Legal Counsel - Bilingual in English & French - Dubai, U.A.E

Michael Page; Dubai; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading commodity trading and logistics company seeks a Legal Counsel to oversee their legal, regulatory, and governance operations. This pivotal role entails managing legal risk, ensuring compliance across jurisdictions, and providing expert legal advice to the leadership team. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in corporate law and proficiency in both English and French.

Benefits

Attractive compensation package

Opportunity to work closely with leadership

Qualifications

• 15-18 years of experience in corporate law, specifically in FMCG or banking.
• Experience in West Africa and expertise in OHADA laws.
• Bilingual in English and French.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global legal function and align legal strategy with business objectives.
• Draft, review, and negotiate high-value contracts.
• Ensure compliance with international trade laws and manage disputes.

Skills

FMCG

Manufacturing

Corporate

M&A

Legal Counsel

OHADA

Job description

As the group's Legal Counsel, you will be a key member of the organisation's leadership team, responsible for leading and managing the legal, regulatory, and governance framework across their portfolio. The role involves providing expert legal advice, managing risk, ensuring compliance, and supporting their commercial growth.

Client Details

Leading commodity trading and logistics company, committed to responsible and sustainable practices. With a strong footprint across Africa and the Middle East, the organisation has a diverse portfolio across manufacturing, FMCG, trading, hospitality, and financial services.

Description
Lead the global legal function, aligning legal strategy with overarching business objectives and establishing group-wide legal governance and compliance protocols.Draft, review, and negotiate high-value contracts across trading, chartering, procurement, and financing, ensuring robust risk mitigation in cross-border agreements.Ensure compliance with international trade laws, sanctions regimes, AML, and anti-bribery regulations, implementing comprehensive risk mitigation frameworks across jurisdictions, including emerging markets.Manage litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution with external legal advisors, while serving as a trusted advisor to the board and executive leadership on legal and reputational risk.Provide legal guidance and support for ESG initiatives, focusing on responsible sourcing, environmental compliance, sustainability reporting, and stakeholder engagement.




Profile
Must have 15 - 18 years of experience in corporate law, with experience from major manufacturing, FMCG, or banking players.Must have experience working in West Africa, along with deep and demonstrable expertise in OHADA laws.Must be bilingual in English and French, demonstrating proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking both languages.Willingness to travel to Africa.


Job Offer
Attractive compensation package.Opportunity to work closely with leadership in a global organization.

Skills

fmcg, manufacturing, corporate, m&a, mergers, acquisitions, legal counsel, OHADA