Legal Counsel

Client of S&K HR Consulting; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Client of S&K HR Consulting seeks an experienced Legal Counsel in the United Arab Emirates to serve as a key advisor to the CEO and Board, handling corporate, regulatory and transactional matters. The role requires drafting and negotiating complex agreements and ensuring compliance across the organisation.

You will interact with government and free-zone authorities, external counsel and business partners, driving risk management and legal governance in a fast-moving environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Law.
• 6+ years of relevant legal experience across corporate, commercial and business law.
• Qualification/certification or demonstrable experience in Common Law / English Law.
• Strong UAE legal and regulatory knowledge.
• Proven experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Experience handling corporate matters, M&A, disputes, litigation and/or arbitration.
• Exposure to DIFC, ADGM and/or UAE free-zone regulatory frameworks.
• Strong understanding of KYC/KYS and legal risk management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic.
• Strong MS Office skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day legal advice to the CEO, senior management and relevant business functions.
• Advise on legal and regulatory matters affecting the company’s operations and commercial activities.
• Monitor changes in UAE legislation, regulations and regulatory requirements and assess their impact on the business.
• Develop practical recommendations to manage and mitigate legal and regulatory risks.
• Ensure internal policies, procedures and business practices remain legally compliant.
• Support the business in establishing appropriate legal governance and risk-management frameworks.
• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, contracts, MOUs, NDAs, service agreements and other legal documentation.
• Lead contract negotiations with customers, suppliers, partners, investors and other stakeholders.
• Identify contractual risks and provide commercially viable recommendations.
• Work closely with business teams to ensure legal requirements are incorporated without unnecessarily restricting commercial objectives.
• Maintain oversight of contractual obligations, renewals and key legal commitments.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Legal advisory

Arabic language

English language

M&A experience

Education

Bachelor's/Master's degree in Law

Tools

MS Office

DIFC/ADGM knowledge

Job description

The Legal Counsel will serve as a key legal advisor to the business providing practical and commercially sound guidance across corporate commercial regulatory and transactional matters Reporting directly to the CEO with exposure to the Board of Directors the role will be responsible for identifying and mitigating legal risks supporting business decisions managing contractual matters and ensuring compliance across the organisation The successful candidate will work closely with internal stakeholders government and free-zone authorities external legal advisors and business partners while taking ownership of a broad and evolving legal portfolio

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day legal advice to the CEO senior management and relevant business functions
• Advise on legal and regulatory matters affecting the company s operations and commercial activities
• Monitor changes in UAE legislation regulations and regulatory requirements and assess their impact on the business
• Develop practical recommendations to manage and mitigate legal and regulatory risks
• Ensure internal policies procedures and business practices remain legally compliant
• Support the business in establishing appropriate legal governance and risk-management frameworks
• Draft review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements contracts MOUs NDAs service agreements and other legal documentation
• Lead contract negotiations with customers suppliers partners investors and other stakeholders
• Identify contractual risks and provide commercially viable recommendations
• Work closely with business teams to ensure legal requirements are incorporated without unnecessarily restricting commercial objectives
• Maintain appropriate oversight of contractual obligations renewals and key legal commitments
• Provide legal support on corporate structuring governance and strategic business matters
• Support M&A investments joint ventures and other corporate transactions as required
• Coordinate due diligence processes and liaise with external counsel where specialist advice is required
• Advise on corporate documentation shareholder matters and Board-related legal requirements
• Handle and coordinate legal procedures and requirements involving DIFC ADGM and relevant free-zone authorities
• Support the business on licensing regulatory corporate and operational matters involving relevant UAE authorities
• Apply common law and English law principles where applicable to the company s activities and contractual arrangements
• Oversee and strengthen KYC Know Your Customer and KYS Know Your Supplier procedures
• Ensure appropriate legal and compliance due diligence is undertaken on key customers suppliers partners and other counterparties
• Identify potential legal contractual and commercial risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures
• Manage and coordinate litigation arbitration claims and other disputes
• Work closely with external lawyers and specialist legal advisors when required
• Monitor external legal spend matter progress and outcomes
• Ensure appropriate legal strategy and documentation are maintained for ongoing and potential disputes
• Provide legal input into strategic business decisions and major commercial initiatives
• Prepare legal assessments recommendations and briefing materials for the CEO and Board
• Support corporate governance and Board-related legal matters
• Act as a trusted legal partner to senior leadership in a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment

Qualifications and Certifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Law.
• 6+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably across corporate, commercial and business law.
• Qualification/certification or demonstrable experience in Common Law / English Law.
• Strong UAE legal and regulatory knowledge.
• Proven experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Experience handling corporate matters, M&A, disputes, litigation and/or arbitration.
• Exposure to DIFC, ADGM and/or UAE free-zone regulatory frameworks.
• Strong understanding of KYC/KYS and legal risk management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic.
• Strong MS Office skills.

Key Competencies

• Commercially astute and business-oriented
• Strong contract negotiation skills
• Excellent legal analysis and judgement
• Strong risk assessment and mitigation capabilities
• High attention to detail
• Able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Confident working directly with senior management and Board-level stakeholders
• Hands-on and solutions-oriented
• Comfortable operating in a fast-changing entrepreneurial environment
• Strong stakeholder and external counsel management
• Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgement