General Counsel

Client of Hanson Search Ltd; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Client of Hanson Search Ltd in Dubai seeks a General Counsel to lead the group’s legal affairs across the UAE and international markets, reporting to the Group CEO. You will act as a trusted adviser to the Board and executive team, balancing commercial pragmatism with sound risk management.

You will build and mentor a high-performing in-house legal team, steer major transactions, oversee governance and company secretarial practice, and manage disputes with external counsel to deliver value.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with senior post-qualification experience, gained in a leading international law firm and senior in-house roles.
• Significant experience in the UAE or the wider GCC, with a strong understanding of the regional legal and regulatory environment.
• Track record of leading complex, high-value transactions and advising at Board level.
• Proven leadership of legal teams and the gravitas to influence senior stakeholders.
• Arabic language skills are an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Lead the group s legal strategy and act as principal legal adviser to the CEO Board and executive committee.
• Oversee major transactions including M&A, joint ventures, investments and complex commercial agreements across the UAE and international markets.
• Ensure the group operates within the UAE onshore and free zone legal frameworks including DIFC and ADGM where relevant.
• Provide legal input on corporate governance, Board matters and company secretarial practice.
• Manage disputes and litigation strategy and select and oversee external counsel to deliver value for money.
• Build, lead and mentor the in-house legal team setting clear standards and a commercially focused culture.

Job description

Reporting directly to the Group Chief Executive Officer the General Counsel will lead all legal affairs across the group and its subsidiaries. You will act as a trusted adviser to the Board and executive team balancing commercial pragmatism with sound risk management and you will lead and develop a high-performing in-house legal team.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the group s legal strategy and act as principal legal adviser to the CEO Board and executive committee
• Oversee major transactions including M amp A joint ventures investments and complex commercial agreements across the UAE and international markets
• Ensure the group operates within the UAE onshore and free zone legal frameworks including DIFC and ADGM where relevant
• Provide legal input on corporate governance Board matters and company secretarial practice
• Manage disputes and litigation strategy and select and oversee external counsel to deliver value for money
• Build lead and mentor the in-house legal team setting clear standards and a commercially focused culture

A qualified lawyer (common law preferred) with senior level post-qualification experience, gained in a leading international law firm and senior in-house roles

Significant experience in the UAE or the wider GCC, with a strong understanding of the regional legal and regulatory environment

A track record of leading complex, high-value transactions and advising at Board level

Proven leadership of legal teams and the gravitas to influence senior stakeholders

Excellent judgement, discretion and commercial awareness; Arabic language skills are an advantage