ZULAYGA EBRAHIM
Senior Legal Advisor
21 Uitvlugt Road, Pinelands
Summary
Detail-oriented and dedicated legal professional with 18 years in supporting financial services companies with legal advice related to asset management activities. Stayed current on relevant legislation and communicated changes to affected parties quickly and effectively. Trained management on legal requirements and assisted in developing compliance policies. Proven success in building trusting rapport with clients and offering sound legal advice in clear and universal terms. Hardworking and dedicated to client advocacy.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
LEGAL ADVISOR ADVANCED
Old Mutual Investment Group
07.2022 - Current
- Providing legal support to the business units forming part of Old Mutual Investment Group.
- Drafting and vetting of all investment related agreements; Collaborated with cross-functional teams and involved with stakeholder management relating to investment management agreements, as well as service provider agreements.
- Liaising and negotiating with asset consultants and clients; and providing opinions and advice and document management.
- Collaborated and supported stakeholders with legal requirements.
- Streamlined contract review and document management processes, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
LEGAL ADVISOR ADVANCED
Old Mutual Wealth
01.2018 - Current
- Providing legal support to the business units forming part of the Old Mutual Wealth group of businesses.
- Drafting and vetting of all investment related agreements; Supporting and liaising with all business units; Involved with stakeholder management relating to agreements with trustees, investment managers and service providers.
- Enhanced client satisfaction with timely and accurate legal advice on various matters.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop comprehensive risk management strategies for organizations.
- Reviewed proposed legislation affecting OMW's interests, advocating for favorable policy changes when necessary.
- Streamlined contract negotiation processes, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Liaising and negotiating with asset consultants and clients; and providing opinion and advice and document management.
LEGAL ADVISOR
Sanlam Investments
01.2010 - 12.2017
- Provided in-house legal services and dispensed legal advice to business units within the Sanlam Investments cluster; Drafted and vetted of all investment related agreements; Supported and liaised with all departments; Continuously reviewed and improved workflow and processes.
- Involved with challenging legal issues faced regarding the relationship with global investment managers as well as clients.
- Liaised and negotiated with outside counsel and clients; Reviewed and provided comment on draft regulatory publications; and managing all related research, administration, report writing and record keeping.
- Reduced potential litigation risks by conducting thorough research and providing preemptive solutions to clients.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop comprehensive risk management strategies for organizations.
- Streamlined contract review processes by introducing an electronic contract review management system, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
LEGAL OFFICER
The University of the Western Cape
06.2009 - 01.2010
- Responsible for all legal issues affecting the University and report to the Rector.
- Drafted, reviewed and vetted all contracts which included contracts with suppliers, donor funding contracts as well as confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements.
- Ensured compliance with applicable legislation for instance BBBEE and procurement policies, attended tender committee meetings, provided opinion on various legal issues including the viability of new business ventures with third parties, assisted with ensuing litigation and liaising with external legal counsel, assisted with capital expenditure projects from a legal perspective and was responsible for managing risks.
ASSOCIATE
Carey Olsen
07.2006 - 04.2008
- Employed as a solicitor in the Corporate Department at Carey Olsen in Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
- Was part of a legal team involved in launching open ended and closed ended investment funds for global investment banks and other institutional clients namely, HSBC, Credit Suisse, Ahli United Bank, Close, Fortis, Investec, etc.
- Assisted in drafting certain sections of a prospectus, articles of association, administration agreements, management agreements, investment advisory agreements, custodian agreements, scheme particulars and supplemental scheme particulars for open and closed ended funds.
- Drafted inaugural board minutes and special resolutions, assisting in the licensing of new promoters, Proving regulatory advice to local and off shore banks and asset managers regarding banking and financial services regulations within Guernsey; liaising with the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (the “GFSC”) on behalf of clients, assisting directors in the completion of various disclosures required by the GFSC, drafting legal opinions and related documentation in respect of Guernsey registered companies, liaising with foreign counsel in finalizing opinions.
- Was also a member of the professional support team for 4 months where I was responsible for providing support to fee earners in relation to reviewing the new Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 and preparing briefs for fee earners as well as clients.
- Also prepared and amended new and existing precedents.
PARALEGAL
Clifford Chance, Slaughter & May, Linklaters
09.2005 - 06.2006
- Between March and August 2005, I was employed as a paralegal at various magic circle firms in London namely Lovells, Clifford Chance and Slaughter & May
- Assisted in preparation of settlement proposals and agreements to help attorneys negotiate settlement in best interest of client.
- Assisted attorneys with trial preparation through thorough research and analysis of relevant laws and regulations.
- Assisted counsel in preparing answers, providing documentation, and information for discovery request.
- Involved in due diligence assignments, document review process in preparation for ensuing litigation in contractual disputes and assisted in reviewing all related documentation for example leases, MBO’s, etc in relation to the 240 hotels sold by the Hilton Group Plc to Hilton Hotels Corporation for £3.3bn.
- Whilst in the banking department at Linklaters (September 2005 - June 2006), I assisted on Leveraged Acquisition Finance, Syndicated Loan Facility and Revolving Credit Facility transactions as well as on a range of different transactions. Was responsible for a wide range of valuable organisational and practical assistance at the pre and post-closing stage, from proof reading various banking documentation and cross-checking references in same, preparation of engrossments and attending signings to dealing with the distribution of originals and the production of bibles, preparing conditions precedent checklists as well as drafting Transfer Certificates, Inter-Accession Deeds and Notices. Reviewed a wide range of banking documentation, for example, Senior Mezzanine Facility Agreement, Mezzanine Facility Agreement, Share Charge Agreement, Fixed and Floating Security Agreement and Pledge Agreement. In the Capital Markets department, I was responsible for conforming inter alia the following documents: Series Prospectus, Dealer Confirmation to Issuer, Supplemental Trust Guarantee and Interest Rate Swap Confirmation.
ARTICLES OF CLERKSHIP
Bowmans (Cape Town)
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Experience in Magistrates’ Court and High Court civil procedure in defended and undefended matters, drafting summonses and further pleadings and notices, compiling disclosure documents, appearance at Magistrates’ Court, drafting affidavits, consulting with clients, briefing counsel, reviewing pledges, bank guarantees and agreements prior to litigation and advising on and drafting opinions on aspects of contractual law
- Labour law including drafting opinions, reviewing contracts and drafting and filing various notices and pleadings at the Labour Court and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration
- Corporate law, including undertaking opinion and regulatory work within the financial services sector as well as dealing with income tax and general corporate issues and the interpretation of various statutes
- Amended client’s practice manual in compliance with FICA regulations
- Submitted applications on behalf of clients to the Tax Amnesty Unit for foreign exchange violations
- Drafting, reviewing and commenting on a number of relationships, transaction and retail agreements including investment mandate agreements, shareholder agreements, buy & sell agreements, sale of shares, sale of business, sale of moveable assets, distributorship agreements, supply agreements, commercial & residential leases, standard terms & conditions, maintenance & support agreements and confidentiality agreements
- Shipping law including assistance to the Head of Department with trial preparation for admiralty matters including drafting pleadings, compiling disclosure documents and liaising with clients and briefing counsel
- Actively involved in opinion work including drafting letters of opinion on behalf of clients.
Education
No Degree - Business Management Programme
University of Stellenbosch Business School
04.2001 -
B.Soc Sci, LLB, LLM - Political Studies, Law
University of Cape Town
04.2001 -
Skills
- Dispute Resolution
- Legal Compliance
- Research
- Legal Opinions
- Legal Analysis
- Contract Review
- Data privacy
- Contract drafting
- Document Preparation
- Corporate and business legal issues
- Negotiation
- Strategy Development
Accomplishments
- Being admitted as a solicitor to the bar of England & Wales.
- During my employment with Carey Olsen, I was selected to be seconded to one of Guernsey’s biggest fund administrators’, Northern Trust, which is a global leader in asset management for two months during 2007. I was responsible for advising The Glanmore Property Fund as well as The British Real Estate Fund regarding the acquisition of properties, advising the directors as well as the fund’s UK legal advisors on Guernsey company law issues and drafting board resolutions approving the acquisition of properties and other related transactions.
- During my employment with Linklaters, I was selected to complete the quarterly Royal Bank of Scotland banking report which afforded me the opportunity to work closely with Partners and Senior Associates in the Banking department.
General - Outsidei Interests
I am an active and social person and am actively involved in community outreach projects. I enjoy outdoor activities such as walks in nature and am an avid reader and runner.
Timeline
LEGAL ADVISOR ADVANCED
Old Mutual Investment Group
07.2022 - Current
LEGAL ADVISOR ADVANCED
Old Mutual Wealth
01.2018 - Current
LEGAL ADVISOR
Sanlam Investments
01.2010 - 12.2017
LEGAL OFFICER
The University of the Western Cape
06.2009 - 01.2010
ASSOCIATE
Carey Olsen
07.2006 - 04.2008
PARALEGAL
Clifford Chance, Slaughter & May, Linklaters
09.2005 - 06.2006
ARTICLES OF CLERKSHIP
Bowmans (Cape Town)
01.2003 - 01.2005
No Degree - Business Management Programme
University of Stellenbosch Business School
04.2001 -
B.Soc Sci, LLB, LLM - Political Studies, Law
University of Cape Town
04.2001 -
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