Lee Pillay
Senior Legal Counsel (Vice President)
Cape Town
Summary
I'm Lee Pillay, a distinguished legal counsel known for my exemplary track record in sculpting and executing innovative regulatory strategies, adeptly managing regulatory risks, and spearheading cross-functional teams. My expertise lies in dissecting regulatory evolutions and ensuring compliance while enhancing operational effectiveness. As a visionary leader, I inspire and instil a culture of ethical and responsible conduct, steadfast in my belief in leading by the power of example. Throughout my career, I've been committed to delivering unparalleled legal services and setting benchmarks in the industry. Currently, I'm pursuing a challenging opportunity as Principal Legal Counsel at the Head level, where I can architect an impactful legal operational model and framework. In this role, I aim to harmonise regulatory strategies with corporate objectives, guaranteeing that every decision upholds the highest ethical and responsible standards. I aim to drive the organisation towards its aspirations, ensuring they excel within an integrity framework and unmatched professionalism.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Attorney/Legal Risk specialist
Investec Private Bank
01.2012
- I provided legal expertise to the division of Private Bank
- I assisted Bankers with the legal documentation relating to home loans and Vehicle asset finance
- Ensuring that risk incidents were mitigated in respect of the lending-based
- Checking relevant agreements, ancillary documents and resolutions against the credit department's approval to ensure that they were legally sound and that it was in accordance with the credit departments' approval
- Facilitating the registration of Investec Private home loans
- Assist banking consultants on structured deals including managing attorneys.
Senior Legal Counsel (Vice President)
Absa Bank Limited
1 2016 - Current
- At Absa, I have served as the lead legal counsel for numerous portfolios across the bank
- This includes being the lead counsel for Everyday Banking, which encompasses personal loans, savings, investments, transactional, retail international banking, rewards, and caretaking digital and credit card portfolios
- In addition, I have also worked in relationship banking, private banking, wealth banking, and secured lending at AVAF and Woolworths Financial Services
- My colleagues trust me to provide sound legal advice and communicate legal or regulatory risks effectively
- I am also skilled at influencing and negotiating on projects and other matters in the business unit.
Legal Officer (Assistant Vice President)
Absa Bank Limited
Cape Town
01.2013 - 01.2016
- At Absa, I have served as the lead legal counsel for numerous portfolios across the bank
- This includes being the lead counsel for Everyday Banking, which encompasses personal loans, savings, investments, transactional, retail international banking, rewards, and caretaking digital and credit card portfolios
- In addition, I have also worked in relationship banking, private banking, wealth banking, and secured lending at AVAF and Woolworths Financial Services
- My colleagues trust me to provide sound legal advice and communicate legal or regulatory risks effectively
- I am also skilled at influencing and negotiating on projects and other matters in the business unit.
Education
Executive Coaching Strategic leadership -
The Colour Engine - Adelaide Fyffe
Executive Coaching in Leadership and Resilience - undefined
Be Clear - Tanya Stevens
Coaching for high performance - undefined
Gordan Institute of Business Science
Leading with Impact - undefined
Gordan Institute of Business Science
Developing Women in Leadership - undefined
Graduate School of Business (UCT)
Legal Opinion writing - undefined
Africa Global Management Group
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Personal Mastery Training Program - undefined
Africa Global Management Group
Contract Drafting, Negotiation, and Management of Commercial contracts - undefined
Africa Global Management Group
Strategic Leadership - undefined
Gordon Institute of Business (Gibs)
Master's degree (LLM) Commercial Law - undefined
University of Cape Town
Certificate in Legal Practice - undefined
University of Cape Town
Skills
Regulatory Compliance
Legal Operating Model Development
Risk Management
Strategic Advisory
Team Leadership
Regulatory Analysis
Policy Development
Stakeholder Engagement
Cost Management (CSI, External spend)
Cross-functional Collaboration
Ethical Decision-making
Performance Management
Leadership Experience
I can lead a team and support a business unit because I possess the knowledge and expertise to make assertive and decisive decisions on complex risk matters. With my exceptional communication skills, I can effectively address and deliver difficult decisions to the team. I am also capable of escalating issues to the leadership team to drive for House Positions, which are instrumental in developing and enhancing the company's legal profile.
Personal Insights
I set high standards of behaviour for my team because I have set high standards for myself and strive to achieve these standards in all I do. I am very conscientious and always see things through to the end. I can monitor my behaviour and regulate it when needed. Although I find it challenging to delegate tasks, I am precise and detailed when I do so. I enjoy working with people and am particularly good at leading and supervising them. When I take on a task, I am very conscientious and responsible. I am at my best when given the security to grow and excel in my work. Additionally, I have a highly discerning mind and am detail-oriented. Although critical, I always respond positively when I find others who meet my standards. I value integrity and uphold ethics in all that I do. I take a meticulous approach to decision-making and can explain my reasoning clearly. Finally, I am not afraid to express my emotions openly., In my leadership approach, I've recognised delegation as a challenge for me, yet I'm committed to mastering it. When I delegate, I do so with precision and meticulous attention to detail. Recognising the importance of delegation and active listening, I am dedicated to developing these skills as a leader and a team member. This commitment to growth in delegating tasks and engaging in open-ended conversations is pivotal for fostering a collaborative and productive team environment. I sometimes feel hesitant about taking risks, which is understandable given the potential regulatory consequences in our industry if something goes wrong. However, during such moments, I keep a level head, trust in the regulations, and make well-informed decisions., I have noticed that sometimes, I take longer to make decisions. However, I have been working on methods to speed up my decision-making process while still feeling comfortable with committing to an outcome. For instance, I assess the stakes and identify the options and objectives I must achieve for the business unit. When faced with familiar initiatives where I have assisted before, I make decisions based on these points. My competitive edge is not just a personal drive; it's a catalyst for achieving excellence. I leverage this drive to push myself to new heights and inspire my team. By strategically delegating tasks and aligning them with our collective goals, I channel my natural competitiveness towards outcomes that benefit us all. I've broadened my perspective, focusing on my immediate circle and the wider community. This approach has significantly enhanced my working relationships, turning challenges into opportunities for growth and collaboration. Digital mindset, I have developed my current role by exploring and utilising digital technologies and practices to enhance work performance. I have leveraged internal work platforms to expedite agreement reviews, which has resulted in faster turnaround times for the team and stakeholders and developed digital platforms in which to sell products to assist the business with revenue.
Technical Duties
I conduct research, take a proactive approach to legislation, and draft legal agreements. I am responsible for identifying and highlighting any legal and regulatory risks that may impact my business unit and taking a proactive approach to mitigate these risks. I ensure that all legal risks and policies are effectively communicated to the Product Heads through verbal and written communication.
Risk Management
I understand legal policies and can offer high-quality and practical legal advice. I am capable of effectively managing risk and control environments. Additionally, I participate in industry discussions such as BASA and work towards influencing conduct change at an industry level. I provide direction and clarity to business units regarding complex risk issues and collaborate effectively with risk partners to promote an understanding of risk and governance in different functions.
Areas Of Experience
At Absa, I have served as the lead legal counsel for numerous portfolios across the bank. This includes being the lead counsel for Everyday Banking, which encompasses personal loans, savings, investments, transactional, retail international banking, rewards, and caretaking digital and credit card portfolios. In addition, I have also worked in relationship banking, private banking, wealth banking, and secured lending at AVAF and Woolworths Financial Services. My colleagues trust me to provide sound legal advice and communicate legal or regulatory risks effectively. I am also skilled at influencing and negotiating on projects and other matters in the business unit.
Teamwork
I have developed strong partnerships between the legal team and other departments within the organisation. I assist junior team members with agreements and stand in for management during meetings.
Further Capabilities
- Led the development and implementation of a robust legal operating model and framework for regulatory compliance within the Everyday Banking division.
- Advised and engaged with senior executives on business-related legal and regulatory matters, fostering alignment with strategic objectives.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify and mitigate regulatory risks, ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices.
- Monitored and proactively absorbed new regulatory developments, providing timely and digestible analysis to support informed decision-making.
- Owned the Regulatory Risk Framework for Everyday Banking, ensuring alignment with the Group's risk appetite and ethical standards.
- Managed and mentored a high-performing team, recognised and addressed performance issues and set clear objectives for team members.
- Controlled and reduced Regulatory Relations' internal and external spend while remaining within the Group's risk appetite as determined by the board.
- Demonstrated leadership in promoting ethical and responsible practices within the Regulatory function.
Languages
English
Afrikaans
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
Legal Officer (Assistant Vice President)
Absa Bank Limited
01.2013 - 01.2016
Attorney/Legal Risk specialist
Investec Private Bank
01.2012
Senior Legal Counsel (Vice President)
Absa Bank Limited
1 2016 - Current
Executive Coaching Strategic leadership -
The Colour Engine - Adelaide Fyffe
Executive Coaching in Leadership and Resilience - undefined
Be Clear - Tanya Stevens
Coaching for high performance - undefined
Gordan Institute of Business Science
Leading with Impact - undefined
Gordan Institute of Business Science
Developing Women in Leadership - undefined
Graduate School of Business (UCT)
Legal Opinion writing - undefined
Africa Global Management Group
Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and Personal Mastery Training Program - undefined
Africa Global Management Group
Contract Drafting, Negotiation, and Management of Commercial contracts - undefined
Africa Global Management Group
Strategic Leadership - undefined
Gordon Institute of Business (Gibs)
Master's degree (LLM) Commercial Law - undefined
University of Cape Town
Certificate in Legal Practice - undefined
University of Cape Town
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