Group General Counsel

Confidential Careers; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Careers in Abu Dhabi seeks a seasoned Group General Counsel to lead the Legal, Governance, Risk Management, Compliance, and HSSE functions for a diversified group.

Reporting to the CEO, you will establish enterprise-wide governance frameworks, drive legal strategy, and oversee risk management and regulatory compliance across multiple entities while guiding ethics, external counsel, and governance programs.

Qualifications

• 15 years of progressive experience in Legal, Compliance, Governance, or Enterprise Risk Management with a minimum of 5 years in a leadership position.
• Proven experience leading legal and GRC functions within large organizations or group structures.
• Demonstrated experience establishing governance, compliance, and enterprise risk frameworks.
• Strong exposure to corporate law, contract law, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance within the GCC region.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the Group's legal function across multiple business entities.
• Provide strategic legal advice to executive management and senior stakeholders.
• Manage complex commercial contracts, corporate transactions, disputes, and litigation.
• Oversee external legal counsel relationships and legal advisory engagements.
• Develop legal policies and monitor regulatory developments impacting the business.
• Establish and strengthen corporate governance frameworks and policies.
• Lead enterprise-wide compliance programs, including regulatory monitoring and policy management.
• Support Board and Executive Committee governance activities.
• Oversee ethics, whistleblowing, conflict of interest, and compliance reporting programs.
• Maintain effective relationships with regulators and government authorities.
• Design and enhance enterprise risk management frameworks.
• Define risk appetite, assessment methodologies, and reporting protocols.
• Lead enterprise risk assessments and scenario planning exercises.
• Maintain oversight of strategic, operational, financial, and reputational risks.
• Promote a strong risk-aware culture across the organization.
• Govern Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental policies and frameworks.
• Oversee HSSE audits, incident investigations, corrective actions, and compliance initiatives.
• Support the development of a strong safety and environmental responsibility culture.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Develop functional strategies, budgets, policies, and operating plans.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across Legal, Risk, Compliance, Governance, and HSSE.
• Drive continuous improvement, transformation, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.

Skills

Legal leadership

GRC

Governance frameworks

Contract management

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Education

LLB or equivalent

Master’s in Law or MBA

Job description

A leading diversified group based in Abu Dhabi is seeking a seasoned legal and governance leader to head its Legal, Governance, Risk Management, Compliance, and HSSE functions. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Group General Counsel will be responsible for establishing and overseeing enterprise-wide governance frameworks, legal strategy, risk management programs, regulatory compliance, and organizational integrity across multiple business entities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the Group's legal function across multiple business entities.
• Provide strategic legal advice to executive management and senior stakeholders.
• Manage complex commercial contracts, corporate transactions, disputes, and litigation.
• Oversee external legal counsel relationships and legal advisory engagements.
• Develop legal policies and monitor emerging regulatory developments impacting the business.
• Establish and strengthen corporate governance frameworks and policies.
• Lead enterprise-wide compliance programs, including regulatory monitoring and policy management.
• Support Board and Executive Committee governance activities.
• Oversee ethics, whistleblowing, conflict of interest, and compliance reporting programs.
• Maintain effective relationships with regulators and government authorities.
• Design and enhance enterprise risk management frameworks.
• Define risk appetite, assessment methodologies, and reporting protocols.
• Lead enterprise risk assessments and scenario planning exercises.
• Maintain oversight of strategic, operational, financial, and reputational risks.
• Promote a strong risk-aware culture across the organization.
• Govern Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental policies and frameworks.
• Oversee HSSE audits, incident investigations, corrective actions, and compliance initiatives.
• Support the development of a strong safety and environmental responsibility culture.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Develop functional strategies, budgets, policies, and operating plans.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across Legal, Risk, Compliance, Governance, and HSSE.
• Drive continuous improvement, transformation, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Law (LLB or equivalent).
• Master's Degree in Law, Governance, Risk Management, or MBA is desirable.
• 15 years of progressive experience in Legal, Compliance, Governance, or Enterprise Risk Management with a minimum of 5 years in a leadership position.
• Proven experience leading legal and GRC functions within large organizations or group structures.
• Demonstrated experience establishing governance, compliance, and enterprise risk frameworks.
• Strong exposure to corporate law, contract law, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance within the GCC region.