Senior Legal Counsel (Kuwait)

Keeta; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 243,000 - 389,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growth opportunities

Challenging environment

Transnational team

Job summary

Keeta in Kuwait seeks a seasoned lawyer to lead cross-border transactions, regulatory compliance, and complex commercial matters. You will draft and negotiate multilingual contracts, engage with Kuwaiti authorities, and guide business units across retail, logistics, and warehousing operations.

You will work with senior management to ensure regulatory compliance, manage external counsel relationships, and stay ahead of GCC regulatory developments in a fast-paced, multinational setting.

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in law from a recognized university.
• 7+ years of relevant legal work experience, with at least 5 years in Kuwait.
• Extensive knowledge of Kuwaiti corporate, contract, commercial, labor law and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills for non-legal stakeholders.
• Fluent Arabic and English (written and spoken) as working languages.
• Ability to work independently and in cross-functional teams.
• Proven track record managing complex legal projects and deadlines.
• Familiarity with Kuwaiti regulatory authorities, licensing procedures, and government approvals.
• Experience in retail, logistics, warehousing, or food delivery sectors and related contracts.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and provide comprehensive legal advice and support on transactions and commercial matters in Kuwait and the broader GCC region, including cross-border transactions, joint ventures, franchising, and licensing arrangements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents in both English and Arabic, ensuring compliance with Kuwaiti and applicable international laws.
• Advise on compliance with Kuwaiti local laws and regulations; identify and assess legal risks, and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Assist business team, GA team in applying for and obtaining license and permit necessary for the operation of the retail, logistic, warehousing and other areas of the company.
• Work closely with senior management and business units to ensure legal requirements are met in all business operations across Kuwait.
• Support business units in communicating with relevant Kuwaiti authorities and external stakeholders, to maintain a business-friendly regulatory environment.
• Represent the company in legal proceedings, negotiations, and dispute resolution matters in Kuwaiti courts and ADR forums.
• Stay up-to-date with changes in the Kuwaiti legal landscape, GCC regulatory developments, and industry trends; proactively communicate updates to stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain an adequate pool of external law firms and legal advisors in Kuwait, and maintain relationships with external advisors.
• Collaborate with the global legal team to ensure consistency in legal frameworks and compliance standards across jurisdictions.

Skills

Arabic language

English language

Legal research

Contract negotiation

Education

Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

• 1. Conduct legal research and provide comprehensive legal advice and support on transactions and commercial matters in Kuwait and the broader GCC region, including cross-border transactions, joint ventures, franchising, and licensing arrangements.
• 2. Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents in both English and Arabic, ensuring compliance with Kuwaiti and applicable international laws.
• 3. Advise on compliance with Kuwaiti local laws and regulations; identify and assess legal risks, and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• 4. Assist business team, GA team in applying for and obtaining license and permit necessary for the operation of the retail, logistic, warehousing and other areas of the company.
• 5. Work closely with senior management and business units to ensure legal requirements are met in all business operations across Kuwait.
• 6. Support business units in communicating with relevant Kuwaiti authorities and external stakeholders, to maintain a business-friendly regulatory environment.
• 7. Represent the company in legal proceedings, negotiations, and dispute resolution matters in Kuwaiti courts and alternative dispute resolution forums.
• 8. Stay up-to-date with changes in the Kuwaiti legal landscape, GCC regulatory developments, and industry trends; proactively communicate updates to relevant internal stakeholders.
• 9. Develop and maintain an adequate and high-quality resource pool of external law firms and legal advisors in Kuwait, and maintain strong relationships with external legal advisors and partners.
• 10. Collaborate with the global legal team to ensure consistency in legal frameworks and compliance standards across jurisdictions.

Mandatory Requirements

• 1. A bachelor's degree in law from a recognized university. An advanced degree is preferred.
• 2. A minimum of 7 years of relevant legal work experience, among which at least 5 years in Kuwait.
• 3. Extensive knowledge of Kuwaiti corporate law, contract law, commercial law, labor law, and regulatory frameworks applicable to foreign-invested enterprises.
• 4. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to present complex legal matters clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
• 5. Fluent Arabic speaker, with fluent English proficiency (both written and spoken) as a working language.
• 6. Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team.
• 7. Proven track record of managing complex legal projects, transactions, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• 8. Familiarity with Kuwaiti regulatory authorities, licensing procedures, and government approval mechanisms.
• 9. Experience in the retail, logistics, warehousing or food delivery industry, with understanding of supply chain, warehouse operations, dark store leasing, merchant contracts, and logistics service agreements.

Job Highlights:

• 1. Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• 2. A challenging and rewarding work environment.
• 3. The chance to work with a transnational team of experts.

Preferred Qualifications (Will Be a Plus but Not a Must)

• - Diverse professional background, including experience in law firms, in-house legal teams, government, and/or judicial institutions (e.g., courts or prosecutorial bodies)
• - Overseas education experience in an English-speaking country
• - Experience working with or advising multinational companies in the technology or delivery industry
• -Professional legal qualification recognized in Kuwait (e.g., Kuwait Bar Association eligibility or equivalent)
• - Knowledge of Sharia law principles as they relate to commercial transactions
• - Knowledge with i) Kuwait's legal requirements for foreign investment and joint ventures under Kuwaiti Companies Law, ii) e-commerce, fintech, or digital services regulation in Kuwait, and iii) Kuwait's Public Tender Law and procurement frameworks