Senior Legal Counsel - Real Estate

We are seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to directly support the General Counsel in overseeing commercial, real estate, and corporate legal matters across the UAE. In this key position, you will manage complex transactional documentation, provide strategic legal advice on development and construction projects, oversee corporate governance and compliance, and help mitigate legal risks across the organization. Key Responsibilities • Contract Drafting & Negotiation: • Draft, review, and negotiate a wide array of commercial and real estate agreements, including joint ventures, real estate development contracts, construction agreements, consultant contracts, leasing, and sales agreements. • Corporate & Commercial Advisory: • Provide practical legal guidance on corporate governance, corporate structuring, entity maintenance, and general UAE commercial transactions. • Risk Management & Compliance: • Identify potential legal, regulatory, and contractual risks, advising senior leadership on proactive mitigation strategies. • Ensure ongoing compliance with local UAE laws, regulatory frameworks, and corporate policies. • Dispute Resolution & External Counsel Coordination: • Support the management and resolution of commercial and real estate disputes or litigation matters. • Serve as the main liaison with external law firms, managing legal fees and ensuring high-quality, efficient service delivery. • Strategic Legal Support: • Assist the General Counsel in driving overall legal strategy, streamlining department processes, and providing regular legal updates to business stakeholders. Key Requirements & Qualifications • Experience: 12–15 years of relevant post-qualification legal experience, with a strong emphasis on the UAE legal market. • Domain Expertise: Extensive, practical experience in UAE real estate law, preferably gained within a leading real estate developer or a top-tier law firm advising major property developers. • Legal Knowledge: Deep working knowledge of UAE corporate, commercial, and property laws, regulations, and market practices. • Language Skills: Fluency in English is required; Arabic language proficiency (written and spoken) is strongly preferred. • Skills & Competencies: • Excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills. • Strong strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and risk assessment abilities. • Proven ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment and advise executive leadership. Show more Show less

Experience: 12–15 years of relevant post-qualification legal experience, with a strong emphasis on the UAE legal market. Domain Expertise: Extensive, practical experience in UAE real estate law, preferably gained within a leading real estate developer or a top-tier law firm advising major property developers. Legal Knowledge: Deep working knowledge of UAE corporate, commercial, and property laws, regulations, and market practices. Language Skills: Fluency in English is required; Arabic language proficiency (written and spoken) is strongly preferred.

Draft, review, and negotiate a wide array of commercial and real estate agreements, including joint ventures, real estate development contracts, construction agreements, consultant contracts, leasing, and sales agreements. Provide practical legal guidance on corporate governance, corporate structuring, entity maintenance, and general UAE commercial transactions. Identify potential legal, regulatory, and contractual risks, advising senior leadership on proactive mitigation strategies. Ensure ongoing compliance with local UAE laws, regulatory frameworks, and corporate policies. Support the management and resolution of commercial and real estate disputes or litigation matters. Serve as the main liaison with external law firms, managing legal fees and ensuring high-quality, efficient service delivery. Assist the General Counsel in driving overall legal strategy, streamlining department processes, and providing regular legal updates to business stakeholders.