Senior Legal Counsel Near & Middle East

Veolia; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental services company in Dubai seeks a Senior Legal Counsel to provide legal support for projects in the Near & Middle East. The role requires 8+ years of experience and expertise in contract management, litigation, and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills and effective contract drafting capabilities, working closely with internal teams and external counsel.

Qualifications

• 8+ years post-qualification experience in multinational law firm or in-house legal team.
• Legal expertise in EPC/Design & Build projects and construction law.
• Ability to perform under pressure in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support to projects and corporate matters in the Near & Middle East region.
• Manage contract drafting, reviewing, and negotiations.
• Work closely with external counsel on litigation matters.

Skills

Contract analysis, drafting and negotiation

Strong analytical and decision-making abilities

Excellent contract drafting capabilities

Strategic thinking with attention to detail

Fluent level English (written and verbal)

Education

LLM or equivalent legal qualification

Common law education preferred

Job description

Context

Veolia Near & Middle East HQ provides business support and expertise to its various local entities and ensures that the Veolia Group strategy, policies, processes and tools are implemented appropriately and in a timely manner as well as customized to our local needs.

The legal department plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, mitigating risks, and protecting the company's interests. They provide guidance on various legal matters, including corporate governance, contracts, employment issues, and regulatory compliance. They often collaborate with other departments to develop policies and procedures that align with legal requirements while supporting the company's objectives.

Job Description

Main Accountabilities

The Senior Legal Counsel Near & Middle East provides legal support to projects and corporate matters of Veolia in the Near & Middle East business region, including relevant subsidiaries and entities. They also deliver legal support on any other matters of strategic, financial and reputational importance to the business. The Senior Legal Counsel is responsible for and relied upon to deliver timely, accurate and reliable legal advice in a practical, commercially-focused and ethical way, to minimise risk, resolve issues and maximise the opportunity for the business to achieve its goals. This position reports to the General Counsel Near & Middle East, and is based full-time at the regional head office in Dubai, UAE.

Detailed Job Description

• Contribute to legal structuring of environmental utilities and infrastructures projects (in Water, Energy and Waste), on various contract types (EPC, DBO, BOO, BOT, O&M, management contracts). Work closely with functional teams based both regionally and at headquarters. Daily interface with relevant internal teams, primarily Business Development, Proposals and Finance.
• Contract Management: Provide comprehensive legal support on contracts and project management. This includes drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contractual/legal analysis of bids and proposals, setup of consortium, tender review processes, shareholder agreements, project agreements, intercompany agreements, .
• Ensure contracts align with the company’s objectives while minimizing risk.
• Provide expertise to the Business Units and Management in drafting, formatting and negotiating contracts.
• Provide legal advice and support in M&A processes/transactions and organic/financial growth projects, to teams involved in financing of new investments or refinancing of existing investments.
• Work closely with external counsel to effectively manage pre-litigation or litigation matters in the region. Work in compliance with Veolia Group policies and in close coordination with the litigation team at Veolia headquarters. Handle litigation and arbitration proceedings in coordination with Contracts Managers and external counsel.
• Deal effectively with deadlines and project timeframes, applying the appropriate levels of priority and communicating with stakeholders
• Ensure and uphold contractual, ethical, legal and statutory compliance in the fulfilment of one’s professional responsibilities

Qualifications

• LLM or equivalent legal qualification
• 8+ years post-qualification experience in either:
  • Multinational law firm
  • In-house legal team of global company (utilities/ energy/ engineering /infrastructure /industrial construction)
• Common law education preferred with project finance expertise
• Legal expertise in:
  • EPC/Design & Build projects
  • Contract analysis, drafting and negotiation
  • Construction law
• Fluent level English (written and verbal)
• Strong analytical and decision-making abilities
• Excellent contract drafting capabilities
• Sound business and legal judgment
• Strategic thinking with attention to detail
• Quantitative aptitude

Additional Information

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated and independent
• High integrity and ethical standards
• Proactive with excellent prioritization skills
• Strong team player
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Cultural awareness and emotional intelligence
• Professional discretion
• Ability to perform under pressure in fast-paced environments
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion

As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete or exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities that will be carried out by the selected candidate.

Veolia Middle East does not and shall not discriminate in any forms in its recruitment processes.