Legal Counsel

IFFCO; Abu Dhabi; Presencial; AED 350.000 - 550.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

IFFCO seeks a senior Legal Counsel to support drafting and vetting contracts, provide legal advice, and handle corporate matters across regions.

You will manage mergers and acquisitions, oversee litigation and regulatory compliance, coordinate with external counsel, and protect intellectual property while controlling legal costs.

Formación

• Bachelor's degree in Law, Master's preferred.
• Bar admission or qualification as practising attorney preferred.
• 10–12 years of total legal experience, GCC experience desirable.
• Experience in FMCG/retail/pharma, etc., is an advantage.
• Proficiency in English; Arabic or French is an advantage.

Responsabilidades

• Draft, review, and vet major contracts and commercial agreements to minimize risk.
• Provide timely legal advisory to business units across the IFFCO Group.
• Handle mergers and acquisitions, including joint ventures and due diligence.
• Oversee litigation, notices, pleadings, and coordination with external counsel.
• Manage corporate secretarial matters, incorporations, and governance filings.
• Conduct legal research and monitor regulatory changes across regions.
• Protect IP rights in coordination with the trademark team.
• Help control legal service costs and manage external counsel relationships.

Conocimientos

Drafting contracts

Contract vetting

Legal advisory

Mergers & Acquisitions

Litigation management

Corporate governance

Intellectual property

External counsel management

Legal research

Educación

Bachelor's degree in Law

Master's degree in Law (preferred)

Herramientas

Contract management systems

Descripción del empleo

Job description

Job Summary

The Legal Counsel will provide all the needed support to our legal team in drafting and vetting of contracts and agreements, legal counseling, mergers & acquisitions, litigation, and corporate matters etc.

Roles & Responsibilities

Drafting and Review of Contracts and Agreements: Draft, review, and vet major corporate contracts and commercial agreements, including lease and tenancy agreements, know-how licence agreements, and trademark usage agreements, to minimize legal risks and liabilities.

Legal Advisory: Provide timely and appropriate legal advice and support to business units and entities across the IFFCO Group.

Mergers and Acquisitions: Draft joint venture agreements, share purchase agreements, and other transaction-related documents to reflect commercial objectives and protect IFFCO's interests. Handle related corporate and secretarial documentation and coordinate with external lawyers on legal due diligence.

Litigation: Issue legal notices, prepare case summaries, draft pleadings, and coordinate with external lawyers on litigation matters involving civil, criminal, labour, property, consumer, tort, and trademark-related disputes, both for and against IFFCO Group companies.

Corporate Matters: Handle company incorporations and the establishment of representative offices and branches across various countries. Manage corporate secretarial matters, including drafting board and shareholder meeting documents and resolutions, preparing memoranda and articles of association, and obtaining the necessary licences and regulatory approvals.

Legal Research: Conduct legal research as required to provide effective and timely advice to management and business units. Keep management informed of amendments to applicable laws and regulations across the regions in which IFFCO operates and assess their potential impact on IFFCO Group businesses.

Intellectual Property Rights: Protect the intellectual property rights of the IFFCO Group in coordination with the Group's trademark attorney in India.

Legal Expenses: Help control legal service costs through the effective use of internal resources and external counsel.

External Counsel Management: Maintain effective working relationships with external legal counsel

KPIs

1. % of cases handled and successfully closed
2. Adherence to service level agreements (SLA) on contracting
3. Adherence to timelines as per Corporate Governance calendar
4. Zero faults in IPR and trademarks
5. Total resolution cost for litigation
6. % adherence to legal budget
7. Minimum legal liabilities and risk exposure to IFFCO in all regions

Work Experience Requirement

• 10 to 12 years of total legal experience, ideally 5 to 6 years in the GCC.
• A track record of independently managing legal matters in large, reputable organizations, preferably multinational companies in FMCG, retail, food, pharmaceutical, sales, logistics, or diversified holding groups.
• Strong expertise in high-value commercial transactions, contract drafting and vetting, compliance, and litigation.
• Broad knowledge of mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, company incorporation, intellectual property rights, trademarks, and brand protection.
• Strong legal research skills, with the ability to interpret applicable laws and regulations and provide practical legal advice aligned with business needs and commercial objectives.
• Familiarity with customs matters and legal technology tools, including contract management systems, is an advantage.

Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in Law from a recognized university. A Master's degree in Law is preferred.
• Admission to the Bar, a valid legal practising licence, or qualification as a practising attorney is preferred.
• Prior experience as a practising advocate or associate in a reputable law firm in the Middle East is an advantage, particularly where it includes court proceedings and litigation.
• Proficiency in English is required. Arabic or French proficiency is an advantage.

Competencies

• Change Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Knowledge of Corporate Governance Practices
• Knowledge of IPR and Copyright Law
• Knowledge of Mergers and Acquisitions
• Self and Team Management
• Knowledge of Corporate Law
• Planning & Decision Making
• Ownership & Result Orientation