Senior Legal Counsel

Knight Frank Middle East; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Knight Frank Middle East in Dubai is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to provide comprehensive legal advice for the MENA region, focusing on commercial contracts, real estate consultancy, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution within the UAE and Saudi Arabia markets.

Based in Dubai, you will draft and negotiate contracts, monitor regulatory changes, advise on corporate governance, and support external counsel for complex disputes, with travel as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Law from an accredited institution; postgraduate qualification in law is an advantage.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant legal experience in the MENA region, with substantial UAE and Saudi Arabia exposure.
• Qualified lawyer admitted to the bar or equivalent; strong knowledge of UAE and Saudi laws (commercial, corporate, regulatory).
• Excellent English communication; Arabic skills are an advantage but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on commercial, contractual, regulatory, and corporate matters to business teams across MENA.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including real estate and NDAs/MoUs.
• Manage contractual and commercial risks in tenders, RFPs, and client engagements.
• Review and negotiate FIDIC agreements and construction-related contracts.
• Monitor regulatory changes in UAE and Saudi Arabia and advise on governance and compliance.
• Support dispute resolution and manage external legal counsel relationships.

Skills

Legal expertise

Contract negotiation

Regulatory compliance

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor of Law

Postgraduate qualification in law

Tools

FIDIC

Job description

Senior Legal Counsel

K

Organising Institution / Firm

Knight Frank Middle East

Rolling Basis (Official)

Not Specified

Bachelor’s degree in Law; Postgraduate qualification in law (advantage); At least 10 years of relevant legal experience in MENA (substantial in UAE and Saudi Arabia); Qualified lawyer admitted to the bar or equivalent; Strong knowledge of UAE and Saudi Arabian laws; Experience with FIDIC and commercial contracts; English proficiency (Arabic advantage).

Job

Full Opportunity Brief

Senior Legal Counsel at Knight Frank Middle East

Knight Frank Middle East is recruiting an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to provide comprehensive legal advice and support across its MENA business. Based in Dubai, the role reports to the Partner, Head of Legal, and focuses on commercial contracts, real estate consultancy, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution within the UAE and Saudi Arabia markets.

Key Eligibility Criteria

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Law from an accredited institution; postgraduate qualification in law is an advantage.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of relevant legal experience in the MENA region, with substantial practical experience in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
• Qualification: Qualified lawyer admitted to the bar or equivalent professional qualification in a recognized jurisdiction.
• Technical Skills: Strong working knowledge of UAE and Saudi Arabian laws (commercial, corporate, regulatory); proven experience with FIDIC agreements and complex commercial contracts.
• Language: Excellent English (written and verbal); Arabic skills are an advantage but not essential.

Responsibilities & Scope of Work

• Provide legal advice on commercial, contractual, regulatory, and corporate matters to business teams across MENA.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including real estate consultancy agreements, NDAs, and MOUs.
• Manage contractual and commercial risks associated with tenders, RFPs, and client engagements.
• Review and negotiate FIDIC agreements and construction-related contracts.
• Monitor legal and regulatory changes in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and conduct gap analyses for compliance.
• Advise on corporate governance, entity management, trade license renewals, and regulatory filings.
• Support dispute resolution (negotiation, mediation, arbitration) and manage external legal counsel relationships.
• Develop internal policies, procedures, and contractual templates to ensure governance alignment.

Compensation & Mode

Stipend/Salary: Not specified in the source.
Employment Type: Full-time.
Location: Dubai, UAE (with regional travel required).