Commercial Senior Associate | Johannesburg

Published August 3, 2026

About the role

A specialist firm is seeking a senior associate with commercial law expertise in Johannesburg. This boutique environment offers meaningful interaction with partners and direct exposure to firm leadership.

• Clear pathway to partnership and firm ownership
• High-quality, commercially sophisticated work from day one
• Genuine autonomy and entrepreneurial opportunity
• Specialist practice with market demand - IT/commercial law is a growth area

Practice Areas

• Corporate & commercial law
• IT/technology law
• Commercial contracts

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements across the full spectrum
• Lead client relationships and business development activity
• Advise clients (primarily technology companies, SaaS vendors, and growth-stage businesses) on contract risk, commercial terms, and regulatory compliance (POPIA, data protection)

Requirements

• Hands-on transactional experience
• Strong drafting skills
• Client-facing confidence
• Small-firm DNA
• Genuine succession appetite

Preferred Qualifications

• IT/technology law experience or exposure to SaaS, software licensing, or data protection (POPIA)
• Experience in a boutique or mid-tier firm

Skills

• Drafting
• Advisory
• Client management
• Commercial thinking

Culture

• Entrepreneurial and self-directed - thrives in a lean environment without large support structures
• Collaborative and team-oriented - willing to support partners and contribute to firm culture
• Resilient and adaptable - comfortable with ambiguity and changing priorities
• Commercially astute - thinks like a business advisor, not just a lawyer
• Ownership mentality - genuinely interested in building something, not just occupying a seat

Level: Senior associate
Location: Johannesburg
Reporting to: Managing partner
PQE: 5 to 8 years