General Counsel

Tanqeeb; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Tanqeeb in Dubai seeks an experienced international legal leader to design and oversee cross-border contracts, regulatory compliance and corporate structuring for an international group. You will build templates, manage disputes, and mentor an multi-country team to balance protection with growth.

The role requires a law degree with bar admission, exposure to common-law and civil-law systems, and a track record in multinational or Big Four environments.

Qualifications

• Law degree and bar admission in a recognised jurisdiction; LLM preferred.
• Exposure to both common-law and civil-law systems desirable.
• Audit/accounting qualification or MBA is a strong advantage.
• Additional credentials in compliance or international trade are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Draft, standardise and localise contracts and corporate documents for multiple jurisdictions.
• Build a library of templates adaptable to common-law and civil-law systems.
• Advise on international trade law, sanctions and export controls; track regulatory changes.
• Lead disputes, litigation and international arbitration; supervise external counsel.
• Lead the legal design and setup of new entities and cross-border operations across countries.
• Mentor an international legal & compliance team and advise leadership.

Skills

International law

Cross-border transactions

Leadership

Negotiation

Drafting

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

LLB / JD / equivalent

Bar admission

LLM in international law

Audit/Accounting qualification (ACCA/ACA/CPA/CA)

MBA (advantage)

Job description

Cross-border contracts & documentation

• Draft, standardise and localise contracts, corporate documents and agreements so they are legally valid and enforceable in every jurisdiction where the group operates.
• Build a full library of templates - supply, distribution, agency, service, NDA, employment, shareholder and joint-venture agreements - adaptable to both common-law and civil-law systems.
• Ensure every document protects the company, allocates risk correctly, and contains robust governing-law, jurisdiction and dispute-resolution clauses.

International trade & regulatory law

• Advise on international trade law, customs, import/export rules, sanctions and export controls, and free-zone regulations (UAE / DAFZA and others).
• Track legal and regulatory change across all markets and keep the group compliant everywhere it operates.

Corporate structuring & building the audit business

• Lead the legal design and set-up of new entities, branches and representative offices across countries.
• Drive the corporate structuring, licensing and regulatory approvals needed to establish and operate the international audit / assurance company.
• Advise on cross-border tax structure, transfer pricing and inter-company arrangements, in coordination with tax and finance advisors.

Compliance & risk management

• Build and run the group compliance programme: AML / KYC, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, data protection (GDPR and local laws), and corporate governance.
• Identify, assess and mitigate legal and regulatory risk; implement policies, controls and training.

Protecting the company's interests

• Manage disputes, litigation and international arbitration; select and supervise external counsel across jurisdictions.
• Protect the company's intellectual property, trademarks and confidential information in every market.
• Lead the legal side of negotiations, M&A, partnerships and joint ventures.

Leadership & business partnering

• Build, lead and mentor an international legal & compliance team across several countries.
• Act as trusted adviser to the owner, CEO and leadership; turn legal complexity into clear business decisions.
• Contribute to group strategy as a commercially minded leader who balances protection with growth.

Desired Candidate Profile

Required Qualifications & Education

• Law degree (LLB / JD or equivalent). A Master's degree (LLM) in international, commercial or corporate law is strongly preferred.
• Admitted / qualified to practise law in a recognised jurisdiction (bar admission). Exposure to both common-law and civil-law systems is highly desirable.
• A professional audit / accounting qualification (ACCA, ACA, CPA or CA) or an MBA is a strong advantage, given the goal of building the audit business.
• Additional credentials in compliance, international arbitration or international trade are a plus.

Experience

• Substantial senior experience , ideally combining two or more of:
• in-house legal leadership in an international / multinational company;
• an international law firm at senior associate, counsel or partner level;
• a Big Four or major audit / advisory firm (legal, risk or advisory).
• Proven track record in cross-border transactions, international trade and multi-jurisdictional legal work.
• Experience building or scaling a legal function or a professional-services business.
• Team leadership and people-management experience.

Skills & Competencies

• Deep expertise in international and comparative law - able to make documents work across many countries.
• Strong commercial and business acumen: sees the business, not only the law.
• Leadership presence - able to build teams and influence at board level.
• Excellent negotiation, drafting and stakeholder-management skills.
• High integrity, sound judgement and the composure to protect the company under pressure.
• Fluent Russian and English (both required); Arabic an advantage.