Assistant Legal Counsel

Americana Restaurants; Sharjah; On-site; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Americana Restaurants in the United Arab Emirates seeks an experienced In-House Corporate Legal Counsel to safeguard business operations across franchise, governance, and development initiatives. You will provide pragmatic legal guidance to internal teams and oversee complex contracts.

The ideal candidate has 6-8 years post-qualification experience, strong knowledge of corporate and commercial laws, and fluency in Arabic and English.

Qualifications

• LLB/LLM/JD or equivalent in Law.
• Diploma/certification in Corporate Governance or MBA will be an asset
• 6-8 years post-qualification experience in-house or at a reputed law firm
• Solid knowledge of corporate and commercial laws; franchise knowledge is a plus
• Bilingual Arabic and English preferred

Responsibilities

• Anticipate legal and business issues, assess risks strategically, and propose proactive, risk-based solutions to support business objectives.
• Franchisee Management: Manage relationships with brand teams and franchisors' legal representatives, including the review and execution of franchise agreements.
• Provide day-to-day legal support to internal stakeholders by helping them understand their contractual obligations and relationships with key business partners, enabling business initiatives while ensuring contractual compliance and maximizing commercial opportunities.
• Corporate Matters: Prepare and review corporate documentation, including board resolutions, internal memorandums, powers of attorney, settlement and release agreements, loan agreements, and credit facility documentation.
• Commercial Contracts: Review, draft, and negotiate a broad range of legal documents, including NDAs, third-party agreements, internal memorandums, powers of attorney, settlement and release agreements, waivers, supplier and service agreements, offshore IT contracts, procurement-related contracts, board resolutions, loan documentation, real estate agreements, letters of engagement, RFPs, RFQs, and other commercial agreements.
• Governance and compliance policies: Support the development and implementation of governance and legal compliance policies, including risk and litigation management, IT and data privacy matters, routine legal processes, contractual obligations, employment-related matters, government licensing and compliance requirements, and marketing-related legal issues.
• Regulatory approvals: Drive government approvals and regulatory requirements to safeguard business continuity and support the long-term sustainability of Americana’s operations.
• Contract Management System: Oversee contract management systems and maintain the repository of franchise and corporate legal documentation.
• Legal research: Conduct legal research on matters arising from business requirements and present findings in a timely, practical, and solution-oriented manner.
• Intellectual Property: Manage intellectual property and trademark matters, including registrations, renewals, infringement issues, and related disputes.
• Business guidance: Support business decision-making by providing practical legal guidance and proactively identifying opportunities to add value to the business.
• Counsel management: Internal and External Counsel Management: Manage external legal counsel, oversee legal strategies, facilitate their engagement, control legal spend, and supervise the work of internal legal resources where applicable.
• Regulatory awareness: Stay abreast of changes in local laws and regulations and assess their impact on business operations.

Skills

Arabic and English bilingual

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Negotiation

Contract review

Education

LLB/LLM/JD in Law

Corporate Governance certification or MBA asset

Tools

Contract Management Software

Litigation Software

Job description

Role Purpose:

Ensures Americana's business operations comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Supports the Company's strategy by safeguarding the core business, protecting the Company's interests in legal proceedings, and leveraging legal opportunities where appropriate. Enables business objectives through proactive risk identification, strategic legal guidance, and effective risk assessment. Provides legal support across all business functions, with a particular focus on franchise operations, corporate governance, and business development initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Anticipate legal and business issues, assess risks strategically, and recommend proactive, risk-based solutions to support business objectives.
• Franchisee Management: Manage relationships with brand teams and franchisors' legal representatives, including the review and execution of franchise agreements. Identify potential risks and advise internal stakeholders, including Real Estate, Finance, and Business Development teams, on key franchise obligations.
• Provide day-to-day legal support to internal stakeholders by helping them understand their contractual obligations and relationships with key business partners, enabling business initiatives while ensuring contractual compliance and maximizing commercial opportunities.
• Corporate Matters: Prepare and review corporate documentation, including board resolutions, internal memorandums, powers of attorney, settlement and release agreements, loan agreements, and credit facility documentation. Coordinate closely with Group Legal and Corporate Secretarial teams to ensure effective communication and collaboration. Conduct legal research and provide practical, solution-oriented advice in response to internal queries.
• Commercial Contracts: Review, draft, and negotiate a broad range of legal documents, including NDAs, third-party agreements, internal memorandums, powers of attorney, settlement and release agreements, waivers, supplier and service agreements, offshore IT contracts, procurement-related contracts, board resolutions, loan documentation, real estate agreements, letters of engagement, RFPs, RFQs, and other commercial agreements.
• Support the development and implementation of governance and legal compliance policies, including risk and litigation management, IT and data privacy matters, routine legal processes, contractual obligations, employment-related matters, government licensing and compliance requirements, and marketing-related legal issues.
• Drive government approvals and regulatory requirements to safeguard business continuity and support the long-term sustainability of Americana’s operations.
• Contract Management System: Oversee contract management systems and maintain the repository of franchise and corporate legal documentation.
• Conduct legal research on matters arising from business requirements and present findings in a timely, practical, and solution-oriented manner.
• Intellectual Property: Manage intellectual property and trademark matters, including registrations, renewals, infringement issues, and related disputes.
• Support business decision-making by providing practical legal guidance and proactively identifying opportunities to add value to the business.
• Internal and External Counsel Management: Manage external legal counsel, oversee legal strategies, facilitate their engagement, control legal spend, and supervise the work of internal legal resources where applicable.
• Stay abreast of changes in local laws and regulations and assess their impact on business operations.

Education:

• LLB, or LLM, or J.D. or any equivalent degree in field of Law
• Diploma/certification in Corporate Governance or MBA will be an asset

Experience:

• 6-8 years of post-qualification experience - inhouse Corporate Legal Counsel/ reputed law firm

Knowledge:

• Solid knowledge of corporate and commercial laws
• Knowledge of franchise business agreements will be a plus
• Solid knowledge of commercial viewpoint and organizational/operational structures
• Usage of Contract Management Software as well as Litigation Software

Skills:

• Fully Bilingual Arabic and English
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong organizational, problem-solving and analytical skills
• Demonstrated ability to analyse legal, institutional and commercial risks and propose creative solutions
• Proven efficiency in dealing with complex matters with multiple stakeholders and forces