Legal Counsel, Finergi

Optasia; Dubai; On-site; AED 420,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

Optasia is seeking a Legal Counsel for Finergi, an in-house role based in Dubai. You will shape legal strategy, develop scalable frameworks, and drive AI adoption while partnering with Commercial and Finance teams on high-impact deals across Africa and other markets.

You will lead negotiations for MOUs and commercial agreements, embed CLM processes, and ensure cross-jurisdictional compliance. Fluency in English and collaboration strengths are essential for success in this global business.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in commercial or corporate law, with in-house exposure.
• Strong drafting and negotiation background; track record on MOUs and commercial agreements.
• Experience with partnerships in fintech, payments, telecoms/MNOs, energy/utilities, or financial services.
• Excellent written and spoken English; practical and structured mindset.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiating MOUs and commercial agreements with partners such as utilities, banks, and telecoms.
• Supporting tenders and proposals with legal input on structure and risk.
• Developing reusable templates, frameworks, and playbooks to standardise contract negotiations across markets.
• Designing and embedding contract tracking, filing, and management systems.
• Leading the integration of AI tools to speed up drafting and review processes.

Skills

Commercial law

Drafting & negotiation

In-house experience

AI in legal workflows

Multijurisdiction deals

English proficiency

Education

LL.B. or equivalent

Tools

CLM systems

Job description

This opportunity was posted more than 30 days ago and no application deadline was provided. You can explore active listings below.

Qualified lawyer with typically 5+ years of experience in commercial or corporate law, ideally including in-house experience. Strong drafting and negotiation background with a track record on commercial agreements and MOUs. Experience with commercial partnerships in fintech, payments, telecoms/MNO, energy/utilities, or financial services. Practical and structured mindset. Comfort operating across multiple jurisdictions and multi-stakeholder deals. Strong collaboration skills and excellent written and spoken English. Nice-to-have: enthusiasm for AI tools, African/emerging market experience, French language, and experience with contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems.

Job

Full Opportunity Brief

Legal Counsel, Finergi: A High-Impact In-House Role at the Intersection of Fintech and Energy

The legal profession is evolving rapidly, and in-house counsel roles are no longer just about reviewing contracts in the back office. The Legal Counsel, Finergi position at Optasia, based in Dubai, represents a rare opportunity for a commercially minded lawyer to build the legal infrastructure of a fast-growing fintech that is transforming access to prepaid electricity and mobile financial services across Africa. If you are looking for a role where you can shape legal strategy, lead AI adoption, and work directly with commercial teams on deals that matter, this position deserves your close attention.

Finergi, part of the Optasia Group (JSE: OPA), partners with utilities, mobile network operators, banks, and payment providers to deliver credit and power to underserved communities. The company’s mission — Light On. Credit On. Future On. — is not just a tagline; it is a reflection of the business's commitment to financial inclusion. As Finergi expands across multiple markets, the volume and complexity of its commercial agreements are growing, creating the need for a Legal Counsel who can make deals watertight, repeatable, and fast. This is where you come in.

Why This Role Stands Out in the Current Legal Job Market

The legal job market in Dubai is competitive, with many roles focused on traditional corporate law or compliance. However, the Legal Counsel at Finergi is different. It is a role that explicitly asks you to move beyond the conventional boundaries of legal work and become a strategic partner to the business. The job description highlights three aspects that are particularly attractive for career growth:

• Building frameworks, not just reacting to deals: You will develop reusable legal frameworks, templates, and playbooks that can be applied across multiple deals and markets. This is a far cry from the one-off contract drafting that dominates many legal roles.
• Leading AI adoption in legal workflows: You are expected to lead the use of AI tools to streamline drafting, review, and other legal processes. This is a forward-looking responsibility that positions you as a legal innovator, not just a legal service provider.
• Reporting directly to the Chief Legal and Strategy Officer: This is a high-visibility role with direct exposure to the highest levels of decision-making, giving you a seat at the table where commercial and legal strategies converge.

For lawyers who are tired of being seen as deal-blockers, this role offers the chance to be a deal‑enabler. The emphasis on collaboration with Commercial and Finance teams means that you will be embedded in the business, understanding the commercial drivers behind each transaction and helping to structure deals that are both legally sound and commercially viable.

"We're looking for a Legal Counsel to be the person who makes those deals watertight, repeatable and fast."

The Ideal Candidate: More Than Just a Contract Drafter

The eligibility criteria for this position are clear and demanding. Finergi is seeking a qualified lawyer with typically 5+ years of experience in commercial or corporate law, ideally with in-house exposure. But the job description goes deeper than years of experience. It asks for a strong drafting and negotiation background, a track record on commercial agreements and MOUs, and experience with partnerships in fintech, payments, telecoms, energy, or financial services. This is not a role for a generalist; it requires someone who understands the nuances of multi-party, multi‑jurisdictional transactions.

Equally important are the soft skills that the company emphasizes. You need a practical, structured mindset — someone who enjoys turning one-off work into reusable frameworks and clean systems. You must be comfortable operating across multiple jurisdictions and handling multi‑stakeholder deals, where conflicting interests and complex regulatory landscapes are the norm. Strong collaboration skills are essential, as you will work hand-in-hand with the Commercial and Finance teams. Finally, excellent written and spoken English is a must, given the international nature of the business.

If you bring additional qualifications, they will set you apart. Genuine enthusiasm for AI and modern legal tools is a major plus, as the role specifically calls for leading AI adoption. Experience across African markets or emerging markets is highly valued, given Finergi’s focus. French is listed as an advantage for Francophone African markets, and experience setting up or running contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems is a nice-to-have that signals your ability to build scalable legal operations.

Day-to-Day Reality: A Deep Dive into the Responsibilities

The core responsibilities of this role are as strategic as they are operational. On any given day, you might find yourself:

• Drafting and negotiating MOUs and commercial agreements with utilities, banks, mobile network operators, aggregators, and other partners;
• Supporting tenders and proposals by providing legal input on structure, risk, and terms;
• Developing reusable templates, frameworks, and playbooks that standardise how contracts are negotiated across different markets;
• Designing and embedding systems for contract tracking, filing, and management, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks and every document is easily retrievable;
• Leading the integration of AI tools to speed up drafting and