SHAUN RAMSAMUJ
Johannesburg
Summary
Senior Legal Executive with 23 years' experience delivering commercially focused legal, regulatory, and operational advice in complex environments. Expertise in contract negotiation, risk mitigation, and compliance framework implementation. Extensive experience as both a senior in-house Legal Advisor and franchise owner, collaborating with executive leadership and stakeholders to achieve pragmatic legal outcomes aligned with business goals.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder & Director
Veritas Legal Solutions
Johannesburg
01.2025 - Current
- Provide commercially focused legal leadership at the intersection of law and business, supporting strategic decision-making, regulatory compliance, and operational risk management.
- Lead the drafting and negotiation of complex commercial agreements, delivering pragmatic legal advice through structured opinions and memoranda aligned to business objectives.
- Advice on franchise, corporate, and cross-border transactions, demonstrating strong capability in stakeholder alignment, governance, and deal execution within regulated markets.
- Facilitate African market expansion by partnering with reputable local counsel; managing firm selection, negotiate cost-effective fee arrangements, and ensure consistent quality and alignment with commercial outcomes.
- Driving compliance and risk capability through targeted legal training, translating legislative requirements into practical, business-enabling frameworks.
- Build trusted executive relationships, influencing senior stakeholders and delivering solutions that balance legal risk with brand, operational, and growth imperatives.
- Established a boutique legal consultancy following a 20-year corporate career at Absa, advising corporates, financial institutions, and public sector clients across Africa in complex, multi-jurisdictional environments.
- Veritas Legal Solutions offers services in Corporate & Commercial Law, Capital Markets Transactions, ESG and Green Finance, Regulatory Compliance, Risk Mitigation & Governance, and Legal Policy Development.
Principal Legal Counsel
Absa Bank Limited
01.2010 - 01.2024
- Provided strategic legal and commercial advisory support to Corporate and Investment Banking, partnering with executive leadership and business units across complex, multi-jurisdictional environments.
- Provided commercial and operational legal advice to senior stakeholders across multiple business units, supporting high-impact strategic and day-to-day decisions.
- Negotiated, drafted, and reviewed 50+ complex commercial agreements annually, including supplier, service, and transaction contracts, improving turnaround times and reducing legal bottlenecks.
- Led legal support on multi-billion rand transactions, including a USD 5 billion capital markets deal, ensuring full regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.
- Advised on and structured high-value business transactions and restructures, enabling deal execution while mitigating legal, regulatory, and reputational risk.
- Designed and implemented compliance and governance frameworks across business units, strengthening regulatory adherence and reducing exposure to legal risk.
- Managed and resolved litigation and dispute matters, reducing financial and reputational exposure through effective negotiation and settlement strategies.
- Oversaw relationships with external counsel, improving cost efficiency and ensuring delivery of high-quality legal services across multiple mandates.
- Delivered legal and regulatory training to 100+ stakeholders, enhancing business understanding of compliance and reducing recurring legal issues.
- Drafted and maintained policies, procedures, and governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory requirements and internal standards.
- Partnered with cross-functional teams to improve legal and operational processes, increasing efficiency and strengthening business-aligned decision-making.
- Selected by EXCO as a high-potential leader to complete the prestigious IMD programme in 2021 during the COVID-19 period; successfully completed, demonstrating resilience, commitment to continuous development, and leadership capability under challenging conditions.
- Selected as a potential leadership under the ADI (Accelerated Development Initiative) which culminated in a trip to major businesses in Shanghai and Singapore (Google and Facebook).
- Played a key role in Absa’s inaugural Green Bond issuance across South Africa and Botswana, supporting sustainable finance strategy and regulatory compliance.
- Contributed to cross-border legal consistency across multiple African jurisdictions, reducing regulatory fragmentation and improving execution efficiency.
- Enhanced contracting and advisory efficiency, enabling faster deal closure and improved stakeholder satisfaction.
- Strengthened risk management capability by embedding practical legal frameworks within business operations.
Franchise Owner
Nando’s Montecasino
01.2018 - 01.2022
- Originated and secured FNB funding approval for a Nando’s franchise at Montecasino through a legally and commercially robust, ROI-driven business case.
- Led end-to-end stakeholder negotiations with financiers, franchise partners, and Nando’s, driving alignment, managing risk, and securing franchisor buy-in for site development.
- Navigated complex banking and franchisor approval frameworks, demonstrating strong commercial judgement, governance awareness, and deal execution capability.
- Applied integrated legal and business thinking to structure a financially viable and strategically aligned franchise opportunity in a competitive retail environment.
- Sustained operations through COVID‑19 by implementing cost containment, cash flow optimisation, and risk mitigation strategies, ensuring business continuity under regulatory and market constraints.
- Strengthened post-pandemic recovery and operational stability through agile decision-making, reinforcing long-term sustainability and commercial resilience.
- Ensured 100% compliance with franchise agreement obligations, successfully meeting all franchisor audit and operational standards.
- Negotiated and managed 10+ supplier and service agreements, achieving cost efficiencies while strengthening contractual protections.
- Oversaw lease and property agreements, mitigating landlord and occupancy-related risks within a premium retail location.
- Provided day-to-day operational legal advisory, supporting business decisions across staffing, procurement, and customer engagement.
- Managed and resolved customer complaints and disputes, reducing escalation risk and protecting brand reputation.
- Implemented compliance processes and internal controls, contributing to improved operational consistency and reduced legal exposure.
- Collaborated with franchisor and stakeholders to ensure alignment with brand standards, policies, and regulatory requirements.
- Supported business performance through legally sound decision-making, balancing commercial outcomes with risk mitigation.
Property Legal Advisor
First National Bank (FNB)
01.2006 - 01.2010
- Negotiated and drafted property and commercial agreements, ensuring alignment with business objectives and legal standards.
- Delivered legal support to property finance and commercial banking divisions, facilitating informed decision-making.
- Conducted legal due diligence and risk assessments.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory and legal requirements.
- Advised business stakeholders on legal risks impacting transactions and operations.
- Managed disputes and coordinated with external legal counsel, achieving favourable resolutions and minimising legal risks.
Education
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) -
01-2001
Bachelor of Social Sciences -
01-1999
Skills
- Franchise Operations & Franchise Compliance
- Franchising experience in terms of negotiating favourable terms
- Commercial Strategy
- Business Transactions & Restructuring
- Regulatory Compliance & Governance
- Regulatory Compliance
- Risk Management & Mitigation
- Risk & Governance
- Operational Legal Advisory
- Contract Drafting & Negotiation
- Contract Negotiation
- Supplier & Service Agreements
- Property & Lease Agreements
- Transactional Banking
- Litigation & Dispute Resolution
- Litigation Oversight
- External Counsel Management
- Policy Development & Implementation
- Legal Training & Stakeholder Engagement
- Executive Stakeholder Engagement
- Strategic Financial Planning
- Multi-site / Multi-entity Business Support
- Executive Stakeholder Engagement
- Franchising experience in terms of negotiating favourable terms
Languages
Afrikaans
Intermediate
B1
English
Proficient
C2
Timeline
Founder & Director
Veritas Legal Solutions
01.2025 - Current
Franchise Owner
Nando’s Montecasino
01.2018 - 01.2022
Principal Legal Counsel
Absa Bank Limited
01.2010 - 01.2024
Property Legal Advisor
First National Bank (FNB)
01.2006 - 01.2010