Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel Location: Abu Dhabi Role Purpose Support the Legal Function across commercial contracting, technology, corporate and M&A, intellectual property and disputes, and in the operation of data-privacy, AI-governance, cybersecurity and compliance programmes. Operate under direct supervision, taking on increasing ownership of matters as capability builds, with a clear development pathway towards independent portfolio responsibility over 18–24 months. Key Responsibilities Commercial & Technology • Commercial contracting and negotiation. Draft, review, and mark up master service agreements, teaming agreements, referral agreements, supply contracts, and other standard commercial agreements; support business stakeholders in vendor and customer negotiations by preparing redlines, tracking comments, drafting responses, and attending negotiation meetings; maintain the contract register, manage signature/execution workflows, and ensure version control. • Technology, AI & cybersecurity Support the drafting and negotiation of technology-driven agreements — software licensing, cloud and hosting, data-centre, managed-services, systems-integration, and SLAs — embedding information-security, data-protection, business-continuity, and AI-specific provisions; assist on IT procurement, acceptable-use and InfoSec policy alignment, information-security documentation, and post-incident documentation in coordination with the IT and Information Security functions. Corporate, IP & Disputes • Mergers & Acquisitions. Support M&A and corporate transactions across the deal lifecycle, assisting with due diligence, data-room management and document review, drafting and reviewing transaction documents (term sheets, SPAs, shareholder and JV agreements), tracking conditions precedent and closing checklists, and supporting post-merger integration and entity-rationalisation steps, in coordination with the Head of Legal and external counsel. • Corporate and secretarial. Draft routine shareholder resolutions, coordinate notarisations and attestations, track licence renewals and corporate statutory obligations, and support the corporate function on group entity administration. • Intellectual property administration. Manage trademark and copyright applications and renewals, maintain the IP register, liaise with patent agents on filings, and support intra-group IP assignments, licensing arrangements, and domain-name management. • Disputes support. Collect documents and prepare case files, draft initial responses, demand letters and legal notices, manage without-prejudice correspondence, and liaise with external counsel on routine matters. Data Privacy, Regulatory & Compliance • Data privacy. Maintain records of processing activities, privacy notices, consent forms, and data-subject rights logs; conduct first-pass review of incoming data processing agreements and addenda; support DPIA processes. • Regulatory tracking. Monitor developments across UAE PDPL, ADGM Data Protection Regulations 2021, KSA PDPL, GDPR cross-border reach, AI governance, and applicable sectoral rules; prepare short briefing notes for the Head of Legal. • Compliance programme and policy stewardship. Support the KYC and vendor-onboarding compliance workflow, sanctions screening administration, and document collection for audits and investigations; support refresh cycles on AML, ABAC, anti-competition, whistle-blowing, responsible sourcing, leave, privacy, and AI-use policies. • Training and awareness. Support delivery of internal training on privacy, AML, ABAC, sanctions, and cyber awareness; coordinate training schedules and maintain attendance and training records. Advisory & Legal Operations • Internal advisory. Act as first point of contact for day-to-day legal queries from Sales, Procurement, Projects, Finance, HR, Marketing, and IT. • Legal operations & knowledge management. Maintain and update the template suite and clause library, and contribute to the Legal KPI dashboard and matter-management/tracking systems. Qualifications and Experience • LLB from a recognised institution. • Bar admission to a recognised jurisdiction. • 5 – 8 years post-qualification experience, ideally including at least 3 – 5 years of UAE in-house or law firm exposure. • Privacy credential (CIPP/E, CIPM, or equivalent) is desirable. • English: full professional fluency, with strong analytical and drafting discipline. Show more Show less

Commercial & Technology: Draft, review, and mark up master service agreements, teaming agreements, referral agreements, supply contracts, and other standard commercial agreements; support business stakeholders in vendor and customer negotiations by preparing redlines, tracking comments, drafting responses, and attending negotiation meetings; maintain the contract register, manage signature/execution workflows, and ensure version control. Technology, AI & cybersecurity: Support the drafting and negotiation of technology-driven agreements — software licensing, cloud and hosting, data-centre, managed-services, systems-integration, and SLAs — embedding information-security, data-protection, business-continuity, and AI-specific provisions; assist on IT procurement, acceptable-use and InfoSec policy alignment, information-security documentation, and post-incident documentation in coordination with the IT and Information Security functions. Mergers & Acquisitions: Support M&A and corporate transactions across the deal lifecycle, assisting with due diligence, data-room management and document review, drafting and reviewing transaction documents (term sheets, SPAs, shareholder and JV agreements), tracking conditions precedent and closing checklists, and supporting post-merger integration and entity-rationalisation steps, in coordination with the Head of Legal and external counsel. Corporate and secretarial: Draft routine shareholder resolutions, coordinate notarisations and attestations, track licence renewals and corporate statutory obligations, and support the corporate function on group entity administration. Intellectual property administration: Manage trademark and copyright applications and renewals, maintain the IP register, liaise with patent agents on filings, and support intra-group IP assignments, licensing arrangements, and domain-name management. Disputes support: Collect documents and prepare case files, draft initial responses, demand letters and legal notices, manage without-prejudice correspondence, and liaise with external counsel on routine matters. Data privacy, regulatory & compliance: Data privacy: Maintain records of processing activities, privacy notices, consent forms, and data-subject rights logs; conduct first-pass review of incoming data processing agreements and addenda; support DPIA processes. Regulatory tracking: Monitor developments across UAE PDPL, ADGM Data Protection Regulations 2021, KSA PDPL, GDPR cross-border reach, AI governance, and applicable sectoral rules; prepare short briefing notes for the Head of Legal. Compliance programme and policy stewardship: Support the KYC and vendor-onboarding compliance workflow, sanctions screening administration, and document collection for audits and investigations; support refresh cycles on AML, ABAC, anti-competition, whistle-blowing, responsible sourcing, leave, privacy, and AI-use policies. Training and awareness: Support delivery of internal training on privacy, AML, ABAC, sanctions, and cyber awareness; coordinate training schedules and maintain attendance and training records. Advisory & Legal Operations: Internal advisory: Act as first point of contact for day-to-day legal queries from Sales, Procurement, Projects, Finance, HR, Marketing, and IT. Legal operations & knowledge management: Maintain and update the template suite and clause library, and contribute to the Legal KPI dashboard and matter-management/tracking systems.