Senior Legal Counsel
About This Role
Job Overview
- *The Senior Legal Counsel is responsible for providing comprehensive legal support to various business units, drafting and negotiating contracts, managing corporate structures, and liaising with external legal counsel on disputes and regulatory matters.
- This job leads a range of complex legal activities, ensuring that legal risks are managed, mitigated, and aligned with business strategies while safeguarding the group’s reputation.*
- Key duties and Responsibilities
- Advise on corporate mergers, acquisitions, and share transfers, ensuring compliance with UAE law and international legal frameworks.
- Draft and negotiate shareholders’ agreements, joint ventures, memorandums of understanding, and partnership agreements.
- Provide legal guidance on corporate restructuring, governance, and board resolutions.
- Spearhead legal support for domestic and cross-border M&A transactions from due diligence to integration.
- Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including licensing, supply, agency, consultancy, and distribution agreements.
- Offer strategic advice to business units on the legal risks and implications of their operations and commercial dealings.
- Draft and review terms and conditions for websites, data protection policies, and other compliance documents to ensure alignment with legal standards.
- Manage the incorporation of entities across various jurisdictions in the UAE, liaising with the Department of Economic Development (DED) and other regulatory authorities.
- Ensure compliance with local and regional regulatory frameworks, particularly within the ADGM and DIFC jurisdictions.
- Regularly review and update internal policies to ensure ongoing legal compliance with local and international laws.
- Play a central role in shaping the corporate governance framework of the group, ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, regulatory filings, and corporate reporting requirements.
- Oversee all litigation and dispute resolution matters, including high-stakes litigation and arbitration cases across various jurisdictions.
- Provide legal advice on real estate and labor disputes, coordinating with external legal counsel to ensure proper resolution.
- Assist business units in managing risks related to legal disputes, ensuring optimal outcomes while minimizing financial exposure and reputational risk.
- Liaise with external notaries, law firms, and regulatory authorities regarding the preparation of powers of attorney, memorandums, articles of association, approvals, and licenses for business operations.
- Develop and implement risk management strategies and legal frameworks that proactively address potential risks related to operations, governance, and compliance.
- Provide legal advice on data privacy and cybersecurity regulations, ensuring compliance with GDPR, UAE data protection laws, and other relevant frameworks.
- Mentor and develop junior legal staff, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and providing guidance on complex legal matters.
- Collaborate with senior management, human resources, finance, compliance, and other key stakeholders to offer legal insights on operational decisions, business models, and new initiatives.
- Manage relationships with external counsel in multiple jurisdictions, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality legal representation.
- Set strategic directions for external legal support and ensure alignment with the group’s business goals.
- Lead legal responses to critical incidents, including regulatory investigations, breaches of contract, corporate scandals, and public relations issues, ensuring timely and legally compliant responses.
- Uphold company values throughout business practices and utilise sound judgment in decision making.
- Any other additional duties as may be required by management based on needs of the business.
Position Requirements
- *Educational Qualifications*
- A Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD).
- A Master’s degree in law (LLM) or Business Administration (MBA) is preferred.
- Admission to practice law in at least one jurisdiction (UAE experience highly advantageous).
- *Technical Competencies*
• Analysis & Reasoning
- Attention to Detail
- Problem Solving
- Judgement
- Rule Orientation
*Skills & Personal Attributes*
- Deep expertise in corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, and commercial law.
- Strong negotiation skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- In-depth knowledge of local, regional, and international legal frameworks, including corporate, financial, employment, intellectual property, and data privacy laws.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex litigation and regulatory issues.
- Proficiency in contract management and drafting sophisticated legal documents.
- Exceptional leadership capabilities with experience in managing cross-functional teams.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice.
- Multilingual proficiency (Arabic language preferred).
- *Work Experience*
- A minimum of 10+ years of post-qualification legal experience in a multinational business environment, with a focus on UAE corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, and regulatory compliance.
- Proven experience managing multi-jurisdictional litigation, corporate transactions, and regulatory matters.
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