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AUBREY THABO MATHOPE

@aubreythabomathope

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Executive legal and commercial leader, bringing contract, compliance, and customs trade expertise.

South Africa

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking for an executive role where I can lead legal and commercial strategy—driving regulatory compliance, contract advisory, and customs trade execution—while building scalable systems that deliver measurable results for clients. REMOTE LEGAL ADVISORY SERVICE, COMPLIANCE AND CUSTOMS DOCUMENTATION AUDIT AND VERIFICATION

I’m an Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa with more than two decades of progressive leadership across public and private sectors. I bring executive-level legal and commercial advisory strengths across commercial and contract law, regulatory compliance, consumer protection, labour relations, and public sector governance.

Since 2013, I’ve directed Mriski Consulting Services, delivering end-to-end business advisory, business formation, and commercial compliance to corporate and individual clients. I’ve registered over 500 businesses on behalf of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), showing my capacity for high-volume, high-accountability delivery.

My customs and trade capability is strengthened by my recent accreditation as a SARS Licensed Customs Clearing Agent and Registered Exporter. I oversee full lifecycle customs clearance operations—classification under Harmonized System (HS) tariff codes, duty/VAT calculation, EDI declaration submissions, SARS liaison—and I manage export compliance frameworks including rules-of-origin determination and preferential trade certificate issuance.

Before private practice, I led national compliance functions at the Department of Trade and Industry and served as Senior Legal Advisor and Deputy Director: Education and Compliance. Earlier, my public-interest foundation came from the Office of the Public Protector and the State Attorney’s Office, equipping me with forensic investigative, mediation, and litigation skills that remain central to how I advise and execute.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Managing Director

Current

Mriski Consulting Services

Sep 2013 - Present (12 years 8 months)

Directed an independent legal and commercial consultancy providing executive advisory, business formation, and regulatory compliance services. Managed end-to-end customs clearance and export compliance, and registered 500+ businesses on behalf of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).

Regulatory Compliance EDI Customs Declarations Export Compliance

Professional Assistant

R Masilo Attorneys Inc.

Jun 2017 - Dec 2018 (1 year 6 months)

Handled civil and criminal litigation through to judgment, managing case instructions and legal drafting. Represented clients in mediation and arbitration and supported senior counsel on complex matters, including debtor recoveries and collection proceedings.

Civil Litigation Criminal Litigation Legal Research Médiation Arbitration Contract Drafting Debt Collection Dispute Resolution

Senior Legal Advisor

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Oct 2011 - Jun 2013 (1 year 8 months)

Provided legal advisory to the Director-General and Minister across department matters. Drafted and negotiated commercial contracts and participated in legislation drafting and parliamentary hearings, including representation at disciplinary and administrative tribunal processes.

Commercial Contracts Legal Drafting Parliamentary Hearings Labour Relations Act Compliance Disciplinary

Deputy Director: Education & Compliance

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Jun 2007 - Sep 2011 (4 years 3 months)

Led the national compliance function under consumer regulation frameworks, facilitating and monitoring voluntary business compliance. Developed compliance strategies and educational campaigns, producing advisory materials and supporting compliance units and provincial offices.

Compliance Strategy National Workshops Regulatory Training Stakeholder Management Compliance Monitoring

Assistant Director, Consumer Investigations

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)

Oct 2005 - May 2007 (1 year 7 months)

Investigated consumer complaints involving unfair practices through forensic-style business-practice reviews and interviews. Drafted regulations, notices and reports for ministerial submissions, and conducted legal research into legislative contraventions.

Consumer Investigations Ministerial Submissions Legal Research

Investigating Officer

Office of the Public Protector

Feb 2002 - Sep 2005 (3 years 7 months)

Conducted complex multi-party investigations into maladministration and improper conduct by government departments and parastatals. Drafted investigation memoranda and reports, mediated disputes, and delivered public outreach programmes and educational campaigns.

Médiation Administrative Law Report Writing Problem Solving

Candidate Attorney

State Attorney's Office

Feb 2001 - Feb 2002 (1 year)

Completed articles of clerkship representing the South African Government across magistrate and high court matters. Drafted litigation documents, briefed senior counsel, and performed legal research and inter-departmental dispute mediation.

Legal Research Civil Procedure Criminal Litigation Support Administrative Law Inter Departmental Dispute Mediation