Legal Counsel

Position: Legal Advisor Location: Dubai, UAE Industry: FMCG Experience: 8+ years Reporting To: Head of Legal / Senior Management Role Overview Our client, a Dubai-based FMCG company, is seeking an experienced Legal Advisor to provide comprehensive legal support across the business. This role will have a strong focus on contract management, commercial agreements, regulatory compliance, risk management and day-to-day legal advisory. The ideal candidate will bring strong UAE legal experience, preferably within an FMCG, consumer, retail, manufacturing or similarly fast-paced commercial environment, and will be comfortable working closely with business, procurement, finance, HR, sales and supply chain teams. Key Responsibilities Contract Management • Draft, review, negotiate and advise on a wide range of commercial agreements, including supplier, distributor, customer, agency, service, logistics, procurement, lease and partnership agreements. • Manage the end-to-end contract lifecycle, from drafting and negotiation through execution, renewals, amendments and termination. • Identify contractual risks, liabilities, indemnities, warranties, termination provisions and commercial exposures and recommend appropriate mitigation. • Develop and maintain standard contracts, templates, clauses and contract playbooks. • Support internal stakeholders in negotiating commercially sound agreements while protecting the company's legal interests. • Maintain appropriate contract records and ensure compliance with internal approval and signing procedures. Legal Advisory & Compliance • Provide day-to-day legal advice to management and business functions on commercial and operational matters. • Advise on UAE laws and regulations relevant to the company's FMCG operations. • Monitor regulatory developments and assess their potential impact on the business. • Support the implementation of legal and compliance policies and procedures. • Identify potential legal and regulatory risks and recommend practical mitigation measures. FMCG / Commercial Legal Support • Advise on matters relating to distribution, retail, marketing, advertising, promotions, product-related arrangements, suppliers and third-party relationships. • Support legal review of marketing campaigns, promotional materials, customer terms and commercial initiatives. • Advise on disputes, claims, notices and other legal matters involving customers, suppliers, distributors and business partners. • Coordinate with external counsel on litigation, regulatory matters and specialist legal issues when required. Corporate & General Legal Matters • Support corporate documentation, board/shareholder matters, powers of attorney and other corporate requirements as applicable. • Review and advise on employment-related, procurement, finance and operational agreements in coordination with relevant internal teams. • Assist with legal due diligence and documentation for new business initiatives, partnerships and transactions. • Maintain confidentiality and ensure appropriate protection of the company's legal and commercial interests. Key Requirements • Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB or equivalent) is mandatory. • 8+ years of relevant post-qualification/legal experience. • UAE legal experience is mandatory. • Strong hands-on experience in commercial contracts and contract lifecycle management. • Experience within FMCG, retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, distribution or a similar commercial environment is preferred. • Strong understanding of UAE commercial and corporate legal frameworks. • Experience negotiating agreements with suppliers, customers, distributors and other third parties. • Strong drafting, negotiation and legal risk assessment skills. • Ability to translate complex legal issues into practical, commercially viable advice. • Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills. • Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, commercially driven environment. Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate will be a commercially oriented legal professional who combines strong technical legal knowledge with practical business understanding. They should be confident dealing directly with senior stakeholders and business teams and should view legal not only as a risk-control function but also as a business-enabling partner. UAE experience and strong contract management exposure are key requirements for this position.