Legal Counsel

About the Role

Customer Claims & Disputes

• Manage customer complaints, claims, and disputes across the company's business lines, from initial demand through to resolution.
• Draft and respond to legal notices, demand letters, and settlement correspondence.
• Advise the business on liability exposure arising from workmanship, delays, defects, variations, handover, and contractual non-performance.
• Represent or instruct external counsel before the relevant forums (Dubai Courts, DIFC Courts, RDC/Rental Disputes Centre, and arbitration as applicable).
• Negotiate and document settlements that minimise cost and reputational risk.

Vendor Disputes

• Handle disputes with suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors, including non-delivery, defective materials, payment, and performance issues.
• Review and strengthen vendor and subcontractor agreements to reduce future dispute risk.
• Manage recovery actions and defend claims brought by vendors.

Labour & Employment Disputes

• Manage labour and employment disputes with employees, including terminations, end-of-service entitlements, and complaints before MOHRE and the labour courts.
• Advise on UAE labour law compliance and represent the company in conciliation and litigation proceedings.
• Support HR on disciplinary matters, settlement agreements, and risk mitigation.

General Legal & Risk Management

• Manage and instruct external law firms, controlling cost and quality of legal spend.
• Maintain a dispute register and provide regular reporting to management on case status, exposure, and outcomes.
• Identify recurring dispute patterns and recommend preventive changes to contracts, processes, and policies.

Mandatory Requirements

• Minimum 5+ years of legal experience in the UAE.
• Demonstrable experience handling contentious matters — customer/commercial disputes, vendor disputes, and labour disputes.
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent legal qualification.
• Strong working knowledge of UAE litigation, dispute resolution, and labour law frameworks.
• Ability to manage disputes independently and instruct external counsel effectively.
• Good to Have
• Ability to liaise directly with police and local authorities, including the Land Department and the Department of Economic Development (DED).
• Familiarity with real estate and construction / fit-out industry practices.
• Bilingual capability (English and Arabic), with the ability to handle Arabic-language proceedings and documentation.
• Experience appearing before or managing matters in DIFC Courts, RDC, and arbitration (DIAC).

Key Competencies

• Commercial and pragmatic approach to dispute resolution.
• Strong negotiation, drafting, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Sound judgement on when to settle versus litigate.
• Ability to manage a high volume of matters across multiple business lines.
• Pay: AED4,000.00 - AED5,000.00 per month