Dubai, Sports Director (10 PQE plus), In House / inhouse within Sports & Entertainment

Ellis-Wake; City Of London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious legal recruitment agency is seeking a general commercial sports and entertainment lawyer for a key role in the UAE. The ideal candidate has over 10 years PQE with experience in KSA sports law. Responsibilities include managing legal aspects of the department and leading a bilingual team. This position requires strong skills in contract negotiation and compliance, with the goal of driving the business forward.

Qualifications

• Must have at least 10 years PQE in a relevant field.
• Experience with KSA sports law is highly desirable.
• Ability to lead a bilingual team is essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage all legal aspects within the sports department.
• Lead and build a multi-lingual legal team.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements.
• Advise on issues related to sports and entertainment law.
• Build relationships with national football teams and governing bodies.

Skills

Commercial sports law

Entertainment law

Regulatory compliance

Contract negotiation

Team leadership

Intellectual property

Job description

Overview

Exclusive and new for 2026 - having just placed a projects director, we are further mandated for this in house sports role in the UAE @ 10+ PQE .. you will likely be an Aus / UK / US / candidate. This will suit a general commercial sports and entertainment lawyer that is already in the ME or a lawyer keen to swap London. But you must have exposure to GCC sports work and more notably KSA sport work. The role will report direct to the senior director and your 'want', should be to drive forward this department and business line.

Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for all the legal aspects within the department including the sector's restructuring and regulatory framework across the GCC. The KSA region is fundamental and all experience here will be considered a plus.
• You will lead a team of Arabic and English speaking lawyers and build a team with that in mind.
• Your experience will include: advice on all issues re sports, but also onentertainment law, including contracts, intellectual property, sponsorship,media rights, and regulatory compliance.
• This will include also include on a more day to day basis: drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex contracts and agreements.
• You will be exposed to the relationshipsnational football teams, FIFA, the AFC.
• Fundamentally, you will build a team of experts focusing on the commercial legal aspects of sports and drive the business forward .. this is the ultimate goal; hence the seniority.

Location and Leadership

Based in the City of London, Dan qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and is the owner of one of the longest serving legal recruitment agencies in London and the South East of England, Ellis-Wake. He regularly advises his clients on the complexity of the legal market, on their strategic future and is a known 'connector' and 'influencer' in the recruitment market. Dan's experience stretches back to 2004 and he's seen many significant changes in Global and local legal and recruitment markets and has recruited successfully in all of them.

How to Express Interest

If this role is of interest please contact Dan Wake (Director) in confidence at [e-mail] or on([phone].

Ellis-Wake acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.