Senior Counsel – Governance & Strategy

Meraki Talent; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Meraki Talent is partnering with an established international energy and investment group to recruit a Senior Counsel / Manager – Governance in Abu Dhabi. The role will support the development and implementation of a robust governance framework across a complex, multi-jurisdictional organisation.

Based in Abu Dhabi, the successful candidate will advise on corporate governance, risk and strategic transactions, working closely with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams to embed effective

Qualifications

• A law degree, Juris Doctor, Master of Laws or equivalent relevant academic qualification.
• At least 10 years' relevant experience in legal, corporate governance, compliance or regulatory advisory roles.
• Experience advising on cross-border transactions, investments, acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic partnerships.
• An understanding of governance requirements across complex groups of subsidiaries, affiliates and jointly held entities.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to translate complex legal and governance issues into practical, actionable advice.
• The confidence to influence senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and communicate risk and mitigation strategies clearly.
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across legal, governance and wider business functions.

Responsibilities

• Governance Advisory: Act as a trusted adviser to business leaders and functional stakeholders, providing clear, commercially focused guidance on governance matters, corporate structures and legal risks.
• Governance Framework Development: Support and lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of governance policies, procedures and frameworks, including delegations of authority and committee terms of reference.
• Transaction Support: Identify, assess and mitigate governance risks throughout the transaction lifecycle, including deal planning, due diligence, approvals, execution and post-completion integration.
• Corporate Governance: Support and oversee company secretarial activities for relevant committees, ensuring appropriate governance processes, documentation and approvals are maintained.
• Multi-Jurisdictional Governance: Assess governance requirements across multiple jurisdictions, including subsidiary and affiliated entities, cascading authorities, regulatory obligations and the governance of jointly held entities.
• Risk Management: Identify governance gaps and opportunities, develop appropriate mitigation measures and elevate material risks where necessary.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships across the business and functional teams, ensuring governance is considered early in commercial planning and strategic decision-making.
• Policy Implementation and Training: Support the communication, implementation and evaluation of governance policies, including training and reporting on their effectiveness.
• Project Leadership: Coordinate and contribute to key governance initiatives, working collaboratively with colleagues across the governance function.

Skills

Governance advisory

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Commercial judgement

Independent working

Education

Law degree

Juris Doctor

Master of Laws

Job description

Meraki Talent is partnering with an established international energy and investment group to recruit a Senior Counsel / Manager – Governance in Abu Dhabi. The role will support the development and implementation of a robust governance framework across a complex, multi-jurisdictional organisation.

Based in Abu Dhabi, the successful candidate will advise on corporate governance, risk and strategic transactions, working closely with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams to embed effective