Senior Associate (7-9 PQE) - Commercial Arbitration - Dubai

Overview

Requirements & Personal Attributes

• 7–9 years' post-qualification experience (PQE).
• UK, US, Australian, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canadian or other common law qualification preferred.
• Experience advising on complex cross border disputes, cross-jurisdictional contractual disputes, issues arising under shareholder and joint venture agreements and wide-ranging disputes concerning commercial contracts.
• Strong experience gained at a leading international law firm.
• Significant experience advising on international commercial arbitration matters, including arbitrations conducted under major institutional rules (ICC, LCIA, DIAC, SIAC, DIFC-LCIA, ICDR and similar).
• Proven experience handling complex cross-border disputes involving multinational corporates, financial institutions and high-value commercial relationships.
• Strong understanding of arbitration procedure and experience drafting substantive pleadings, witness statements, expert submissions and procedural applications.
• Experience managing matters with multi-jurisdictional elements and coordinating with local counsel across different jurisdictions.
• Commercially minded, strategic and capable of managing matters with a high degree of autonomy.
• Strong client relationship and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and oral advocacy skills.
• Experience supervising and mentoring junior lawyers.

Primary Job Purpose

• The successful candidate will play a key role within the firm's Commercial Arbitration practice, working closely with partners on complex international and domestic arbitration matters, cross-border commercial disputes and enforcement-related proceedings.
• The role will involve advising multinational corporates, financial institutions and other sophisticated clients on disputes arising from commercial contracts, shareholder and joint venture arrangements, cross-border business relationships and other high-value commercial transactions.

Case Strategy & Dispute Management

• Work closely with partners and clients to develop case strategy and dispute resolution approaches.
• Analyse complex legal, factual and commercial issues arising in high-value cross-border disputes.
• Assist clients in evaluating risk, managing disputes proactively and identifying opportunities for early resolution where appropriate.
• Contribute to the strategic management of arbitration proceedings from commencement through to award and enforcement.

Arbitration & Advocacy

• Lead the preparation and drafting of requests for arbitration, statements of claim, statements of defence, jurisdictional challenges, procedural applications and post-hearing submissions.
• Draft and review witness statements, expert reports and related evidentiary submissions.
• Prepare hearing bundles, chronologies, case analyses and hearing strategies.
• Support advocacy preparation for hearings, procedural conferences and settlement discussions.
• Participate in client meetings, witness interviews and expert conferences.

Cross-Border Disputes & Enforcement

• Advise on disputes involving cross-jurisdictional contractual arrangements, shareholder disputes, joint venture disputes and other complex commercial matters.
• Coordinate with foreign counsel and manage multi-jurisdictional workstreams.
• Assist with recognition, enforcement and execution strategies relating to arbitral awards and judgments across various jurisdictions.

Client Management & Business Development

• Develop and maintain strong client relationships.
• Serve as a day-to-day point of contact for clients, external counsel, experts and arbitral tribunals.
• Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships and contribute to business development initiatives.
• Participate in client presentations, thought leadership and market-facing activities.

Team Leadership & Matter Management

• Supervise and mentor junior associates and trainees.
• Manage document review, legal research and evidence-gathering exercises efficiently and effectively.
• Delegate work appropriately and oversee quality control of team deliverables.
• Manage matters in a commercially focused manner, ensuring efficient delivery and adherence to client budgets and expectations.
• Meet billing, utilisation and collection targets.
• Please note that all applications must be submitted through our job portal, as we are not accepting profiles via recruitment agencies at this stage.
• *Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted*