Senior Banking Litigation Attorney

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a portfolio of defended and undefended foreclosure and secured asset litigation matters
• Develop litigation strategy, risk assessments, and recovery plans for banking clients
• Handle High Court litigation from inception through to finalisation, including opposed applications and trials
• Draft and settle complex legal documents, including pleadings, affidavits, heads of argument, and appeal documentation
• Manage Rule 46A applications and judicial oversight processes
• Engage directly with banking executives and credit risk stakeholders on strategy and reporting
• Oversee execution processes including warrants, sales in execution, and liaison with sheriffs and conveyancers
• Attend case management conferences, settlement negotiations, and court proceedings
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team, ensuring high performance and quality standards
• Maintain accountability for portfolio performance, recovery outcomes, and turnaround times

Minimum Requirements

• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa
• Minimum of 15 years post-admission experience
• Extensive experience in defended and undefended banking litigation in the High Court
• Proven track record in complex, high-value secured recoveries
• Strong expertise in:
  • Foreclosure and secured lending litigation
  • Insolvency, business rescue, liquidation, and deceased estates
• In-depth knowledge of:
  • National Credit Act
  • Insolvency Act
  • Companies Act
  • Administration of Estates Act
  • Uniform Rules of Court and Superior Courts Act
• Experience engaging with banking clients at management level

Key Competencies

• Advanced drafting and analytical ability
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance legal and financial risk
• Excellent negotiation and settlement skills
• Strong leadership and team management capability
• High level of professionalism, accountability, and attention to detail
• Ability to perform under pressure and meet strict court deadlines
• Strong interpersonal and client engagement skills, including executive-level interaction

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Experience with legal case management systems (such as DM1, CACS, Excalibur, OCS, Lexpro or similar)
• Comfortable with digital court platforms and electronic document systems
• Ability to prepare detailed legal and recovery reports

Preferred Attributes

• Commercially driven and solutions-oriented
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to elevate team performance
• Able to operate independently at a senior level