The General Counsel (US, Canada and South Africa) reports to the Chief Legal Officer and is responsible for overseeing all legal matters and providing strategic legal advice to the business, with a focus on operational and financial matters in the US, Canada and South Africa. This role requires a seasoned legal expert with deep experience with industrial companies and who can manage complex legal issues, mitigate risks, and support the company’s compliance with all relevant regulations. Additionally, the General Counsel (US, Canada and South Africa) will manage the Company’s global litigation log and other matters required for Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance. He/she collaborates with operations, finance and other functional departments to build capabilities and facilitate change in throughout the group.
Main Responsibilities:
Legal Strategy & Leadership:
o Advise the business on legal risks, compliance, and corporate governance matters.
o Develop and implement legal strategies that align with the company’s business objectives across
the US, Canada, and South Africa.
o Manage various outside counsel across the US, Canada, and South Africa.
External Counsel Oversight & Optimization:
o Develop and implement a strategic approach to managing relationships with external counsel,
ensuring alignment with the company’s legal and business objectives.
o Evaluate and select external law firms based on expertise, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to
deliver high-quality legal services.
o Negotiate fee arrangements, including alternative fee structures, to optimize legal spend while
maintaining high service standards.
o Regularly review and monitor the performance of external counsel, ensuring that they meet or
exceed expectations in terms of quality, timeliness, and cost management.
o Foster strong, collaborative partnerships with external legal teams, ensuring seamless
integration with in-house legal functions.
o Continuously seek opportunities to reduce dependency on external counsel by developing in-house legal capabilities and leveraging internal resources effectively.
Legal Matter Management:
oManage all litigation and dispute resolution matters across the US, Canada, and South Africa,including working with external counsel to defend the company’s interests.
oMaintain and manage a global litigation log for SOX compliance purposes, ensuring accuratereporting and documentation.
oManage the company’s US and Canadian foreign trade cases before the US International TradeCommission and other forums.
oOversee the drafting, negotiation, and execution of all significant contracts in the geographic region,including sales and procurement agreements, periodic review of terms and conditions, andcoordination of joint venture and other partnership agreements.
oProvide legal guidance on mergers, acquisitions, financings, joint ventures, and other corporatetransactions across the US, Canada, and South Africa.
oManage the legal aspects of corporate transactional activities involving the relevant geographies.
oManage legal aspects environmental and safety incidents in the United States, Canada and SouthAfrica.
Corporate Governance:
oAdvise on corporate governance best practices and ensure that the company’s governance policies are in line with legal requirements and industry standards.
oSupport the Board of Directors in fulfilling their fiduciary duties and assist with the preparation of board materials and minutes.
Professional experience / competences
oJuris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
oAdmission to the bar in at least one US state.
oA minimum of 10-15 years of legal experience, with significant experience in corporate law,litigation, regulatory compliance, and contract management.
oKnowledge of US, Canadian, and South African legal systems, with experience in cross-borderlegal issues.
oLanguages: fluent English required. French and/or Spanish is a plus.
oProven experience in managing complex legal matters and working with senior executives.
oStrong negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
oExperience in managing US public company reporting requirements, including SOX compliance.
oAbility to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
oExperience in the metals and mining or another related industrial sector is preferred.
oInternational mindset and very ease interacting with international teams.
