Legal Counsel SAF Retail & Otraco

at  Bridgestone

REQUIREMENTS:

• LLB or B com Law;
• Admission as an Attorney or Advocate to the High Court
• At least 5 years PQE;
• Experience in 3 or more African counties will be an added advantage.

WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY?

• We are passionate about our people and want to offer them the opportunity to develop and grow.
• You never stop learning. You will have the possibility to develop yourself via our Learning Management System that is also connected to LinkedIn Learning.
• Bridgestone as a global company drives your career to the next level by offering you possibilities to work in an international setting.
• You will have the opportunity to work with leading technologies.
• You will have the opportunity to experience a dynamic and challenging environment and work on different and innovative projects.
• We help you to drive your career path onward and upward work in a culture of feedback that recognizes you and helps your development.
• You will work in a healthy and safety environment, as safety is a key priority area in Bridgestone.
• You will have the opportunity to participate in our Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
  If you can demonstrate the skills we are looking for and would like to make a difference in a Pioneering company dedicated to shaping a sustainable future of real-world mobility solutions, join us at Bridgestone!

JOB PURPOSE

We are looking for a Legal Counsel reporting directly to the Legal & Compliance Director Africa & Middle East. This is a Local role, based in Midrand, JHB.
You will act as the lead advisor to the Retail and Otraco side of the organisation which comprises of the Super Quick Franchises located in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. You will also act as lead advisor to Otraco SA and Otraco Midlle East & Africa… In addition, you will be the POPIA Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for BSAF Holdings and all its South Africa based subsidiaries. You will also be the Company Secretarial for the Retail and Otraco Entities

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Duties involve providing general (rather than specialist) legal services and advice in respect of general business issues but will include amongst others legal compliance;
• Acting as a business partner by applying combined business and legal judgment to proposed deals, relationships and other issues requiring legal or compliance attention;
• Drafting, reviewing and supporting negotiation of business agreements and transactions such as (but not limited to) customer sales contracts, strategic alliance agreements, public tenders, franchise agreements, distribution agreements, software developments and licensing agreements;
• Providing hands on legal advice on regulatory, privacy, competition and advertising/promotional matters - in conjunction with the regulatory experts in the Bridgestone legal team;
• Proactively participate in global initiatives and in global practice groups;
• Leading dispute resolution and litigation within the retail side of the business;
• Managing outside counsel, when brought in to assist, along with relevant budget and legal spend;
• Managing the intellectual property portfolio of the franchise business (renewals and new trademark registrations) with the assistance of external counsel, which will involve managing any litigation in protection of the intellectual property;
• Driving legal and compliance projects (including trainings) in strict coordination with and following the guidance of the Lead Counsel & Compliance to improve efficiency and business responsibility, including using influencing skills to achieve buy-in from all levels of the business; and
• Advising the business on all legal matters amongst others listed below and drive solutions:
• POPIA compliance
• Company Secretarial for all Retail and Otraco entities
• Intellectual Property,
• Labour,
• Industrial relations,
• Competition,
• Commercial,
• Retail EXCO
• Retail Projects