Looking for a job

Elisha Marie Govender

@elishamariegovender

Message

I negotiate high-value commercial contracts and manage legal risk across supply-chain, property, and energy businesses.

South Africa

Message

What I'm looking for

I'm looking to lead commercial legal work in a complex operational business, partnering with executives and business teams on contracts, supply-chain risk, disputes, governance, and strategic transactions.

I'm currently Legal Manager – Property at The SPAR Group Limited, advising executives, retailers, landlords, and commercial stakeholders across an international retail and supply-chain organisation.

I manage commercial contracts end to end, from structuring and drafting through negotiation, implementation, renewal, and termination. My work includes high-value agreements, multi-party arrangements, supply and procurement contracts, SLAs, leases, and bespoke risk-allocation provisions.

Previously, I provided group-wide legal support at Engen Petroleum and led legal and company secretarial functions at The Lion Match Company. I've supported procurement, manufacturing, import/export, M&A, corporate transactions, governance, and cross-border operations involving Malaysia, Mozambique, and the United Kingdom.

I'm also the custodian of SPAR's litigation portfolio, developing strategy, briefing external counsel, and guiding business teams toward commercially practical outcomes. As an admitted South African attorney, I bring 10 years of experience across commercial law, litigation, compliance, and operational risk.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Legal Manager – Property

Current

The SPAR Group Limited

Sep 2024 - Present (2 years)

Provide strategic legal and commercial advisory support to executives, retailers, landlords and commercial stakeholders within an international retail and supply-chain organisation. Manage commercial contracts through the full contract life cycle and oversee the litigation portfolio.

Commercial Contracting Contract Lifecycle Management Litigation Dispute Management Procurement Supply Agreements Service Level Agreements M&A Corporate Governance Risk And Compliance International Business

Group Legal Advisor

Engen Petroleum Limited

Aug 2023 - Aug 2024 (1 year)

Provided group-wide legal and commercial advisory support to executive, operational, procurement, retail and commercial teams within a major petroleum and energy business. Managed commercial contracting and the KZN litigation portfolio.

Assistant Group Company Secretary

Fortress Real Estate Investments Limited

Mar 2023 - Aug 2023 (5 months)

Supported the Board, Board committees, JSE-listed governance requirements and executive management. Prepared Board agendas, packs, resolutions, minutes, charters and mandates and advised directors on duties and responsibilities.

Corporate Governance JSE Listings Requirements King IV Companies Act ESG BBBEE Employment Equity Risk Management Audit Coordination Property M&A Corporate Restructuring

Company Secretary & Head of Legal

The Lion Match Company

Sep 2020 - Feb 2023 (2 years 5 months)

Led the legal and company secretarial functions, providing strategic and operational legal support to executive management and business units across commercial, procurement, supply chain, manufacturing and operational functions. Managed high-value commercial contracts and the company's litigation and insurance portfolios.

Legal Officer & Company Secretary

PetroConnect Holdings (Pty) Ltd

Jul 2019 - Sep 2020 (1 year 2 months)

Drafted and vetted legal and commercial agreements and advised the CEO and executive team. Managed litigation, recoveries, legal compliance, risk, insurance and intellectual-property matters.

Commercial Contracting Litigation Recoveries Legal Compliance Risk Management Insurance Intellectual Property Corporate Governance CIPC King IV Faiss NCR OHASA NEMA Employee Relations CCMA

Company Secretary

KGB Holdings

Oct 2018 - Jul 2019 (9 months)

Managed company secretarial, legal, litigation, property and compliance functions. Drafted commercial and lease agreements and advised executives and directors on legal and governance matters.

Company Secretarial Legal Litigation Property Compliance Commercial Agreements Lease Agreements M&A Business Rescue Sequestration Trust Risk Insurance Regulatory

Candidate Attorney & Associate Attorney

Rajesh Preenaidoo & Associates

Jan 2015 - Dec 2018 (3 years 11 months)

Practised across civil and commercial litigation, RAF matters, conveyancing, property and lease agreements. Handled labour matters, CCMA proceedings, insurance litigation, family law, trusts, legal compliance and legal accounting.