Head of legal and compliance

SUMMARY:
Join our team as a Head of legal and compliance!
Are you a strategic thinker with a passion for navigating the complex landscape of legal and compliance? One of our esteemed clients, a leader in the gaming industry, is seeking a dynamic Head of Legal and Compliance to join their executive team. In this pivotal role, you will be at the forefront of our mission to ensure a robust legal framework that drives our business forward. If you’re ready to take your career to the next level and lead the legal and compliance function, we want to hear from you! Apply now and be part of our exciting journey in transforming the gaming landscape!

POSITION INFO:

JOB DESCRIPTION INFORMATION:

Job Title: Head of legal and compliance
Employment Type: Permanent, On-site
Work Location: Johannesburg - Sandton

JOB CONTEXT:
We're on the lookout for a Head pf legal and compliance to be the driving force behind our legal projects. As the Head of Legal and Compliance, you will collaborate closely with top management to deliver innovative legal solutions that mitigate risks tied to our strategic priorities and business initiatives. You will lead a skilled team in managing business contracts, analyzing bids and proposals, and overseeing the legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions, disposals, and due diligence. Additionally, you will navigate regulatory submissions, negotiate licensing conditions, and proactively assess Requests for Proposals and new legislation to ensure compliance. Your role will also involve leading the resolution of pre-claims to protect the company’s reputation and legal standing.


JOB SCOPE & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with business executives and business management across the company’s operations both nationally and internationally with regards specialised and generalised areas of law and compliance related to:

1. Legal claims, cases and representation whether insured or not.
2. Contracts and contract management.
3. Regulatory submissions and appearances including objections, pleas, affidavits, Heads of Argument, petitions, comments.
4. Strategic acquisitions and disposals.
5. Labour related matters.
6. Insolvency and business rescue related matters.
7. Debt recovery practice.
8. Dispute resolution whether litigation, arbitration and reviews and appeals.

• Research and keep up to date with relevant legislation in corporate/commercial, e-commerce and online gaming law, as well as leading practice in the field.
• Align strategy plans and business practice with changes in legislative requirements, gaming board regulations, license commitments and environmental imperatives.
• Deliver plans for an integrated legal, regulatory and compliance system (including processes, people, standards, management frameworks, practices and technology) to support the business strategy aligned to regulatory requirements, gaming board regulations, licence commitments and environmental imperatives.
• Manage the formulation, development and application of policies, procedures, standards, and partnerships linked to regulations and legislation.
• Leverage relationships and provide a solid legal foundation to support the competitive edge and business growth within the company.
• Engage with industry bodies representing the company’s gambling businesses insofar as legal and regulatory matters are concerned.
• Analyses and investigates case law and legislation relative to legal concerns, structure remedies and provide solutions / resolution to legal problems.
• Act as an advisor to leadership with regards to litigation decisions and advise and provide legal representation in the company’s commercial dealings.
• Prepare and analyse bids, proposals, and contracts in line with mergers, acquisitions and changes within the business to ensure that the specifications of binding agreements with customers, vendors, and employees are legal and comply with company policy.
• Draft, review and negotiate major account agreements, consulting agreements, special licensing, non-disclosure agreements, terms and amendments and conditions of licence.
• Oversee the contract lifecycle from drafting through completion of the negotiation process, and/or contract execution including the contract change control process and related correspondence requiring legal input is professionally managed.
• Apply effective risk management techniques and offer proactive advise on possible legal issues.
• Be responsible for the presentation of registration documents to regulatory agencies, and carry out all the subsequent negotiations necessary to obtain and maintain authorization.
• Oversee the vetting and finalization of regulatory audit reports and remedial action.
• Oversee compliance with PoPI, Consumer Protection Act and Financial Intelligence Centre Act, PRECCA, NEMA, UK and US anti-bribery legislation.
• Oversee the development and review of relevant internal controls, standards and operating procedures and the practical application in line with regulatory requirements, ensuring these are updated in line with changes to regulations.
• Develop and update policies and procedures around responsible gambling and be an advisor and compliance expert on various online gaming, responsible gambling regulations and application to ICS, operating procedures and challenges.
• Oversee the applications for and renewals of national key employee licences, gaming licences, and business licences.
• Compile and submit detailed applications to gaming boards regarding strategic projects where applicable.
• Communicates with management on strategy, legal decisions and cases and support the implementation, ensuring their full understanding for implementation.
• Represent the company and participate on various committees by invitation – including the Ethics committee, Audit Committee.
• Relationship agreements with key suppliers, business partners and sponsors are built, negotiated and managed to achieve the business objectives and leverage new opportunities and joint initiatives.
• Provides relevant guidance and support to the legal and compliance team of the company.
• Team leadership and management; ensuring all relevant employees understand relevant standards, regulations and procedures.
• Drive a culture of quality standards, ethics and governance and ensure all staff are competent in relevant legislation, regulatory and company standards to deliver against those standards.
  
  
  QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• LLB Degree and Admitted as an Attorney.
• Key Gaming License (NGB)

• Minimum 8-10 years post articles qualification experience in a law firm or in-house.
• The above should also include 3 years’ experience in managing relationships with vendors.
• Experience in a regulatory field in a law firm or other regulated industry would be advantageous.

• May be required to work outside of normal working hours, in line with operational requirements (including weekends, public holidays)

• Advanced knowledge of Legislation and Regulations around the gaming industry.
• Gaming Processes and Products.
• FIC (anti-money laundering) principles and application.
• Protection of Personal Information principles and application.
• Anti-bribery and Corruption principles and application.
• Consumer Protection Act.
• Financial & Business acumen.
• Laws and regulations around sports betting.
• Drafting of correspondence.
• Contracts management and negotiation.
• Corporate governance & industry knowledge.
• Risk Reporting.
• MS Office – other systems.
• Corporate legislation.
• Commercial law.
• Case preparation & litigation.
• Public speaking.
• Audit protocol.
• Digital acumen.

• Contextual Reasoning and Judgement.
• Influencing and negotiating skills.
• Managing Customer & Stakeholder relationships.
• Applying expertise and technology.
• Responding with urgency.
• Decision-making.
• Leading people.
• Emotional Maturity.
• Control of Risks, Relationships and Results.
• Problem solving skills.
• Integrating (Collaborating, Connecting and Consulting).

• Requires a professional with specialised theoretical knowledge and processes relating to commercial contractual management practices, processes and regulations.
• Short term planning within 12 months involves conducting the planning and integration of activities to minimise risk.
• Organise, plan and prioritise tasks for self to ensure that work gets done efficiently and ethically.
• Interact with internal and external stakeholders and teams - influencing, motivating and encouraging specific behavior.

• Apply business acumen and sound common sense to situations, in the negotiation process.
• Makes use of analytical and conceptual skills to adopt and adapt strategies to meet potential opportunities, risks and challenges.
• Analyse and diagnose challenges and manage relevant strategies to protect and optimise agreements to support business requirements.
• Working within broadly defined policies and objectives, deal with diverse problems across multiple business touchpoints, using judgment and discretion to resolve them.

• Research, benchmark and provide information and recommendations to protect the business against risk.
• Influences present and future business processes by determining and evaluating initiatives from a legal perspective.
• Solutions should be cost efficient and effective in delivering business results.
• Delivers results across multiple business touchpoints working and leading various negotiations to achieve success.
• Contributes to the delivery of contractual agreements to secure business deals and negotiations.

• Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.