Legal Counsel

GMS Inc; Dubai; On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in maritime services is seeking an experienced Shipping / Litigation Lawyer. The successful candidate will provide legal guidance on shipping litigation, manage complex disputes, and ensure compliance with international regulations. This role offers a dynamic and engaging work environment, ideal for results-oriented professionals with strong negotiation and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with 3+ years in shipping litigation.
• Strong knowledge of charter parties and maritime law.
• Experience in fast-paced international environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex litigation and arbitration across multiple jurisdictions.
• Draft and negotiate charter party agreements.
• Conduct due diligence ensuring compliance with regulations.

Skills

Negotiation

Drafting

Advocacy

Analytical Skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Education

Law degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Experienced Shipping / Litigation Lawyer to provide strategic legal advice on contentious and non-contentious matters including S&P transactions, charter party disputes, ship financing, and regulatory compliance. Work with internal stakeholders and external counsel to mitigate risks and drive favorable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage complex litigation and arbitration across multiple jurisdictions
• Work with external counsel on FDD cases, ship arrests, cargo claims, and enforcement
• Provide strategic dispute resolution advice

Charter Party Contracts & Disputes

• Draft, review, and negotiate charter party agreements
• Advise on charter party disputes and resolution through arbitration or litigation
• Support ship S&P transactions including MOAs, delivery conditions, and title transfer
• Manage disputes from contractual breaches and advise on ship financing structures

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Conduct due diligence ensuring compliance with international regulations
• Draft internal legal policies aligned with maritime and commercial laws
• Monitor industry legal developments and represent company at industry events

Requirements

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with 3+ years in shipping litigation, arbitration, and maritime law
• Strong knowledge of charter parties, BIMCO agreements, and S&P agreements
• Ability to work under pressure in fast-paced international environments
• Strong negotiation, drafting, and advocacy skills
• In-house legal counsel experience with ship-owning group preferred
• Proficient with MS Office and in-house IT systems

Requirements

The job involves managing and advising on legal matters related to ship / sale purchase, charter party contracts, claims, vendor agreements, ship financing, and other commercial issues. This includes providing legal guidance to departments like Trading, Operations, Chartering, and Finance, overseeing litigation, collaborating with external legal counsels, conducting compliance checks, and offering sanctions advice. The ideal candidate holds a Law degree with experience in a similar role, is dynamic, results-oriented, responsible, and possesses excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, along with the ability to work under pressure. Proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is essential.