Legal Counsel

ADNOC Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 400,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

ADNOC Group's Legal, Governance & Compliance team in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Legal Counsel to provide legal, governance, and compliance support across Al Dhafra Petroleum and Al Yasat Petroleum. The successful candidate will assist the General Counsel in managing legal risk and advising on corporate and commercial matters.

You will draft, review and negotiate contracts such as EPCs and service agreements, support internal audits, coordinate board materials, and liaise with regulators and external

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Law from a recognized university.
• Common Law qualification and valid Practicing Certificate.
• 5+ years of legal experience in petroleum or industrial sectors, preferably UAE.
• Strong understanding of commercial principles, projects & construction contracts, UAE laws, and international standards.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal, governance, and compliance support across Al Dhafra and Al Yasat.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts including EPCs, SLAs and confidentiality agreements.
• Offer legal opinions and risk assessments on corporate transactions and concessions.
• Assist with board secretarial tasks and governance compliance.
• Interface with ADNOC HQ Legal, regulators, and shareholders.

Skills

Legal drafting

Contract negotiation

Risk assessment

Stakeholder communication

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Law

Common Law qualification

Tools

Contract management systems

Legal AI tools

Job description

Job Description:

Job Description: Legal Counsel – Al Dhafra and Al Yasat

Job Title:

Legal Counsel

Reports to:

General Counsel, Al Dhafra & Al Yasat

Location:

Abu Dhabi, Onshore

Department:

Legal, Governance & Compliance

Classification:

ADNOC Internal

Job Purpose

To provide legal, governance, and compliance support across Al Dhafra Petroleum and Al Yasat Petroleum. The Legal Counsel will assist the General Counsel in managing legal risk, advising on corporate and commercial matters and ensuring alignment with ADNOC Group policies and UAE laws.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Advisory & Transactional Support

• Draft, review and negotiate contracts including EPC agreements, SLAs, technical support agreements and confidentiality agreements.
• Provide legal opinions and risk assessments on corporate transactions, joint ventures, and concession agreements.
• Support business units including Procurement, HR, Projects, HSE, Finance, and Business Performance.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Advise on claims and disputes, including high-value and complex EPC matters
• Liaise with external counsel and claims consultants for litigation and arbitration support.

Board Secretarial Support

• Assisting in the preparation and organization of Board Meetings, including coordinating with internal stakeholders, shareholders, document preparation and ensure that all materials are finalised and aligned with Board members.
• Capturing and drafting Minutes of Meetings and aligning with Board of Directors and Observers before execution.
• Ensuring adherence to governance and compliance standards, including supporting the Board Secretary in implementing and maintaining governance frameworks, as well as assisting with all board-related matters to ensure that the board's activities align with ADNOC's policies and legal requirement

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to ADNOC policies, procedures and legal governance frameworks.
• Support ethics and compliance programs including Speak-Up and One Compliance systems.
• Assist with all Board-related matters
• Participate in internal audits and risk committee reviews.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Interface with ADNOC HQ Legal, external regulators (e.g., ADAA) and shareholders.
• Represent Legal in cross-functional meetings and strategic initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Law from a recognized university.
• Common Law qualification and valid Practicing Certificate.
• Legal training and qualification from a reputable law firm.
• Minimum 5 years of legal experience in petroleum or industrial sectors, preferably within the UAE.
• Strong understanding of commercial principles, Projects and Construction contracts, UAE laws, and international legal standards.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills.
• Proficiency in English; Arabic is an advantage.

Behavioral & Technical Competencies

• Strategic thinking and legal risk mitigation.
• High integrity and confidentiality.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Familiarity with digital legal AI tools and contract management systems.