Pretoria: Senior Litigation Attorney – Defended Banking Litigation, Insolvency & Recoveries

Minimum Requirements: Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa with no less than 10 years post-admission experience. Extensive senior-level experience in defended banking litigation within the High Court, with a proven track record in complex, high-value secured recoveries. Demonstrated expertise in foreclosure, insolvency, deceased estates, business rescue and liquidation matters where financial institutions are secured or preferent creditors. Strong command of the National Credit Act, Insolvency Act, Administration of Estates Act, Companies Act, Uniform Rules of Court, and Superior Courts Act. Established experience engaging directly with banking executives and credit risk stakeholders on litigation strategy and recovery planning. Experience Required: Strategic Management of a defended foreclosure and secured asset litigation portfolio, including strategy formulation and risk assessment. Drafting and settling of complex pleadings, including Particulars of Claim, Declarations, Opposing Affidavits, Replying Affidavits, Heads of Argument, Practice Notes and Appeal documentation. Handling Rule 129 compliance, summary judgment proceedings, rescissions, applications to declare property especially executable and post-judgment processes. Court appearances in opposed matters, case management conferences, judicial case management proceedings and settlement negotiations. Engagement with bank clients at management level, including reporting on litigation strategy, risk exposure, provisioning considerations and recovery prospects. Oversight of execution processes, including warrants of attachment (movable and immovable), sales in execution, and interaction with sheriffs and conveyancers. Ability to manage a high-volume defended portfolio while maintaining strict turnaround times and quality control. Supervision, mentorship and technical oversight of junior attorneys and support staff to ensure quality control and procedural compliance. Strong commercial awareness and ability to balance legal risk with business objectives. Skills Required: Advanced drafting and analytical skills. Ability to balance legal risk, reputational considerations and financial recovery objectives. Strong negotiation and settlement skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills at a professional and executive level. High level of accountability, decisiveness, and attention to detail. Resilience under pressure and ability to manage strict court-driven timelines. Leadership ability with a collaborative and solution-driven approach Strong interpersonal presence with the ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with banking stakeholders, counsel, and internal team members. High emotional intelligence and professional maturity, with the ability to manage difficult conversations, sensitive matters, and opposing parties with composure. Client-facing confidence capable of engaging at executive and credit committee level while remaining approachable and solutions-focused. Computer literacy/Technical Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Word (advanced drafting), Excel (reporting and analysis), and Outlook. Strong working knowledge of legal case management systems (e.g., DM1, CACS, Excalibur, OCS, Lexpro or similar). Comfortable with digital court platforms, online case tracking systems, and electronic document management systems. Preferred Attributes: Experience acting for major commercial banks in defended High Court recoveries. Proven ability to manage sensitive or high-value matters requiring strategic oversight. Commercially astute, solutions-driven, and capable of operating with minimal supervision at a senior level. Strong leadership presence with the ability to elevate team performance and standards.