Country Corporate Counsel

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

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Your role and responsibilities

In this role, you will have the opportunity to provide comprehensive legal advice and support to ABB's operations in a specific country, through your expertise in corporate law, compliance, contract negotiation, and risk management. Each day, you will be responsible for mitigating legal risks, ensuring corporate governance, and driving business growth while maintaining compliance with local laws and regulations. You will also showcase your expertise by providing L&I advice to ABB management and acting as an advisor to the business stakeholders.

The work model for the role is: hybrid

This role is contributing to the Automation Energy Industries and Legal & Integrity in South Africa and SSA region. Main stakeholders are Country Holding Officer in South Africa, Country Holding Officer for SSA, Cluster Lead Counsel for IMEA and SCE, Local Division Manager for Energy Industries Division in South Africa.

You will be mainly accountable for:

Corporate Governance and Fiduciary tasks:

• Lead end-to-end Legal & Integrity responsibilities for South Africa and SSA legal entities, including governance, compliance, corporate secretarial work, and regulatory filings, ensuring robust corporate fiduciary compliance and adherence to ABB governance standards for South Africa and other relevant SSA legal entities and branches (including Mozambique, Angola, Uganda) and supporting legal entity liquidation processes (e.g. Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, DRC)
• Acting as a trusted advisor to the Country Holding Officer and senior leaders on governance, subsidiary corporate transactions, compliance, risk, and strategic legal matters, providing pragmatic legal support on corporate and commercial transactions
• Ensuring adherence to applicable laws, highest integrity values, and frameworks, including competition law, labor law, B-BBEE, data privacy (POPIA), cybersecurity, anti-money laundering regulations and sanctions, export controls and trade compliance
• Managing external legal advisors, maximizing in-house support and minimizing external legal cost

Commercial Contracts & Projects:

• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial contracts including EPC, service agreements service, technology and supply contracts
• Support project tendering, execution and claims management activities, ensuring appropriate contractual risk allocation aligned with ABB policies and business objectives
• Provide clear, pragmatic legal advice that support strategic decision‑making and risk‑balanced business growth

Litigation & Disputes:

• Manage disputes and claims arising from project execution, contracts, and business operations

Integrity:

• Promote a culture of compliance, integrity and responsible risk-taking
• Identify and assess integrity risks related to corporate activities and business opportunities and transactions, implementing appropriate mitigation measures
• Deliver legal and integrity trainings and support internal investigations and integrity-related matters where required

Strategic Projects:

• Support M&A, restructuring, and localization initiatives, ensuring compliance with local regulatory requirements

Our team dynamics
You will join a dynamic, talented, high performing team, where you will be able to thrive.

Qualifications for the role

• You have a Law degree and are admitted to practice law in South Africa
• You have a significant post-qualification experience in corporate and commercial law, ideally with exposure to compliance matters, industrial projects, and energy sector
• You have a strong understanding of South African regulatory environment
• You are familiar with governance, compliance and integrity frameworks in a multinational environment
• You are used to working in high paced and changing environment

What’s in it for you?

We want you to bring your full self to work on your ideas, your energy, your ambition. You’ll have the tools and freedom to grow your skills, shape your path, and take on challenges that matter. Here, your work creates an impact you can see and feel, every day. 

Benefits

From well-being to retirement, ABB offers benefits that support every stage of your career.

More about us

We value people from different backgrounds. Could this be your story? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to read more about us and learn about the impact of our solutions across the globe. #MyABBStory

Preference will be given to candidates from designated groups, including people with disabilities, in line with the company’s Employment Equity Plan and Employment Equity Act requirements.

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Ready to make an impact?

Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.