Head of Legal

Head of Legal Kuwait | IPO Readiness | Regional Group | Full-time | On-site Languages: Arabic and English A leading Kuwait-based regional group is strengthening its leadership team. We are looking for a senior corporate and commercial lawyer to lead the Legal function. This is not a supporting legal role. You will be the most senior in-house lawyer, working directly with senior management and, where required, the Board and external advisers. You will have responsibility for the company’s legal agenda during IPO preparation and will continue leading the Legal function as the organization develops into a listed-company environment. The Role Your responsibilities will span four main areas: Corporate & Strategic Transactions Lead the legal work on corporate restructurings, acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, new entities, shareholder matters and other strategic transactions. Support the legal workstreams required for IPO readiness and work closely with external legal and IPO advisers. Commercial Own the drafting, review and negotiation of significant commercial agreements across the Group, including supplier, distribution, technology, services, partnership, logistics and other strategic arrangements. You should be comfortable negotiating difficult commercial positions and finding solutions that protect the company without unnecessarily slowing the business down. Corporate & Board Matters Advise senior management on Companies Law, corporate structures, authorities, shareholder matters and Board-related legal issues. Work closely with the Governance and Compliance functions on matters relevant to IPO and listed-company readiness. Legal Function Leadership Lead the company’s Legal function, manage external counsel across Kuwait and other GCC markets, oversee significant disputes and litigation, establish appropriate legal processes and templates, and provide practical legal advice to senior management across the business. Who We Are Looking For You are likely to have 10+ years of strong corporate and commercial legal experience, gained in a respected law firm, a listed company, or a complex regional operating business. Most importantly, you should be able to demonstrate that you have personally: • Drafted and negotiated complex commercial agreements. • Handled significant corporate transactions, restructurings, acquisitions or joint ventures. • Advised senior executives on difficult legal and commercial decisions. • Managed significant disputes and external legal counsel. • Worked across more than one legal or commercial jurisdiction. • Operated with a high degree of independence and accountability. Strong knowledge of the Kuwait legal and commercial environment is essential. Professional-level Arabic and English are required, including the ability to draft and negotiate legal documents in both languages. Experience with listed companies, IPOs, CMA/Boursa Kuwait matters, Board matters or GCC regional operations is a significant advantage. Previous responsibility for a Legal team is strongly preferred. The Opportunity This role offers something relatively uncommon in Kuwait: the opportunity to take ownership of a Legal function before a planned IPO, help shape the legal infrastructure required for that transition, and continue leading the function after listing. For a senior in-house lawyer, it offers broader ownership, direct senior-management exposure and the opportunity to build rather than simply inherit. For a senior law-firm lawyer considering the right move in-house, it offers immediate responsibility for significant corporate and commercial matters rather than a narrow counsel role. Show more Show less

10+ years of strong corporate and commercial legal experience, gained in a respected law firm, a listed company, or a complex regional operating business. Experience with listed companies, IPOs, CMA/Boursa Kuwait matters, Board matters or GCC regional operations is a significant advantage. Professional-level Arabic and English are required, including the ability to draft and negotiate legal documents in both languages. Previous responsibility for a Legal team is strongly preferred.

Lead the legal work on corporate restructurings, acquisitions, joint ventures, investments, new entities, shareholder matters and other strategic transactions. Support the legal workstreams required for IPO readiness and work closely with external legal and IPO advisers. Own the drafting, review and negotiation of significant commercial agreements across the Group, including supplier, distribution, technology, services, partnership, logistics and other strategic arrangements. Advise senior management on Companies Law, corporate structures, authorities, shareholder matters and Board-related legal issues. Work closely with the Governance and Compliance functions on matters relevant to IPO and listed-company readiness. Lead the company’s Legal function, manage external counsel across Kuwait and other GCC markets, oversee significant disputes and litigation, establish appropriate legal processes and templates, and provide practical legal advice to senior management across the business.