Legal Manager - Corporate

Role Overview

We are recruiting a Legal Manager - Corporate to join a leading independent power producer and renewable energy platform delivering large-scale energy infrastructure projects across South Africa and emerging markets.

Operating at the intersection of legal strategy, corporate finance and commercial execution, this role provides legal leadership across mergers and acquisitions, project investments, corporate transactions, governance, commercial contracting and regulatory compliance.

You will partner closely with executive leadership, investment teams and business units to structure and execute complex transactions, manage legal risk, support growth initiatives and ensure robust governance across a dynamic and rapidly expanding business.

This is a high-impact role suited to an experienced corporate commercial attorney who enjoys working on sophisticated transactions while influencing strategic business decisions.

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What You Will Do

Lead Strategic Transactions

• Structure, negotiate and execute mergers, acquisitions, disposals, restructures and joint venture transactions.
• Provide legal and commercial guidance on strategic growth initiatives and investment opportunities.
• Lead legal due diligence processes and advise on transactional risks and mitigation strategies.
• Draft and negotiate transaction documentation from term sheet through to closing.

Support Project Investments & Acquisitions

• Lead the legal workstreams associated with project acquisitions, disposals and corporate investments.
• Negotiate Share Purchase Agreements, Shareholders' Agreements, Subscription Agreements and development-related contracts.
• Support investment teams throughout project evaluation, transaction execution and governance approval processes.
• Manage external legal advisors and specialist consultants.

Partner on Corporate Finance Transactions

• Support equity investments, refinancing activities, funding transactions and other strategic financing initiatives.
• Review financing documentation and advise on legal implications of funding structures.
• Coordinate legal requirements leading to successful financial close.

Drive Commercial Legal Excellence

• Act as a trusted legal advisor to commercial, business development and operational teams.
• Draft, negotiate and review complex commercial agreements.
• Support strategic partnerships, customer contracts and commercial growth opportunities.
• Develop practical legal solutions that enable business objectives while protecting business interests.

Strengthen Governance & Compliance

• Ensure robust governance frameworks are maintained across the group structure.
• Support directors and executives on governance obligations, statutory requirements and fiduciary duties.
• Oversee corporate approvals, resolutions and governance documentation.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and implement compliance measures where required.

Manage Legal Risk

• Identify, assess and mitigate legal, regulatory and contractual risks.
• Provide commercially balanced risk-based advice to senior decision-makers.
• Support dispute management, claims and contentious matters where necessary.
• Establish best-practice legal processes and controls across the business.

Build Trusted Relationships

• Act as a strategic advisor to executive leadership.
• Build strong relationships with investors, financiers, regulators, external counsel and transaction counterparties.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams across complex projects and transactions.
• Mentor and support junior legal professionals while driving legal best practice.

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What Good Looks Like

• Complex transactions are executed efficiently, commercially and with appropriate risk management.
• Legal advice enables growth while protecting the organisation's long-term interests.
• Governance frameworks are robust, practical and consistently applied.
• Commercial agreements are well structured and aligned with business objectives.
• Legal risks are identified early and addressed proactively.
• Stakeholders view the legal function as a trusted business partner rather than a compliance gatekeeper.
• Executive leadership receives clear, pragmatic and commercially focused legal counsel.
• External advisors are effectively managed and deliver exceptional value.

This role is ideal for a commercially astute legal professional who thrives in a fast-moving investment and infrastructure environment, enjoys solving complex problems and is confident engaging with senior executives, investors and strategic partners.

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What We're Looking For

Minimum Requirements

• LLB or equivalent Law degree from an accredited institution.
• Admitted Attorney.
• 8–10 years post-qualification experience in corporate commercial law.
• Strong experience in mergers and acquisitions, transaction structuring and commercial contracting.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate complex, high-value agreements.
• Strong understanding of corporate governance, legal compliance and risk management.
• Exceptional drafting, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to balance legal risk with commercial opportunity.

Preferred

• Experience within renewable energy, infrastructure, project finance or private equity environments.
• Exposure to project acquisitions, investment transactions and energy-sector related agreements.
• Experience working in a high-growth, entrepreneurial or investment-driven business.
• Leadership experience managing legal teams and external advisors.

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What We Offer

• Exposure to some of the most significant energy and infrastructure transactions in the market.
• Direct engagement with executive leadership, investors, lenders and strategic stakeholders.
• A diverse portfolio spanning investments, acquisitions, governance, project finance and commercial transactions.
• Significant influence on strategic decision-making and business growth.
• An opportunity to shape and strengthen the legal function within a rapidly expanding organisation.
• A collaborative, high-performance environment that values commercial thinking and professional excellence.
• A market-related remuneration package.