The Legal Advisor is responsible for providing practical legal and commercial advice across an allocated portfolio and for independently managing matters from instruction through to conclusion.
The role involves working directly with business stakeholders on client, supplier, third-party and internal matters, including commercial contracting, bids and proposals, disputes, legal risk and general corporate matters.
Each Legal Advisor is expected to take ownership of their portfolio, act as a trusted legal partner to the business and exercise sound judgement in identifying and managing risk. Complex, material or high-risk matters should be escalated where appropriate, with all matters managed in accordance with applicable legal policies, contracting standards and governance requirements.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Provide Legal and Commercial Advice
Provide legal and commercial advice to business stakeholders on client, supplier, third-party and internal matters.
Act as the primary legal contact for allocated matters and manage them from instruction through to conclusion.
Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements, including client, supplier, service, confidentiality and data processing agreements
Advise on contractual rights, obligations, legal risks and practical mitigation measures.
Escalate complex, material or specialist matters where appropriate.
Bids, Proposals and Transactions
Provide legal support on client bids, proposals and commercial transactions.
Review tender documentation and contractual requirements and identify material legal and commercial risks.
Draft and negotiate contractual deviations and amendments.
Work with sales, commercial and bid teams to progress transactions while ensuring compliance with applicable approval and governance requirements.
Legal Risk and Governance
Identify, assess and manage legal risk within the allocated portfolio.
Ensure matters are managed in accordance with applicable NTT DATA legal policies and contracting standards.
Work collaboratively with Risk, Compliance, Privacy, Regulatory and other specialist functions.
Contribute to the development of legal policies, templates and guidance where required.
Disputes and Legal Matters
Manage disputes and contentious matters within the allocated portfolio.
Advise on contractual rights, remedies and dispute strategy.
Coordinate and manage external legal counsel where required.
Support litigation, arbitration, mediation and settlement processes.
Provide legal support on corporate transactions and other strategic matters as allocated.
Stakeholder Management
Develop strong relationships with business stakeholders and act as a trusted legal adviser.
Provide clear, practical and commercially focused legal advice.
Balance legal risk with commercial objectives and business requirements.
Collaborate with the broader Legal team to ensure a consistent approach to legal and commercial risk.
Knowledge, Skills and Attributes
Sound knowledge of commercial and contract law.
Strong legal drafting, analytical and negotiation skills.
Ability to identify legal and contractual risks and develop practical solutions.
Commercially minded with sound judgement and problem-solving ability.
Ability to independently manage an allocated portfolio of matters.
Ability to work effectively in a complex, multinational organisation and collaborate across different functions, jurisdictions and cultures.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Good stakeholder-management and interpersonal skills.
Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
High levels of integrity, professionalism and attention to detail.
An interest in technology and IT services environment would be advantageous.
Academic Qualifications and Certifications
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree is required.
Admission as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa is preferred.
Additional relevant legal or commercial qualifications would be advantageous.
Required Experience
Minimum of approximately two years' post-admission/post-qualification experience (PQE), or at least five years' relevant legal experience.
Experience gained within a law firm, in-house legal team or similar legal environment.
Experience working within a multinational or global organisation, including exposure to cross-border or multi-jurisdictional matters, would be advantageous.
Practical experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements.
Experience independently managing legal matters and engaging directly with business or client stakeholders.
Exposure to commercial contracting, disputes, corporate legal matters or commercial transactions would be advantageous.
Experience within a technology, telecommunications, IT services or multinational environment would be advantageous but is not essential.