Senior Manager - Legal

GMG Gulf; Dubai; On-site; AED 390,600 - 558,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive family medical insurance

Family residency sponsorship

Flight allowances

Employee discounts across GMG brands

Job summary

GMG Gulf in Dubai is looking for a Senior Manager - Legal, focusing on GCC labor litigation and legal risk management. The ideal candidate will provide strategic legal advice to the HR and business leadership teams across multiple jurisdictions.

This role involves managing litigation matters, drafting legal documents, and ensuring compliance with labour laws. Candidates should have substantial experience in labor law, employment dispute handling, and strong legal drafting skills.

The position offers comprehensive benefits, including family medical insurance and residency sponsorship.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years of senior-level legal experience in GCC labor law.
• Proficiency in dispute resolution and litigation management across GCC jurisdictions.
• Strong skills in drafting legal documents, settlement agreements, and employment contracts.

Responsibilities

• Lead labor and employment litigation in GCC.
• Draft legal documents and provide risk assessments on HR policies.
• Manage external counsel relationships and prepare legal updates for leadership.

Skills

GCC labor law

UAE labor law

KSA labor law

Qatar labor law

Employment litigation

Labor dispute resolution

Court representation

Litigation strategy

Legal drafting

Legal research

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent legal degree

Job description

Senior Manager - Legal Job Snapshot

Position: Senior Manager - Legal

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Retail

Function: Legal

Experience: Senior-level legal and GCC labor litigation experience

Job Type: Full-time

Country: United Arab Emirates

City: Dubai

Salary: 35000-50000 monthly (Market estimated)

Gender: Any

Candidate Nationality: Any

Position Overview

Senior Manager - Legal in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior legal role focused on GCC labor litigation, employment law advisory, legal risk management, dispute resolution, and litigation strategy across multiple jurisdictions. The position is suited for an experienced legal professional with strong knowledge of UAE, KSA, Qatar, and wider GCC labor laws, court procedures, employment documentation, dispute handling, and commercial contract drafting.

Role Context

The Senior Manager - Legal will act as a strategic legal advisor to HR, Government Affairs, and business leadership teams on employment-related legal risks, labor disputes, investigations, disciplinary matters, grievances, terminations, and compliance requirements. The role requires hands‑on management of litigation matters, coordination with external counsel, drafting of legal documents, settlement negotiations, appellate and cassation case handling, and development of legal frameworks that protect the Group's reputation and business interests.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead labor and employment litigation, dispute resolution, and case management matters across GCC jurisdictions.
• Represent the company in labor court proceedings and coordinate with external counsel where required.
• Provide legal advice and risk assessments on HR policies, disciplinary actions, grievances, employment contracts, terminations, and labor disputes.
• Draft legal documents, pleadings, statements, plaints, settlement agreements, consent orders, and case-related documentation.
• Develop and implement legal strategies to defend the Group's interests across multiple GCC markets.
• Advise HR and business leaders on employee‑related legal risks, compliance obligations, and dispute prevention.
• Ensure compliance with local labor laws, employment regulations, court requirements, and legal frameworks in operational markets.
• Manage litigation matters at appellate and cassation levels, including escalated and high‑stakes employment cases.
• Coordinate with senior counsel on complex legal matters and ensure strategic alignment across each level of jurisdiction.
• Lead mediation, arbitration, negotiation, and amicable settlement efforts to reduce exposure to formal litigation.
• Draft, review, and negotiate settlement agreements in coordination with internal stakeholders and external mediators.
• Oversee legal aspects of internal investigations related to employee grievances, misconduct, whistleblower claims, or disciplinary matters.
• Prepare litigation readiness frameworks covering evidence preservation, witness coordination, documentation standards, and pre‑litigation planning.
• Maintain and update legal precedents, case databases, litigation trackers, and case law monitoring records.
• Monitor regulatory changes across GCC labor markets and communicate legal implications to relevant stakeholders.
• Manage external counsel relationships, legal budgets, litigation costs, and reporting requirements.
• Prepare litigation reporting dashboards and legal updates for executive leadership.
• Support crisis management and reputational risk mitigation during sensitive litigation or employment disputes.
• Contribute to policy development, legal risk controls, and governance practices that protect the Group's legal standing.
• Perform additional legal responsibilities as required to support business needs.

Ideal Profile

• Strong legal background with senior‑level experience in labor law, employment litigation, dispute resolution, and legal advisory.
• Deep knowledge of GCC labor laws and legal frameworks, especially in the UAE, KSA, Qatar, and other regional markets.
• Proven experience in litigation strategy, case management, court representation, and employment dispute handling.
• Experience with appellate and cassation procedures, higher court matters, pleadings, plaints, and court documentation.
• Strong drafting skills for employment contracts, commercial contracts, legal notices, settlement agreements, consent orders, and litigation documents.
• Ability to interpret legal documents, assess risk, and provide practical advice to HR and business stakeholders.
• Skilled in negotiation, mediation, arbitration, dispute resolution, and settlement structuring.
• Experience coordinating with external counsel and managing complex or high‑stakes legal matters.
• Strong legal research skills with ability to monitor regulatory changes, case law, and labor law developments.
• Ability to manage internal investigations linked to employee grievances, misconduct, or litigation matters.
• Strong judgment, confidentiality, stakeholder management, and executive communication skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships with HR, Government Affairs, business leaders, and legal teams across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong organizational skills with experience maintaining litigation trackers, reporting dashboards, and case databases.
• Commercially aware, detail‑oriented, and capable of protecting business interests while ensuring legal compliance.

Skills Set

• GCC labor law
• UAE labor law
• KSA labor law
• Qatar labor law
• Employment litigation
• Labor dispute resolution
• Court representation
• Litigation strategy
• Case management
• Appeals procedures
• Cassation procedures
• Legal drafting
• Pleadings
• Plaint drafting
• Settlement agreements
• Consent orders
• Employment contracts
• Commercial contracts
• Legal risk assessment
• Regulatory compliance
• Legal research
• Case law monitoring
• Internal investigations
• External counsel management
• Mediation
• Arbitration
• Negotiation
• Litigation budgeting
• Executive reporting
• Reputational risk management

Why Join Us

This opportunity is ideal for a Senior Manager - Legal who wants to take on a high‑impact leadership role within a diversified regional business group. The role offers exposure to complex GCC labor litigation, strategic advisory work, executive‑level legal reporting, cross‑border employment matters, and close collaboration with HR, Government Affairs, and business leaders. Benefits include international exposure, comprehensive family medical insurance, family residency sponsorship, flight allowances, and employee discounts across selected GMG retail and pharmacy brands.

About the Company

GMG is a global well‑being company with operations across retail, distribution, manufacturing, sport, everyday goods, health and beauty, properties, logistics, food, and consumer sectors. Under the ownership and management of the Baker family for more than 45 years, GMG has become a trusted partner for leading international and home‑grown brands across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. The company continues to grow through operational excellence, strong brand partnerships, and a commitment to building businesses that support better lifestyles, customer value, and long‑term regional development.