Senior Legal Counsel

Knight Frank MENA; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Knight Frank MENA in Dubai seeks an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to provide legal advice across the region. Based in Dubai, you will support commercial contracts, real estate consultancy agreements, regulatory compliance, governance and risk management, working closely with the Partner, Head of Legal.

The role requires substantial regional experience, particularly UAE and Saudi Arabia, with the ability to manage complex matters independently while coordinating with external counsel and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Law; postgraduate qualification advantageous.
• Minimum 10 years’ legal experience in MENA, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
• Qualified lawyer admitted to the bar or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of UAE and Saudi Arabia laws, commercial contracts, governance, regulatory compliance and business operations.
• Proven experience drafting and negotiating complex contracts including real estate and tenders.
• Experience negotiating FIDIC and construction-related contracts.
• Risk assessment of tenders and client engagements.
• Knowledge of governance, entity management and regulatory filings.
• Experience supporting dispute resolution and coordinating with external counsel.
• Experience in international organisations, preferably real estate consultancy or related services.
• Excellent English communication; Arabic a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to MENA business on commercial, contractual, regulatory and corporate matters.
• Review and negotiate a wide range of contracts, including real estate consultancy and client service agreements.
• Assess risks in tenders, RFQs and client engagements; support pre-tendering and contracting.
• Advise on liability, indemnities, warranties, insurance and dispute resolution provisions.
• Monitor changes in UAE and Saudi Arabia laws and assess impact.
• Develop internal policies and contracting templates for governance.
• Support corporate governance and entity-related matters for Knight Frank entities.
• Assist HR, Finance, Tax, Operations and Procurement on legal matters.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks while balancing commercial objectives.
• Coordinate with external counsel for disputes and claims; manage legal costs.
• Review contracting processes for efficiency and consistency.
• Support due diligence and new business initiatives.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law

Postgraduate qualification in law or specialist area

Tools

FIDIC contracts

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to provide legal advice and support across Knight Frank’s MENA business. Based in Dubai and reporting to the Partner, Head of Legal, the role will cover a broad range of legal matters, including commercial contracts, real estate consultancy agreements, tendering, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, risk management and dispute resolution.

The successful candidate will work closely with business teams across the region, providing practical legal advice, managing contractual and regulatory risks, and supporting the business in delivering its commercial objectives. The role requires substantial experience in the MENA region, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and the ability to manage complex legal matters independently while working closely with the Partner, Head of Legal, on key issues.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support to business teams across MENA on commercial, contractual, regulatory and corporate matters.
• Review, draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including real estate consultancy agreements, client service agreements, non-disclosure agreements, memoranda of understanding and other legal documents.
• Review and assess contractual and commercial risks associated with requests for proposals, tenders and client engagements, providing legal support throughout the pre-tendering and contracting stages.
• Review, draft and negotiate FIDIC agreements and other construction-related contracts, identifying and advising on relevant contractual risks and obligations.
• Advise on contractual terms, including liability, indemnities, warranties, insurance, limitation of liability, termination provisions and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Monitor changes in applicable laws and regulations across MENA, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and assess their impact on the business.
• Conduct legal and regulatory gap analyses and recommend appropriate actions to support ongoing compliance.
• Review and develop internal policies, procedures and contractual templates to ensure alignment with applicable legal requirements and internal governance standards.
• Advise on corporate governance and manage legal and entity-related matters for relevant Knight Frank entities, including trade licence issuance and renewals, corporate restructuring, regulatory filings and related documentation.
• Support internal functions, including HR, Finance, Tax, Operations and Procurement, on legal matters relevant to their activities.
• Identify, assess and mitigate legal and contractual risks, providing practical recommendations that balance risk management with commercial objectives.
• Support the management and resolution of disputes and claims, including negotiations, mediation and arbitration, and coordinate with external legal counsel where required.
• Manage relationships with external legal advisers, including coordinating instructions, monitoring progress and controlling legal costs.
• Review and improve contracting processes, procedures and templates to enhance consistency, efficiency and risk management across the business.
• Support legal due diligence and provide advice on new business initiatives, client engagements and other commercial matters as required.
• Work closely with the Partner, Head of Legal, escalating material legal risks and complex matters and supporting the implementation of legal guidance across the region.
• Maintain accurate legal records and ensure appropriate management of contracts, corporate documents and other legal documentation.
• Undertake regional travel as required and perform other responsibilities appropriate to the role.

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Law from an accredited institution. A postgraduate qualification in law or a relevant specialist area would be an advantage.
• At least 10 years of relevant legal experience within the MENA region, with substantial practical experience in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
• Qualified lawyer admitted to the bar or equivalent professional qualification in a recognised jurisdiction.
• Strong working knowledge of UAE and Saudi Arabian laws and regulations, particularly those relating to commercial contracts, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and business operations.
• Proven experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts, including real estate consultancy agreements, client service agreements and tender-related contracts.
• Practical experience reviewing and negotiating FIDIC agreements and other construction-related contracts.
• Experience assessing contractual and commercial risks associated with tenders, requests for proposals and client engagements.
• Knowledge of corporate governance, entity management, regulatory filings and internal compliance frameworks.
• Experience supporting dispute resolution, managing claims and coordinating with external legal counsel.
• Experience working within an international organisation, preferably in real estate consultancy, property services, construction, engineering or a related professional services environment.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, drafting and problem-solving skills, with the ability to provide clear and commercially practical legal advice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Arabic language skills would be an advantage but are not essential.
• High levels of integrity, discretion and professionalism, with the ability to manage confidential and commercially sensitive matters.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and work independently in a fast-paced, multi-country environment.
• A proactive and commercially minded approach, with the confidence to negotiate contractual terms, work effectively with stakeholders and manage complex legal matters with minimal supervision.
• Willingness to travel within the region as required.