Legal Counsel

NOVARGI; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

NOVARGI seeks a dynamic Legal Counsel in Dubai, focusing on legal operations in the Middle East, especially Iraq. The role involves providing legal advisory services, contract management, compliance oversight, and training, requiring a strong knowledge of labor laws and regulations.

Qualifications

• 6-10 years of post-qualification experience in oil & gas, energy, or heavy industry.
• Licensed to practice law in a relevant jurisdiction.
• Demonstrated legal experience in Iraq, notably in labor and employment law.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice on commercial and regulatory matters.
• Advise on Iraqi employment regulations and manage labor disputes.
• Draft and negotiate contracts, ensuring compliance with applicable laws.

Skills

Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills

Deep understanding of Iraq’s labor code

Ability to manage external counsel

High attention to detail

Problem-solving mindset

Education

LLB or equivalent law degree

Job description

Direct message the job poster from NOVARGI

NOVARGI is a specialized Process Package and Plant Contractor delivering innovative engineering solutions to the global energy sector since 2004. With headquarters in Spain and engineering centres in India, China, and the Middle East, we lead projects across Upstream, Downstream, Circular Economy, and Energy Transition markets.

As part of our growth in the region, we are currently seeking a Legal Counsel to join our newly established office in Dubai DMCC.

Job Summary :

We are seeking a dynamic and highly skilled Legal Counsel with a specific focus on legal operations across the Middle East , particularly the Iraq market. The successful candidate will handle a broad range of legal responsibilities, including commercial contracts, compliance, regulatory affairs, and employment law—with a strong emphasis on Iraq labour law and local employment regulations.

Key Responsibilities :

• Legal Advisory : Provide strategic legal advice on commercial, operational, and regulatory matters across the Middle East, with specific support to operations in Iraq .
• Iraq Labour Law : Advise HR and operations teams on Iraqi employment regulations , workforce compliance, labour disputes, expatriate contracts, social security, and termination procedures.
• Contract Review & Negotiation : Draft, review, and negotiate contracts including EPC agreements, service contracts, JV agreements, consultancy arrangements, and supplier terms.
• Regulatory & Compliance Oversight : Monitor and ensure compliance with applicable laws in key jurisdictions (UAE, Iraq, KSA, Qatar, Oman), particularly in relation to oil & gas operations.
• Corporate Governance : Support corporate secretarial work, board documentation, and company registrations or licensing across the region.
• Dispute Resolution : Manage disputes and coordinate with external counsel for litigation, arbitration, and labour tribunals, especially in Iraq .
• Risk Management : Assess legal risks and propose mitigation strategies aligned with business goals.
• Internal Training : Deliver legal awareness training on employment law, anti-bribery and corruption (ABC), and compliance best practices.
• Cross-functional Collaboration : Work closely with HR, operations, procurement, and finance to support project development and workforce planning.

Qualifications & Requirements :

Education : LLB or equivalent law degree from a recognized institution; licensed to practice law in a relevant jurisdiction.

Experience : 6–10 years of post-qualification experience, including in-house legal counsel experience in oil & gas, energy, or heavy industry sectors.

Regional Expertise : Demonstrated legal experience in Iraq , particularly labor / employment law. Additional exposure to UAE, KSA, and broader GCC jurisdictions is highly desirable.

Language : Fluent in English; proficiency in Arabic (especially Iraqi dialect) is a significant advantage.

Skills :

• Deep understanding of Iraq’s labor code and regulatory framework
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills
• Ability to manage external counsel and internal stakeholders
• High attention to detail, discretion, and integrity
• Problem-solving mindset and capacity to work independently under pressure

If you meet the requirements and want to be part of a leading team in the industry, apply now and join Novargi in Dubai!

Seniority level

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Oil and Gas

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