Senior Legal Counsel

Company Overview Our client, a diversified multinational holding company, is seeking a commercially focused Senior Legal Counsel to join its Dubai-based Group Legal function. The role will support the Group Legal Director in managing legal matters across multiple international jurisdictions, including the UAE, UK, USA, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and other global markets. This is a hands-on role requiring ownership of corporate governance, shareholder matters, international commercial contracting, cross-border transactions, and legal operations. Reporting to Group Legal Director Key Responsibilities Corporate Governance & Shareholder Matters • Draft, review, and manage shareholder agreements, subscription agreements, and other corporate documentation • Support share issuances, transfers, buybacks, capital restructurings, and shareholder exit transactions • Coordinate board meetings, shareholder approvals, board resolutions, and governance documentation across multiple jurisdictions • Manage corporate secretarial requirements for subsidiaries in collaboration with external advisors • Support mergers, acquisitions, investments, and cross-border corporate transactions • Ensure compliance with governance requirements across international group entities Commercial Contracts & International Agreements • Draft, negotiate, and review a broad range of international commercial agreements • Manage distributor, reseller, vendor, consultancy, technology, and service provider contract • Prepare and maintain inter-company agreements, • Management Services Agreements • Cost-Sharing Agreement • Intellectual Property Licensing Agreements • Employee Secondment Agreement • Cross-Border Service Agreements • Provide legal guidance during contract negotiations and advise on commercial ri • Identify contractual risks and recommend practical mitigation strategies Legal Operations & External Counsel Management • Act as the primary liaison with external law firms across multiple jurisdiction • Coordinate legal advice and manage cross-border legal matters efficient • Monitor legal budgets and optimize external legal specs • Develop and maintain legal templates, contract repositories, documentation standards, approval workflows, and Standard Operating Procedures • Support the implementation of legal technology solutions and contract lifecycle management system Legal Advisory & Risk Management • Advise business leaders on legal, commercial, and regulatory risk • Review liability provisions, indemnities, insurance matters, and dispute-related issues • Support governance, compliance initiatives, and policy implementation across the Group • Assist with dispute management and pre-litigation strategy in coordination with external counsel Requirements Education • Bachelor's Degree in Law (LLB) or equivalent legal qualification • Admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction is preferred • Postgraduate legal qualifications (LLM or equivalent) are advantage Experience • 8–12+ years of post-qualification experience (PQE) in corporate and commercial law • Experience as Senior In-House Counsel within a multinational organization or with a leading UAE law firm • Strong exposure to international legal matters and cross-border transactions(prefer US/UK) • Experience supporting multinational holding company structures and corporate governance • Proven expertise in shareholder matters, corporate restructuring, commercial contracting, and M&A support • Experience managing external legal counsel and legal budget • Strong knowledge of UAE legal practice, including DIFC and UAE mainland corporate structure • Ability to operate independently within a lean, high-growth business environment Package - AED 20000 - AED 22000/month Show more Show less

8–12+ years of post-qualification experience (PQE) in corporate and commercial law. Experience as Senior In-House Counsel within a multinational organization or with a leading UAE law firm. Strong exposure to international legal matters and cross-border transactions (prefer US/UK). Experience supporting multinational holding company structures and corporate governance. Proven expertise in shareholder matters, corporate restructuring, commercial contracting, and M&A support. Experience managing external legal counsel and legal budgets. Strong knowledge of UAE legal practice, including DIFC and UAE mainland corporate structure. Ability to operate independently within a lean, high-growth business environment.

Corporate Governance & Shareholder Matters: Draft, review, and manage shareholder agreements, subscription agreements, and other corporate documentation; support share issuances, transfers, buybacks, capital restructurings, and shareholder exit transactions; coordinate board meetings, shareholder approvals, board resolutions, and governance documentation across multiple jurisdictions; manage corporate secretarial requirements for subsidiaries in collaboration with external advisors; support mergers, acquisitions, investments, and cross-border corporate transactions; ensure compliance with governance requirements across international group entities. Commercial Contracts & International Agreements: Draft, negotiate, and review a broad range of international commercial agreements; manage distributor, reseller, vendor, consultancy, technology, and service provider contracts; prepare and maintain inter-company agreements, Management Services Agreements, Cost-Sharing Agreements, Intellectual Property Licensing Agreements, Employee Secondment Agreements, Cross-Border Service Agreements; provide legal guidance during contract negotiations and advise on commercial risk; identify contractual risks and recommend practical mitigation strategies. Legal Operations & External Counsel Management: Act as the primary liaison with external law firms across multiple jurisdictions; coordinate legal advice and manage cross-border legal matters efficiently; monitor legal budgets and optimize external legal spend; develop and maintain legal templates, contract repositories, documentation standards, approval workflows, and Standard Operating Procedures; support the implementation of legal technology solutions and contract lifecycle management system. Legal Advisory & Risk Management: Advise business leaders on legal, commercial, and regulatory risk; review liability provisions, indemnities, insurance matters, and dispute-related issues; support governance, compliance initiatives, and policy implementation across the Group; assist with dispute management and pre-litigation strategy in coordination with external counsel.