Commercial Lawyer

Our client is an investment and advisory business specialising in private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and energy funds. The firm advises on fund and insurance structures, strategic investments, restructuring, asset sales, and enterprise succession. Working closely with entrepreneurs, investment partners, and ultra-high-net-worth families, it combines commercial, legal, and financial expertise to support complex investment and transactional decisions.

Role Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented Commercial Lawyer with strong post-qualification experience in drafting and reviewing complex legal documents. The ideal candidate will have solid expertise in South African and English law, international and South African tax, and trusts, with exposure to contract negotiations and settlements. Experience or interest in Aviation law would be a distinct advantage.

This role focuses on high-quality legal drafting, advisory work, and supporting our clients’ commercial, tax, and wealth structuring needs in a fast-paced, multi-jurisdictional environment.

Whilst the business continues to grow, this role will also be required to perform some functions required of a Practice Manager. The role will oversee the day-to-day operations of the practice, ensuring the efficient delivery of accounting, tax, governance, compliance and administrative services. The role supports the Directors in managing the practice, maintaining high professional standards, driving operational efficiency and providing advisory support where required.

Commercial Lawyer Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, contracts, trust deeds, shareholder agreements, corporate documents, and tax-related structuring advice.
• Provide specialist input on South African and International Tax matters, including cross-border tax planning, compliance, and optimization strategies.
• Advise on and prepare documentation for trust structures, family enterprise succession, asset protection, and wealth preservation.
• Support contract negotiations, settlement agreements, and commercial dispute resolution processes.
• Conduct thorough legal research and due diligence with a strong focus on accuracy and risk identification.
• Collaborate with internal teams (corporate services, fiduciary, compliance, and tax) and external counsel across jurisdictions to deliver integrated solutions.
• Contribute to client advisory on aviation-related matters (registration, financing, operations, and logistics) where relevant.
• Assist with regulatory compliance, including Mauritius FSC requirements and cross-border economic substance rules.
• Prepare client communications, opinions, and thought-leadership materials.
• Mentor junior team members on drafting standards and best practices.

Practice Manager Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the practice, ensuring efficient workflows, high service standards and effective utilisation of resources.
• Oversee client onboarding, engagement processes and ongoing client administration.
• Coordinate and manage legal, regulatory and compliance requirements, ensuring adherence to relevant legislation, professional standards and internal policies.
• Manage the company secretarial function, including preparing board packs, coordinating meetings, attending meetings and preparing accurate minutes.
• Provide corporate governance support to directors, boards and clients, ensuring compliance with statutory and governance obligations.
• Liaise with external advisors, regulators, financial institutions and professional service providers on client and practice matters.
• Assist with client structuring, corporate transactions and general commercial advisory matters where required.
• Oversee risk management and compliance processes, including client due diligence, regulatory reporting and internal compliance reviews.
• Support the implementation, optimisation and ongoing administration of practice management and CRM systems.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships while ensuring the delivery of responsive, professional and commercially focused service.

Requirements and Qualifications

Essential:

• Post-graduate qualified lawyer (LLB + relevant post-graduate qualification preferred) admitted in South Africa and/or England & Wales, with eligibility or willingness to obtain necessary Mauritius authorisations.
• 5–8+ years in commercial legal practice with a proven track record in drafting and reviewing complex documents (detail-oriented with exceptional precision).
• Strong expertise in South African law and English law.
• Solid experience in South African and International Tax and Trust law / fiduciary structures.
• Experience in contract negotiations and settlements.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise, and commercially pragmatic documents for international clients.
• Ability to work effectively from Mauritius (existing work permit or eligibility for occupational permit highly advantageous).

Desirable:

• Exposure to Aviation law (aircraft registration, financing, leasing, or logistics).
• Knowledge of offshore jurisdictions (BVI, Cayman, Mauritius) and family enterprise / private client work.
• Additional qualifications (e.g., LLM in Tax, Trust & Estate Practitioner (STEP), or similar).
• French language skills would be beneficial.