Legal Counsel

Wego; Dubai; On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Wego, a leading travel metasearch engine in the Middle East, seeks a dynamic Legal Counsel to provide legal expertise as the company expands. This role involves overseeing corporate governance, contract management, and supporting strategic initiatives towards an IPO. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in corporate law and IPO processes, with strong Arabic and English communication skills.

Qualifications

• 5–8+ years of post-qualification experience required.
• Solid experience in corporate contracts and regulatory law.
• Fluency in Arabic and English is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advise on corporate matters and regulatory compliance.
• Draft and negotiate commercial contracts.
• Support IPO readiness efforts and coordinate with advisors.

Skills

Corporate Law

Commercial Law

Regulatory Compliance

Contract Negotiation

IPO Readiness

Legal Drafting

Risk Management

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB)

Master's Degree in Law

Job description

About Wego:

We’re on a mission to help people discover the real value of travel — to inspire, to give more reasons, to make it easy — for you to travel. Our company was founded back in 2005, and since then, we’ve imagined and created some of the most well-loved products for travelers all around the world.

Today, Wego is the number one travel metasearch engine in the Middle East. There are millions of users on Wego every month — people who travel for adventure, for work, for family, and for many other reasons. That’s why we work tirelessly to make your experience of planning & booking flights, hotels, and trips as seamless as possible.

About the Role:

We are seeking a dynamic and commercially minded Legal Counsel to join our growing team. As we continue expanding across the Middle East and beyond — with the goal of an eventual IPO — this role will be critical in providing expert legal advice, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting strategic initiatives.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience in corporate and commercial law, a deep understanding of the GCC and broader Middle East legal environment, and exposure to capital markets and IPO readiness processes. Arabic language skills are highly desirable given the regional focus of our operations.

Key Responsibilities:

Corporate Legal Support:

• Advise on general corporate matters, governance, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions (primarily GCC, expanding to other markets).

• Support corporate structuring, new entity setups, and licensing activities as we expand geographically.
  
  

Contract Management:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including vendor agreements, partnership agreements, NDAs, SaaS agreements, and service contracts.

• Advise internal stakeholders on contract terms, risk exposure, and mitigation strategies.
  

External Parties Engagement:

• Lead legal negotiations with external vendors, partners, and service providers.

• Liaise with external counsel as necessary, ensuring cost-effective and strategic engagement.
  

IPO and Capital Markets Preparation:

• Support leadership in IPO readiness efforts, including corporate governance reviews, due diligence processes, disclosure obligations, and regulatory filings.

• Coordinate with external advisors (investment banks, auditors, legal advisors) as part of IPO preparations.
  

Risk and Compliance:

• Monitor changes in relevant laws and regulations across the GCC and key target expansion markets.

• Develop and maintain internal policies, templates, and best practices to ensure compliance and mitigate legal risks.
  

Internal Advisory:

• Act as a trusted advisor to business units, providing proactive legal insights to enable strategic decision-making.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from a recognized university; Master's degree or professional certifications are a plus.

• 5–8+ years of post-qualification experience, preferably with a mix of top-tier law firm and in-house corporate experience.

• Solid experience in corporate, commercial contracts, and regulatory law.

• Strong knowledge of legal frameworks in the GCC and broader Middle East region.

• Experience supporting IPO processes or capital markets transactions is highly desirable.

• Fluency in Arabic and English (both written and spoken) is preferred.

• Exposure to other emerging markets (e.g., North Africa, South Asia) is a plus.

• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.

• Business-oriented mindset with the ability to balance legal risks and business priorities.