We are hiring! 

At Sappi, we are a leading global provider with a reputation for delivering high-quality sustainable Woodfibre products and solutions for the global markets. We lead through our values centred around safety, integrity, courage, making smart decisions which we execute with speed. We are seeking unique people who believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive and safe environment.  

  
We’re on the lookout for a Legal Advisor on a fixed-term contract to provide expertise and advice on legal and regulatory compliance; facilitate business transactions, dispute resolutions, and settlement negotiations, providing general legal services to Sappi Southern Africa's operations, as well as being responsible for the drafting and vetting of commercial material and other contracts.

 
As a Legal Advisor (Fixed Term), you will be responsible to:  

• Provide in-house legal advice to Sappi Southern African operations, and on request also to other Sappi regions/divisions, on all aspects of South African and other relevant business law.
• Manage litigation and/or legal matters with reputational risk and part of the regional legal compliance function.
• Identify, assess and mitigate risk by assessing third-party contracts, Sappi contracts, operational procedures and business decisions taken by management and employees
• Write, review and negotiate contracts with customers, suppliers, agents, other entities of the Sappi group and any other third party, 
• Accompany Sappi management in contract negotiations, providing legal advice and warning for possible bottlenecks, pitfalls, infringements of the law and any other concerns.
• Protect Sappi's intellectual property by ensuring correct clauses are contained in legal documents
• Act upon any infringements of any intellectual property rights where necessary
• Instruct pre-approved external law firms, conveyancers and advisors on legal matters which require specialist advice.

What are we looking for? 

• Undergraduate or Postgraduate Legal degree
• Passed the Legal Practise Board exam and be admitted to the High Court of South Africa as an Attorney or Advocate
• A minimum of 0 – 5 years post-admission legal experience
• Commercial law experience in a manufacturing environment  as well as Litigation experience would be an advantage
• PC literate - MS Office (Word, Excel & Powerpoint)

What's in it for you?

• An excellent opportunity to work, learn & grow with us. With our culture of learning & development, you can access thousands of online trainings   
• A multicultural & international environment to share and collaborate with colleagues from more than 68 nationalities in 31 locations globally.   
• A unique opportunity to join a global wood fibre solution company. We are constantly innovating toward a circular economy working to achieve our sustainability goals & reduce our carbon footprint.