Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Senior group legal counsel and admitted attorney with 10+ years post-qualification experience, specialising in commercial and corporate law, financial services, investment management, litigation, insurance law, corporate governance, and company secretarial functions. I served as Group Legal Counsel and Company Secretary for a multinational financial services and investment management group overseeing operations across South Africa, the United Kingdom, Dubai and Mauritius. My experience integrates legal leadership, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, company secretarial oversight, and enterprise risk management across asset management, insurance, and listed entities.I advised boards, investment committees, and executives on complex investment, insurance, financial services, and corporate matters, ensuring compliance with both South African and international regulatory frameworks, including JSE listing requirements.I have extensive experience in collective investment schemes, institutional mandates, insurance products, offshore investment structures, and cross-border regulatory compliance. Prior to moving in-house, I served as Partner & Director at a commercial law firm, advising corporates, venture capital firms, and high-net-worth clients on complex corporate transactions, investment structuring, insurance law, mergers & acquisitions, litigation and regulatory matters. I hold an MBA from Stellenbosch Business School, complementing my legal expertise with strong strategic, financial, and governance insight. Areas of expertise include: • Financial services regulation & compliance (FAIS, CISCA, FMA, Pension Funds Act) • Investment and Asset management regulations• Private Equity• Collective investment schemes • Insurance law ( long and short-term insurance products)• Corporate governance & board advisory • Company secretarial functions; JSE listed entity compliance • Enterprise risk management & aligned assurance frameworks •Cross-border investment structuring• Corporate and commercial Law • Mergers & acquisitions; commercial transactions • High Court and Magistrates Court litigation; dispute resolution. I am particularly interested in executive roles that combine legal leadership, company secretarial expertise, regulatory oversight, and strategic advisory within investment management, insurance, private equity, and global financial services institutions.
Legal executive overseeing legal, regulatory, governance, company secretarial, and enterprise risk frameworks for a multinational financial services, investment management, and insurance group with assets over R100 billion, including asset management, collective investment schemes, institutional mandates, financial advisory services, long-term insurance, offshore investment structures, and JSE-listed entities. Provides strategic legal and regulatory advice to boards, investment committees, and executives, leading legal, compliance, governance, and company secretarial functions across multiple jurisdictions. Advises on fiduciary duties, risk mitigation, JSE listing compliance, and corporate governance (King IV). Oversees regulatory compliance across South African and international frameworks, including FAIS, CISCA, Financial Markets Act, Pension Funds Act, Insurance Act, and FICA, and advises on the structuring, launch, and governance of investment funds, institutional mandates, offshore vehicles, and insurance products. Drafts and negotiates investment, custodian, administration, and distribution agreements and guides cross-border investment strategies. Serves as Company Secretary, managing board and committee processes, AGMs, shareholder communications, resolutions, statutory filings, and advising on governance and disclosure. Leads enterprise risk and compliance programs, conducts regulatory and legal risk assessments, and oversees litigation and dispute resolution across investment, insurance, and listed entities.
As Partner, I provided strategic and operational leadership for a commercial law firm, managing complex client advisory work across financial services, investment management, insurance law, corporate law, and litigation, with a focus on cross-border transactions and regulatory compliance. Advised clients on collective investment schemes, institutional mandates, fund structuring, and offshore investment vehicles, ensuring compliance with FAIS, CISCA, Prudential Authority, and other financial services regulations. Provided guidance on long-term insurance products, regulatory compliance, policy governance, and insurance contracts. Led complex corporate and commercial transactions, including M&A, restructures, and commercial agreements, while also managing High Court and Magistrate Court litigation across commercial, financial services, and insurance matters. Directed external counsel and developed litigation strategies to mitigate client risk. Structured and facilitated cross-border investments and offshore entities for corporates, institutional clients, and high-net-worth individuals. Provided board-level legal guidance on fiduciary duties, risk mitigation, governance, and regulatory compliance. Worked with high-profile clients including Shoprite Holdings, Momentum Holdings, Afrox Limited, Solar Distributors Africa, and Southern Palace (Venture Capital). Oversaw firm operations, mentored associates, and drove strategic growth initiatives, fostering excellence in client service. Advised on corporate group structures, multi-entity investment platforms, and governance frameworks, combining legal expertise, litigation experience, and commercial insight to achieve strategic business and regulatory outcomes for clients.
Practiced commercial and corporate law, litigation, and mergers & acquisitions, with a focus on financial services, insurance, trust law, competition law, consumer protection, property law, contract law, and insolvencies. Delivered legal solutions across complex corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, and high-stakes disputes. Key Achievements: Achieved notable outcomes in high-profile litigation, including tax fraud and complex liquidation matters. Reported tax fraud matter: The accused used an insider at SARS to approve fictitious VAT claims, leading to fraud against the fiscus. The accused pleaded guilty and were sentenced accordingly. Sass NO v Nenus Investments Corporation and Others (A488/2016) [2017] ZAWCHC 81: Managed a complex liquidation case with several voidable transactions, including defining voidable actions under the Insolvency Act and setting aside a warrant of execution. Provided legal advice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, financial services compliance, insurance law, and high-value commercial contracts, while overseeing litigation strategy, external counsel, and risk mitigation. Developed expertise in cross-jurisdictional matters, complex regulatory frameworks, and High Court & Magistrate Court litigation, delivering strategic, commercially focused legal solutions to corporate and institutional clients.
Practiced commercial and corporate law, with a focus on insurance and financial services litigation. Contributed to the development of significant legal precedents in high-stakes cases. Highlights Notable reported judgments (cases in which my expertise contributed to shaping South African legal precedent): Za v Smith and Another (20134/2014) [2015] ZASCA 75; 2015 (4) SA 574 (SCA); [2015] 3 All SA 288 (SCA) (27 May 2015) Claim by dependants for loss suffered through the death of their breadwinner who fell over a sheer precipice at a mountain resort. Addressed the liability of respondents as the owner and controlling entity of the resort. Key legal issues considered: wrongfulness, negligence, and causation. Viking Inshore Fishing (Pty) Ltd v Mutual and Federal Insurance Co Ltd (41/2015) [2016] ZASCA 21; [2016] 2 All SA 730 (SCA); 2016 (6) SA 335 (SCA) (18 March 2016) Marine insurance matter concerning a hull policy and Inchmaree clauses. Dispute arose after a vessel was lost in collision due to negligence. Key legal issues considered: Whether the claim for indemnity was barred by a breach of a Merchant Shipping Act warranty, application of warranties, and whether the collision resulted from a lack of due diligence by the owner.
As a legal advisor I managed the group of companies’ property portfolio and performed legal advisory duties relating to property divisions commercial- and corporate transactions, including but not limited to: Managed the legal aspects of the group's extensive property portfolio and related transactions. Litigation, drafting, reviewing, and advising on lease agreements; agendas; cessions and assignments of leases; renewal of lease agreements, etc. Ensure that all administrative and financial procedures set out in the lease agreement are complied with on an ongoing basis – this includes a periodic review of the static data in the accounting systems to evaluate whether the material terms of the lease agreements have been correctly captured. Drafting and managing construction management contracts and commercial financing agreements, Preparation, registration, and cancellation of Notarial Servitudes. Manage the execution of purchase and sale agreements including the transfer of residential/sectional title and commercial and industrial properties. Managing the application process for land development, amendments to spatial use conditions, zoning schemes, and changes in conditions to facilitate general property development Managing tenant arrears, litigation processes settlement proposals, and the collection of arrears including drafting of summons and pleadings in respect of litigation.