of South African legal and regulatory frameworks and corporate governance requirements (Companies Act, King Code)
• Expertise in renewable energy project legal matters, including drafting and negotiating EPC, finance, and offtake agreements
• Proven ability to manage large, complex legal portfolios, litigation, and regulatory compliance

Join Envusa Energy and play a key role in shaping the legal foundation of one of Southern Africa’s leading renewable energy companies. You’ll:

• Lead legal strategy at executive level
• Work on landmark renewable projects driving decarbonisation
• Collaborate with global leaders EDF Renewables and Anglo American
• Make a lasting impact on South Africa’s energy future

By submitting your profile, you expressly consent to the processing of your personal information as defined in the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).

Cape Town or Johannesburg, ZA - Hybrid (Remote and In Person).

Envusa Energy is a licensed energy trader and a 50-50 joint venture between EDF power solutions and Anglo American. The company is at the forefront of delivering innovative renewable energy solutions to private offtakers across Southern Africa and is on track to deliver 3–5 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.

With its first 520 MW of wind and solar projects already under construction and expected to supply power by Q4 2025, Envusa Energy is helping to decarbonize industry and create a sustainable energy future. As part of a global partnership, Envusa brings together EDF’s renewable expertise and Anglo American’s leadership in sustainable mining.

The Head of Legal will provide strategic legal leadership to Envusa Energy and its group of companies, reporting directly to the CEO. This senior role requires you to act as a trusted advisor to the ExCo and project leaders, ensuring that all business activities—from development and bidding to financing, construction, and operations—are legally sound, compliant, and strategically aligned.

You will lead a growing legal function, manage relationships with external counsel, and oversee all regulatory, contractual, and governance obligations. This is a pivotal position with responsibility for safeguarding Envusa’s legal interests, managing risk exposure, and contributing to the company’s long-term success in the renewable energy sector.

• Develop and execute Envusa’s legal strategy aligned to corporate and project objectives
• Act as the legal advisor to the CEO, ExCo, and project teams on all legal and contractual matters
• Lead, mentor, and develop the legal team to ensure growth and succession planning
• Ensure consistent legal support across all Envusa subsidiaries and entities
• Legal Compliance & Risk Management
• Ensure compliance with South African and international laws and regulations
• Monitor, interpret, and implement legislative and regulatory changes
• Identify potential legal risks and implement risk mitigation strategies
• Oversee regulatory affairs and act as liaison with authorities and industry regulators
• Contract Management
• Draft, review, and negotiate multi-million Rand contracts, including PPAs, IAs, Construction & EPC contracts, O&M contracts, Finance agreements and vendor agreements
• Maintain contract templates, processes, and best practice standards
• Manage legal disputes, litigation, and arbitration matters
• Collaborate with and manage external counsel when required
• Oversee intellectual property rights, licensing, and IP-related disputes
• Ethics, Compliance & Governance
• Drive a strong culture of ethics, compliance, and integrity across Envusa
• Develop and deliver compliance and governance training to staff and board members
• Ensure compliance with the Companies Act, King Code, and corporate governance frameworks
• Ensure statutory reporting obligations are met and legal budget is well managed

• LLB degree and admission as an attorney or advocate (essential)
• Minimum 15 years’ professional legal experience with at least 10 years in project development, construction, and project finance
• Strong knowledge of South African legal and regulatory frameworks and corporate governance requirements (Companies Act, King Code)
• Expertise in renewable energy project legal matters, including drafting and negotiating EPC, finance, and offtake agreements
• Proven ability to manage large, complex legal portfolios, litigation, and regulatory compliance

Join Envusa Energy and play a key role in shaping the legal foundation of one of Southern Africa’s leading renewable energy companies. You’ll:

• Lead legal strategy at executive level
• Work on landmark renewable projects driving decarbonisation
• Collaborate with global leaders EDF Renewables and Anglo American
• Make a lasting impact on South Africa’s energy future

By submitting your profile, you expressly consent to the processing of your personal information as defined in the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).

We're on the hunt for a Head of Legal. Are you passionate about enabling business growth through sound legal frameworks, proactive risk management, and regulatory insight? Do you thrive in a collaborative team? If so, we're eager to learn more about you

As Head of Legal, you will lead the legal response to regulatory developments, embed legal input into business planning and product design, and manage legal risk across the organisation. You will oversee contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, and external legal relationships, ensuring legal advice is practical, commercially viable, and aligned with business goals. You will bring deep expertise in regulatory frameworks, leadership in legal risk management, experience with complex commercial contracts, and the ability to influence stakeholders and translate legal requirements into business processes.

If you have the following:

• An LLB degree and admission as an Attorney or Advocate
• At least 10 years' post-admission experience, including 5 years in the insurance or financial services sector
• 3–5 years in a senior legal role, with experience advising executive leadership or board-level stakeholders
• A strong track record in negotiating commercial contracts and applying legislation such as FAIS, LTIA/STIA, POPIA, and FICA

We'd love to hear from you

To develop and drive the successful delivery of the Legal strategy and the effective running of the function, ensuring the attainment of Sasria objectives internally and externally through provision of sound legal risk management expertise.

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
• Master's degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Management, Law, or a related field will be an added advantage.
• Admitted Legal Practitioner, registered with the Legal Practice Council.

• Minimum 5 years of relevant management experience, leading a legal function, resolution of disputes and differences including performance management issues, interacting with and providing legal advisory services to executive management.
• Experience in managing and resolving complex issues, legal and litigation matters.
• Key stakeholder engagement and influence.

• Proactively direct and oversee the Legal function, ensuring that the organisation remains compliant with all relevant legal prescripts including legislation, regulations and directives.
• Collaborate with the executive management team to provide legal advice to and advance Sasria's interest.
• Provide strategic advice and counsel to the company in terms of the legal impact of strategic plans and actions – locally or internationally.
• Develop and implement legal risk management framework, strategies, policies, ensuring alignment with the overall organisational strategy.
• Develop the function's operational plans and monitor implementation thereof.

• Be the strategic and technical lead on legal and legal risk management matters.
• Provide legal services and guidance to the organisation as needed on matters including contracts, short term insurance, labour law, and company law among others.
• Provide general legal advice pertaining to organisational decisions regarding scope, mandate, and shareholder interactions.
• In collaboration with the executive management, manage various complex legal projects and litigation.
• Collaborate with external legal counsel and other stakeholders to facilitate and ensure attainment of organisational objectives.

Compliance

• Collaborate with the Compliance Function to ensure that the framework for Legal and Compliance risk management is in alignment with Sasria's enterprise risk management.

• Oversee management of contracts and service level agreements.
• Drive the reduction of Corporate Risk by ensuring all contractual relationships are done in compliance with Sasria and legal requirements.
• Facilitate the appointment and management of the panel of attorneys.
• Represent Sasria in regulatory forums (e.g., SAIA legal committee).
• Participate in Risk and Audit Committee meetings as invited and provide necessary reports on a regular basis and in accordance with applicable governance frameworks including Prudential Standards, King Code IV & compliance standards.

• Compile and manage functional budget forecasts.
• Manage legal costs where applicable and oversee the taxation of costs.

• Ensure adequate capacity resourcing for the function to successfully execute its mandate.
• Recruit and develop skilled staff.
• Oversee, support, coach, and develop performance of direct reports, ensuring agreed performance targets are met.
• Address non-performance accordingly.
• Talent management of direct reports, including career development and succession planning for key positions.
• Ensure that the working environment contributes to improving staff morale and increasing productivity.

A well-established short term insurer is seeking to appoint a Head of Legal

To develop and drive the successful delivery of the Legal strategy and the effective running of the function, ensuring the attainment of objectives internally and externally through provision of sound legal risk management expertise.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
• Master 's degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Management, Law, or a related field will be an added advantage.
• Admitted Legal Practitioner, registered with the Legal Practice Council.
• Must come from short -term insurance or financial sector background

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant management experience, leading a legal function, resolution of disputes and differences including performance management issues, interacting with and providing legal advisory services to executive management.
• Experience in managing and resolving complex issues, legal and litigation matters.
• Key stakeholder engagement and influence.
• Proactively direct and oversee the Legal function, ensuring that the organisation remains compliant with all relevant legal prescripts including legislation, regulations and directives.
• Provide legal services and guidance to the organization as needed on matters including contracts, short term insurance, labour law, and company law among others.
• Provide general legal advice pertaining to organizational decisions regarding scope, mandate, and shareholder interactions.
• Oversee management of contracts and service level agreements.
• Drive the reduction of Corporate Risk by ensuring all contractual relationships are done in compliance with legal requirements.
• Facilitate the appointment and management of the panel of attorneys.

Please note that if you have not received a response within 14 days of submitting your application that your application was unsuccessful.

However, please keep a lookout on our website, for available positions which may be inline with your career aspirations.

For more information please contact:

Audra King

The Client

Our client is a consulting firm specialising in providing high quality advisory services to clients in the financial services and corporate sectors .They are establishing a presence in South Africa, and seeking a Head of Legal to lead the commercial legal function of the firm.

Job Purpose

The role exists to provide strategic leadership, expert legal advice, and commercial oversight in support of the firm's global risk and compliance practice. A key focus will be advising on incorporations, corporate structures, governance, and regulatory compliance, while also managing complex commercial contracts and client engagements.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute the commercial and legal strategy of the firm in alignment with global objectives.
• Drive growth of the commercial practice through business development, client acquisition, and retention.
• Lead regional and cross-border initiatives to strengthen the firm's position in risk, compliance, and corporate advisory services.
• Represent the firm with regulators, industry bodies, and global stakeholders.

Legal Advisory

• Provide expert advice on incorporations, structuring, and licensing of businesses across multiple jurisdictions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial contracts.
• Advise on corporate governance frameworks, company secretarial matters, and regulatory compliance obligations.
• Support cross-border transactions, ensuring alignment with local laws and global compliance standards.
• Act as the escalation point for complex legal queries across the global business.

Commercial Management

• Lead the structuring and negotiation of client engagements, fee arrangements, and strategic partnerships.
• Identify new market opportunities and lead service line expansion in commercial legal and compliance advisory.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key clients, regulators, and industry stakeholders.

People & Office Leadership

• Establish and manage regional legal and commercial teams, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
• Mentor and develop junior team members and support staff.
• Drive knowledge-sharing and best practices across the firm's global offices.
• Act as a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to firm-wide strategy and decision-making.

Skills

• Excellent knowledge of corporate and commercial law across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong business development and client relationship management skills.
• Commercially minded with financial acumen and the ability to contribute to business strategy.
• Exceptional leadership, mentoring, and team-building capabilities.
• High-level communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability with a practical, solution-oriented approach.

Experience

• Minimum 10–12 years post-qualification experiences in corporate and commercial law.
• Strong track record advising on incorporations, corporate structuring, governance, and regulatory compliance.
• Proven experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to work with multinational corporations, regulators, and cross-border teams.
• Prior leadership or senior management experience within a legal, GRC consultancy, or professional services firm.

Qualifications

• Law Degree: LLB (or equivalent) from a recognized institution; LLM in Commercial or Corporate Law essential for this role.
• Admitted to practice law in South Africa (additional admission in other common law jurisdictions is a plus).

To develop and drive the successful delivery of the Legal strategy and the effective running of the function, ensuring the attainment of Sasria objectives internally and externally through provision of sound legal risk management expertise.

Closing Date

2025/09/25

Reference Number

SAS

Job Title

Head of Legal

Job Type

Permanent

Division

Governance and Secretariat

Department

Legal

EE Occupational Levels

Level 7: Middle and Senior Management

Location - Town / City

Sandton

Location - Province

Gauteng

Location - Country

South Africa

Job Advert Summary

To develop and drive the successful delivery of the Legal strategy and the effective running of the function, ensuring the attainment of Sasria objectives internally and externally through provision of sound legal risk management expertise.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
• Master's degree in Commerce, Business Administration, Management, Law, or a related field will be an added advantage.
• Admitted Legal Practitioner, registered with the Legal Practice Council.

• Minimum 5 years of relevant management experience, leading a legal function, resolution of disputes and differences including performance management issues, interacting with and providing legal advisory services to executive management.
• Experience in managing and resolving complex issues, legal and litigation matters.
• Key stakeholder engagement and influence.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Proactively direct and oversee the Legal function, ensuring that the organisation remains compliant with all relevant legal prescripts including legislation, regulations and directives.
• Collaborate with the executive management team to provide legal advice to and advance Sasria's interest.
• Provide strategic advice and counsel to the company in terms of the legal impact of strategic plans and actions – locally or internationally.
• Develop and implement legal risk management framework, strategies, policies, ensuring alignment with the overall organisational strategy.
• Develop the function's operational plans and monitor implementation thereof.

• Be the strategic and technical lead on legal and legal risk management matters.
• Provide legal services and guidance to the organisation as needed on matters including contracts, short term insurance, labour law, and company law among others.
• Provide general legal advice pertaining to organisational decisions regarding scope, mandate, and shareholder interactions.
• In collaboration with the executive management, manage various complex legal projects and litigation.
• Collaborate with external legal counsel and other stakeholders to facilitate and ensure attainment of organisational objectives.

Compliance

• Collaborate with the Compliance Function to ensure that the framework for Legal and Compliance risk management is in alignment with Sasria's enterprise risk management.

• Oversee management of contracts and service level agreements.
• Drive the reduction of Corporate Risk by ensuring all contractual relationships are done in compliance with Sasria and legal requirements.
• Facilitate the appointment and management of the panel of attorneys.
• Represent Sasria in regulatory forums (e.g., SAIA legal committee).
• Participate in Risk and Audit Committee meetings as invited and provide necessary reports on a regular basis and in accordance with applicable governance frameworks including Prudential Standards, King Code IV & compliance standards.

• Compile and manage functional budget forecasts.
• Manage legal costs where applicable and oversee the taxation of costs.

• Ensure adequate capacity resourcing for the function to successfully execute its mandate.
• Recruit and develop skilled staff.
• Oversee, support, coach, and develop performance of direct reports, ensuring agreed performance targets are met.
• Address non-performance accordingly.
• Talent management of direct reports, including career development and succession planning for key positions.
• Ensure that the working environment contributes to improving staff morale and increasing productivity.

We are committed to Employment Equity when recruiting internally and externally. It is company policy to promote from within wherever possible. Therefore, please be aware that internal candidates will be considered first before reviewing external applicants, provided that this supports achievement of our Employment Equity goals.

Cape Town or Johannesburg, ZA - Hybrid (Remote and In Person).

Envusa Energy is a licensed energy trader and a 50-50 joint venture between EDF power solutions and Anglo American. The company is at the forefront of delivering innovative renewable energy solutions to private offtakers across Southern Africa and is on track to deliver 3–5 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.

With its first 520 MW of wind and solar projects already under construction and expected to supply power by Q4 2025, Envusa Energy is helping to decarbonize industry and create a sustainable energy future. As part of a global partnership, Envusa brings together EDF’s renewable expertise and Anglo American’s leadership in sustainable mining.

The Head of Legal will provide strategic legal leadership to Envusa Energy and its group of companies, reporting directly to the CEO. This senior role requires you to act as a trusted advisor to the ExCo and project leaders, ensuring that all business activities—from development and bidding to financing, construction, and operations—are legally sound, compliant, and strategically aligned.

You will lead a growing legal function, manage relationships with external counsel, and oversee all regulatory, contractual, and governance obligations. This is a pivotal position with responsibility for safeguarding Envusa’s legal interests, managing risk exposure, and contributing to the company’s long-term success in the renewable energy sector.

• Develop and execute Envusa’s legal strategy aligned to corporate and project objectives
• Act as the legal advisor to the CEO, ExCo, and project teams on all legal and contractual matters
• Lead, mentor, and develop the legal team to ensure growth and succession planning
• Ensure consistent legal support across all Envusa subsidiaries and entities
• Legal Compliance & Risk Management
• Ensure compliance with South African and international laws and regulations
• Monitor, interpret, and implement legislative and regulatory changes
• Identify potential legal risks and implement risk mitigation strategies
• Oversee regulatory affairs and act as liaison with authorities and industry regulators
• Contract Management
• Draft, review, and negotiate multi-million Rand contracts, including PPAs, IAs, Construction & EPC contracts, O&M contracts, Finance agreements and vendor agreements
• Maintain contract templates, processes, and best practice standards
• Manage legal disputes, litigation, and arbitration matters
• Collaborate with and manage external counsel when required
• Oversee intellectual property rights, licensing, and IP-related disputes
• Ethics, Compliance & Governance
• Drive a strong culture of ethics, compliance, and integrity across Envusa
• Develop and deliver compliance and governance training to staff and board members
• Ensure compliance with the Companies Act, King Code, and corporate governance frameworks
• Ensure statutory reporting obligations are met and legal budget is well managed

• LLB degree and admission as an attorney or advocate (essential)
• Minimum 15 years’ professional legal experience with at least 10 years in project development, construction, and project finance
• Strong knowledge of South African legal and regulatory frameworks and corporate governance requirements (Companies Act, King Code)
• Expertise in renewable energy project legal matters, including drafting and negotiating EPC, finance, and offtake agreements
• Proven ability to manage large, complex legal portfolios, litigation, and regulatory compliance

Join Envusa Energy and play a key role in shaping the legal foundation of one of Southern Africa’s leading renewable energy companies. You’ll:

• Lead legal strategy at executive level
• Work on landmark renewable projects driving decarbonisation
• Collaborate with global leaders EDF Renewables and Anglo American
• Make a lasting impact on South Africa’s energy future

By submitting your profile, you expressly consent to the processing of your personal information as defined in the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA).