Legal Counsel – Middle East

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

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a skilled Legal Counsel to support its operations in the Middle East. This role involves providing strategic legal advice, managing negotiations, and ensuring compliance across various business functions. You will play a crucial part in navigating complex legal landscapes, engaging with stakeholders, and leading legal initiatives that drive business success. If you are passionate about making a difference in a dynamic environment and possess strong expertise in corporate and commercial law, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Career Development Opportunities

International Work Environment

Recognition for Diversity and Inclusion

Flexible Work Arrangements

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in litigation and corporate law.
• Strong leadership skills and expertise in healthcare regulatory law.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and manage legal matters for Abbott's businesses in the Middle East.
• Oversee legal support for commercial projects and manage legal budgets.

Skills

Litigation

Corporate Law

Commercial Law

Negotiation

Legal Compliance

Arabic Language Skills

Education

Law Degree

Bar Qualification

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic medicines. Our 109,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self, and live a full life. You will have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

Abbott Legal offers interesting, challenging, and rewarding work that encompasses a diverse portfolio of products – from consumer products to innovative medical technologies. We provide the opportunity to interact with customers and colleagues from around the world. Like the Abbott businesses we support, Abbott Legal is a dynamic organization; and we are committed to developing our employees to meet the evolving needs of the company.

Abbott is regarded as an employer of choice for our commitment to workplace excellence. Our employees are given the tools to succeed, lead, and grow, with challenging opportunities and work that makes a difference. Discover a world of opportunities at Abbott.

Job Summary :

The Legal Counsel for the Middle East Region is charged with supporting and at times managing legal matters for all Abbott businesses operating in the Middle East including the Gulf states and Levant markets. He / She will be based in Dubai, UAE and will report to the Legal Director - METAP.

What You'll Do :

Duties will include providing legal advice to management on a wide range of matters, with a focus on business-oriented solutions, including managing the negotiation and preparation of an extensive range of agreements, as well as compliance with laws and supervision of all external legal professionals in the region.

Manages the legal support for the Middle East region for Abbott’s commercial businesses, including the following :

• Responsibility for all legal services within the region and the direct management of multiple country level legal organizations;
• Provide legal support for key commercial projects in the region including localization projects;
• Effectively manage legal budgets and legal expenditure on external counsel;
• Supports the business in the achievement of business objectives by communicating advice of the Legal Department and managing legal risks;
• Identifies training needs and assists in development and presentation of training and education regarding legal requirements and developments;
• Develops a thorough understanding of and familiarity with : Abbott business, its people, products, markets, facilities, customers, and competitors and uses this knowledge in providing guidance and counsel to Abbott’s businesses;
• Understands the needs and expectations of internal and external stakeholders;
• Initiates, maintains and tactfully influences relationships with various stakeholders; and
• Possesses sufficiently broad perspective about functional area, business needs, trends and risks to assist in developing strategies related to functional area or business.

Accountability / Supervision

This position reports to the Legal Director – METAP.

Relationships :

This is a cross-functional position that will interact with the Legal, Compliance, and the Commercial Business teams.

Required Qualifications :

• Law degree, Bar Qualification or local equivalent.
• Arabic language skills (spoken and written) is mandatory.

Experience / Training Requirements :

• Solid experience in litigation, corporate / commercial law & agreements (with national and cross-border contracts).
• Commercial legal experience in the Middle East region.
• 8-10 years of relevant experience.
• Expert in practice area with demonstration of strong leadership skills.
• Understanding and experience in following areas desirable :

Healthcare regulatory law

General understanding / experience in Intellectual Property (patents, trademarks)

Administrative Law, incl. pharmaceutical / drug laws, insurance / reimbursement laws

Public Tender Law

National and applicable international antitrust and competition law (specifically re : parallel trade, technology transfer, research & development)