EY MENA General Counsel Office - Legal Associate - Riyadh

Ernst & Young Advisory Services Sdn Bhd; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 400,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading professional services organization in Riyadh is seeking a Legal Associate to provide legal services across the MENA region. The ideal candidate will have a law degree, up to 4 years of experience, and exceptional communication skills in English and Arabic. This impactful role involves advising on corporate matters, drafting contracts, and collaborating with stakeholders to support legal functions. Competitive compensation package offered.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Career potential within MENA and globally

Support and coaching in a culture valuing excellence

Qualifications

• Law degree graduate with up to 4 years of post-qualification experience.
• Experience with domestic and international clients is a plus.
• Ability to apply legal principles pragmatically.

Responsibilities

• Deliver legal advice in all MENA practice areas including corporate and litigation.
• Draft commercial contracts and participate in negotiations.
• Advise on various legal-related aspects of client matters.

Skills

Unquestioned ethics

Pragmatic business acumen

Strong personal communication skills

Attention to detail

Excellent command of written and spoken English

Excellent command of Arabic

Education

Degree in Law

Job description

Location: Riyadh

Other locations: Primary Location Only

Date: Sep 12, 2025

Requisition ID: 1643239

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go.

Join EY and help to build a better working world

The Opportunity

As a large, sophisticated professional services organization, everything we do comes down to having the right people with the right skills in the right place. As a Legal Associate, you’ll support us in making it happen. The General Counsel Office, the in-house legal function of this large Professional Services Organization is dedicated to the provision of world class in-house legal services to the organization’s service lines and regions.

The GCO Associate will report to a MENA Legal Counsel and support the organization’s member firms in MENA. The MENA region includes Saudi Arabia (KSA), UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine. You’ll be part of the region’s legal team and is expected to provide services to the business across the region. This role will be based in Riyadh, KSA.

This is a role for a law degree graduate with up to 4 post qualification experience. Experience with domestic and international clients is a plus.

Your key responsibilities

• Deliver and assist in delivering legal advice and assistance in all practice areas of MENA including corporate and litigation
• Draft and participate in commercial contracts negotiations with clients and service providers and elevate legal risks to management
• Act as trusted advisor and develop relationships with all relevant business stakeholders and team
• Support legal function and team and promote the teamwork & cross-support working between the organization’s in-house counsels within MENA and globally
• Advise, draft and negotiating negotiate various legal related aspects of client matters including contracts, master service agreements and tenders
• Assist in reviewing, amending and implementing changes to policies, procedures and standard documentation in light of legal developments

Skills and attributes for success

• Unquestioned ethics, integrity and adherence to strict confidentiality
• Pragmatic with strong business acumen
• Demonstrates a positive and enthusiastic attitude
• High level of self-confidence and energy
• High level of intellectual agility, initiative, self-motivation, resourcefulness, and patience
• Degree in law (graduate, paralegal, associate level) or lawyer qualified to practice law in KSA
• Up to 3 years of post-qualification legal experience, preferably with a multi-national corporation or an international law firm in KSA
• Attention to detail in all aspects
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Arabic
• Developed commercial awareness with an outcome orientated approach
• Ability to apply legal principles pragmatically and learn how to evaluate and negotiate contracts
• Strong personal communication skills
• Effective planning and organising skills to prioritise key areas of responsibility, tasks and projects
• The ability to keep calm in a crisis and to cope well with conflicting deadlines
• Strong teaming spirit with solid commitment to professionalism and flexibility in approach

Ideally, you will also have

• People management and development experience

What we look for

We are looking for people who can combine, great listening skills, collaboration, influencing and commercial acumen. Being able thrive in an ever changing, diverse, multi-cultural environment where we expect exceptional quality and show passion for your work will set you up for success.

What working for EY offers

We offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. We also offer:

• Exposure to some of the greatest colleagues and clients in the industry
• Support, feedback and coaching in a culture that values operational excellence
• Career potential to grow both within the MENA region and globally
• A culture that will encourage you to grow you skills and strengths for your own betterment as well as that or EY

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

To help create the best experience during the recruitment process, please describe any disability-related adjustments or accommodations you may need.

EY | Building a better working world

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.