PIETER VAN DER SANDT
Brooklyn, Pretoria
Summary
Strategic legal and governance professional with expertise in commercial law, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. Advises boards on mergers, acquisitions, and high-value contracts, including the Jwaneng diamond mine agreement. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, risk management, and legal advisory across healthcare, mining, pharmaceuticals, and agribusiness sectors. Delivers solutions that enhance organisational integrity and compliance.
Overview
1
1
Certification
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Independent Advocate & Legal Consultant
Self Employed
Pretoriq
12.2019 - Current
- Represented clients in court, effectively arguing cases and securing favourable outcomes.
- Safeguarded client interests in various legal proceedings by providing comprehensive legal support and advice.
- Advised corporate and private clients on commercial contracts, governance, and litigation in manufacturing, engineering, IT, property, and investment sectors, negotiating agreements and resolving disputes to safeguard client interests.
- Drafted legal documents, including contracts and wills, with meticulous attention to detail.
Group Company Secretary
Burstone Group Limited
Sandton, Johannesburg
08.2023 - 03.2025
- Advised Board and Executive Committee on governance, JSE Listings Requirements compliance, and strategic transactions, enhancing decision-making on cross-border property acquisitions and shareholder restructuring.
- Directed governance for [X] Board committees, including Audit, Risk, and Remuneration, ensuring compliance with King IV and JSE requirements.
- Ensured compliance with the Companies Act, JSE Listings Requirements and King IV.
- Managed relationships with regulators and external advisers to ensure alignment with governance standards and regulatory requirements.
- Advised the Board of Directors, Chairman and Executive Committee as an Executive Adviser.
- Successfully supported governance continuity during the transformation of Investec Property Fund into Burstone Group while maintaining best-practice governance standards.
- Supported shareholder engagement and annual reporting to promote transparency and enhance stakeholder confidence.
- JSE-listed multinational property investment group with operations across South Africa and Europe.
Head of Legal & Company Secretary
Onderstepoort Biological Products SOC Ltd
Pretoria
10.2020 - 08.2023
- Led legal, governance, compliance and company secretarial functions, advising the Board on regulatory compliance and commercial contracts to ensure adherence to public sector governance frameworks.
- Established an integrated Compliance Management System aligned with King IV, reducing liability exposure through standardised contract templates and a centralised legal risk register.
- Established integrated an integrated compliance management system aligned with King IV, minimising liability exposure through standardised contract templates and a centralised legal risk register.
Group General Manager: Governance & Legal
Mediclinic International PLC
Stellenbosch
10.2018 - 11.2019
- Led governance and legal support across Southern Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, ensuring compliance with GDPR and enhancing regulatory frameworks for [X] operating entities.
- Executed strategic legal initiatives to align executive management with organisational compliance objectives.
- Established international healthcare group, driving operations across Southern Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Senior Legal Counsel & Company Secretary
Thiess Africa | Sedgman | Majwe Mining Joint Venture
Sandton, Johannesburg
02.2016 - 09.2018
- Negotiated US$1.2 billion extension of Jwaneng Diamond Mine Mining Services Agreement, securing key strategic mining contracts to support operational sustainability.
- Advised executive leadership on legal, commercial, and regulatory matters for mining and engineering projects across Botswana, Zambia, and South Africa, enhancing compliance and minimising legal risks during contract negotiation and dispute resolution.
- Delivered comprehensive legal advice on various matters to support client decisions.
- Consulted with clients to inform legal decision-making.
- Represented clients at court hearings, tribunals and administrative boards.
Group Legal Counsel & Company Secretary
Bell Equipment
Richards Bay
01.2010 - 02.2015
- Led legal and governance support, advising Board on compliance, negotiating supply agreements, managing cross-border transactions to ensure strategic alignment and risk mitigation.
- Collaborated with internal clients and members of shareholder legal teams to get contracts closed with relevant shareholders' approval.
- Prepared detailed reports summarising legal risks and proposed mitigation strategies.
- Analysed new laws and regulations to assess potential impact on company operations.
- Worked for a JSE-listed engineering and equipment manufacturer, contributing to various projects.
Senior Legal Counsel & Regional Company Secretary
Orica Africa
Johannesburg
01.2010 - 02.2012
- Led legal strategy across Southern Africa, advising commercial and executive teams on deal negotiation and regulatory compliance to minimise liabilities in explosives manufacturing and distribution.
- Negotiated US$120 million commercial agreement, driving legal and governance initiatives across the region.
- Provided accurate, helpful and up-to-date legal advice on legal matters.
- Consulted with clients to inform legal decision-making.
- Represented clients at court hearings, tribunals and administrative boards.
Legal Counsel
Aspen Pharmacare
Johannesburg
09.2007 - 12.2009
- Advised on commercial contracts, copyright and trademark protection, litigation, and regulatory compliance to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risks.
- Collaborated with internal clients and members of shareholder legal teams to get contracts closed with relevant shareholder's approval.
- Managed operations for multinational pharmaceutical manufacturer in various African countries, overseeing legal aspects and ensuring adherence to local regulations.
- Collaborated with HR to manage employment law issues, including contracts and disputes.
- Prepared detailed reports summarising legal risks and proposed mitigation strategies.
Group Company Secretary & Legal Counsel
McCroft International Tobacco Holdings
Johannesburg
08.2005 - 08.2007
- Advised board members on their legal and corporate responsibilities under the Companies Act and other relevant legislation.
- Advised on commercial contracts, governance, and regulatory compliance, ensuring adherence to legal standards across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
- Managed statutory book maintenance, including registers of members, directors, and secretaries, to comply with legal obligations.
- Managed operations for a multinational tobacco holding company, optimising market strategies and ensuring compliance with local regulations.
- Handled confidential documents with discretion, following data protection guidelines to safeguard information.
Legal Counsel
Afgri Operations
Centurion
03.2002 - 08.2005
- Advised on commercial contracts and regulatory compliance to enhance operational integrity in agriculture sector.
- Supported diversification initiatives in agribusiness to strengthen market position.
- Prepared detailed reports summarising legal risks and proposed mitigation strategies.
- Collaborated with HR to manage employment law issues, including contracts and disputes.
- Collaborated with internal clients and members of shareholder legal teams to get contracts closed with relevant shareholder's approval.
Education
Senior Management Development Programme -
University of Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia2016
LLB - Baccalaureus Legum
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa1999
Skills
- Corporate Governance
- Companies Act
- JSE Listings Requirements
- King IV
- Corporate Compliance
- Compliance Programs
- Regulatory Compliance
- Data Protection
- Commercial Law
- Corporate Transactions
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Joint Ventures
- Competition Law
- Intellectual Property
- Employment Law
- Legal Risk Management
- Cross-Border Transactions
- Private Equity
- Deal Negotiation
- Contract Negotiation
- Business Development
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Board Advisory
- Stakeholder Communication
- Shareholder Relations
- Corporate Strategy
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Change Management
- Business Transformation
- Governance frameworks
- Regulatory Affairs
- Compliance reporting
- Arbitration
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Litigation Management
- Litigation management
- Legal advisory
- Ethics
- CCPA
- External Counsel Management
- Procurement
- Budget Management
- Liability Reduction
- Risk management
- Legal interpretation
- Records maintenance
- Secretarial practice
- Meeting protocols
- Change implementation
- Governance accountability
- Cross-border transactions
- Corporate law
- Stakeholder engagement
- Legal interpretation
- Records maintenance
- Meeting protocols
- Secretarial practice
- Change implementation
- Governance accountability
- Company law expertise
- Corporate law
Languages
Afrikaans
English
Custom
- Major Commercial Transactions, Negotiated the US$1.2 billion extension of the Jwaneng Diamond Mine (Cut 9) Mining Services Agreement., Negotiated commercial agreements exceeding US$310 million for major mining developments., Negotiated a US$120 million mining services agreement for First Quantum Minerals., Advised on an international capital raising transaction involving Goldman Sachs., Negotiated numerous strategic procurement, engineering and infrastructure agreements across Southern Africa.
- Corporate Governance, Executive adviser to Boards of listed and multinational organisations., Governance leadership for JSE-listed and LSE-listed entities., Extensive application of the Companies Act, JSE Listings Requirements, King IV, UK Companies Act and Guernsey Companies Law., Board and Committee governance across multiple jurisdictions.
- International Legal Practice, Provided legal leadership across: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Mauritius, Egypt, Switzerland, Germany, United Kingdom, Guernsey, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Australia.
Certification
- Admitted as Advocate of the High Court of South Africa
- Previously admitted as Attorney of the High Court of South Africa (2002-2010)
Interests
- Director on the Board of Aviation Heritage Foundation of South Africa NPC
- Military History
- Photography
Timeline
Group Company Secretary
Burstone Group Limited
08.2023 - 03.2025
Head of Legal & Company Secretary
Onderstepoort Biological Products SOC Ltd
10.2020 - 08.2023
Independent Advocate & Legal Consultant
Self Employed
12.2019 - Current
Group General Manager: Governance & Legal
Mediclinic International PLC
10.2018 - 11.2019
Senior Legal Counsel & Company Secretary
Thiess Africa | Sedgman | Majwe Mining Joint Venture
02.2016 - 09.2018
Group Legal Counsel & Company Secretary
Bell Equipment
01.2010 - 02.2015
Senior Legal Counsel & Regional Company Secretary
Orica Africa
01.2010 - 02.2012
Legal Counsel
Aspen Pharmacare
09.2007 - 12.2009
Group Company Secretary & Legal Counsel
McCroft International Tobacco Holdings
08.2005 - 08.2007
Legal Counsel
Afgri Operations
03.2002 - 08.2005
Senior Management Development Programme -
University of Melbourne
LLB - Baccalaureus Legum
University of Pretoria