Assistant Legal Counsel

Apparel Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Apparel Group, a Dubai-headquartered fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate, seeks an Assistant Legal Counsel to provide comprehensive legal support across retail, real estate, F&B and franchise operations. You will manage litigation, draft commercial contracts, and advise internal stakeholders on regulatory compliance within a multi-brand environment.

Responsibilities include handling police cases, employee disputes, and coordinating with external counsel, while maintaining a contract

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with 4–7 years of litigation and disputes experience.
• Experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Fluent in Arabic and English, with strong written and spoken communication.

Responsibilities

• Manage litigation from inception to resolution, including procedural steps and deadlines.
• Handle police cases, criminal complaints, and employee disputes with timely responses.
• Instruct external lawyers, monitor case progress, and report to senior stakeholders.
• Draft and review litigation-related documents in Arabic and English.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts across retail, real estate, F&B, and franchise operations.

Skills

Bilingual Arabic & English

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Litigation support

MS Office

Education

LLB or equivalent

Postgraduate law qualification

Tools

Legal DMS

Job description

Job Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Date Posted: 1 October 2026

Job Reference/ID: 9552

Job Description / Role:

The Assistant Legal Counsel will join the Apparel Group, providing comprehensive legal support across retail, real estate, F&B, and franchise operations. This role involves managing litigation, drafting commercial contracts, and providing legal advisory services to internal stakeholders while ensuring regulatory compliance across the Group’s multi-brand environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage litigation cases independently from inception through resolution, coordinating all procedural steps and deadlines.
• Handle police cases, criminal complaints, and employee disputes, ensuring timely and well-documented responses.
• Instruct and coordinate external lawyers, monitor case progress, and maintain up-to-date status reports for senior management.
• Prepare and review litigation-related documentation, pleadings, and correspondence in both Arabic and English.
• Advise internal stakeholders on litigation risks, likely outcomes, and recommended courses of action.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts in Arabic and English across retail, real estate, F&B, and franchise operations.
• Ensure contractual terms adequately protect the Group’s interests while remaining commercially practical and enforceable.
• Maintain a structured contract repository and tracking system to support renewals, expirations, and compliance obligations.
• Provide clear and concise legal commentary to business units on contractual risks and proposed amendments.
• Advise cross-functional teams on day-to-day legal matters including employment, commercial, and regulatory issues.
• Support HR and operations on employee disputes, disciplinary proceedings, and labor law compliance.
• Coordinate with external counsel and regulatory bodies to obtain timely legal opinions and approvals.
• Communicate legal positions clearly and concisely to non-legal stakeholders in both Arabic and English.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments across relevant jurisdictions and assess their impact on business operations.
• Prepare and circulate timely legal updates to keep internal teams informed of new or amended requirements.
• Support the development and maintenance of internal legal policies, templates, and compliance frameworks.
• Assist in ensuring the Group’s operations remain aligned with applicable laws, regulations, and licensing requirements.

Experience Required:

• Minimum 4 - 7 years of legal experience, with substantial hands-on litigation and dispute resolution practice.
• Proven experience managing police cases, criminal complaints, and employment disputes independently.
• Demonstrated ability to instruct external lawyers, track case progress, and report to senior stakeholders effectively.
• Proven experience in contract drafting and negotiation across commercial and operational contexts.

Education Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB or equivalent) from a recognized institution; postgraduate legal qualification is an advantage.

Skills Required:

• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills in both Arabic and English.
• Full professional fluency in Arabic and English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages.
• Sound understanding of UAE and/or GCC commercial, labor, and regulatory laws applicable to retail and multi-brand environments.
• Ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• High degree of professional integrity, discretion, and sound judgment in handling sensitive legal matters.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and legal document management systems.

Employment / Job Type: Full Time

Nationality: Any Nationality

About the Company:

A Dubai headquartered fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate operating international brand franchises. Its stores cover apparel, footwear, beauty, sportswear and food outlets across the Gulf and beyond, supported by retail operations, buying, supply chain and marketing teams.

Company Industry: Retail

Department / Functional Area: Back Office

Closing Date: 19 October 2026