Group legal counsel

GROUP LEGAL COUNSEL (UAE, QATAR, KSA, OMAN & BAHRAIN)

Location: UAE
Division: Legal Sub-Unit: Legal
Territories Covered UAE, Qatar, KSA, Oman & Bahrain
Reporting to: Group CEO HOD: Group CEO

JOB SUMMARY
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Group Legal Counsel to join our dynamic legal team. As the Group Legal Counsel,
you will be responsible for providing comprehensive legal advice and support to our organization, ensuring compliance with
applicable laws and regulations, and managing legal risks across the company.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Scope of Work UAE, Qatar, KSA, Oman & Bahrain
Principal
Responsibilities / Key Results Area

Policies & Procedures:

• Adhere to all my client’s Policies & Procedures as applicable.

Legal Advisory:

• Provide timely and strategic legal advice to senior management and various departments on a wide range of legal matters, including corporate governance, commercial transactions,regulatory compliance, employment law, and litigation.
• Conduct legal research and analysis to support business decisions and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents to protect the company's interests and minimize risks.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Develop, implement, and enforce company policies and procedures to ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Monitor changes in laws and regulations affecting the company's operations and proactively advise management on potential legal risks and compliance issues.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to identify and mitigate legal risks associated with business activities and initiatives.

Contracts Management:

• Reviews and approves all contracts including but not limited to; Distribution Agreement, SPA, Leasehold Agreement, NDA, MOU, MOA, JV, PM, FM, Employment, Lease, Assignment, Novation, Marketing, Agency, etc.
• Establish and maintain a robust contract management system to streamline contract processes, track obligations, and mitigate risks associated with contracts.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution:

• Manage and oversee litigation and dispute resolution matters involving the company, including engaging external counsel when necessary.
• Develop and implement strategies to resolve disputes efficiently and effectively, minimizing legal costs and preserving the company's reputation.
• Prepares, manages, and controls legal cases filed by, and against, the Group and drafts litigation memos and legal notices in both Arabic & English
• Provides legal opinion about all existing and potential liabilities related to the Company’s Court cases/disputes. Reviews, drafts and amends settlement agreements related to Disputes and other agreements/contracts in Arabic.
• Analyses the risks and liabilities of Court cases & disputes for internal use, maintaining reference files, conducting research, collecting, and analysing evidence for the hearings.

Managing external law firms:

• Manage relationships with external local and international law firms looking for the appropriate level of expertise and best cost / quality of service ratio for each file.

Due Diligence:

• Ensure that all Due Diligence are completed within the specified time frame.
• Submit all completed Due Diligence to the relevant team with all supporting documents attached
• Maintain a record of all Due Diligence with the supporting documents.

Translation:

• Translates legal documents and drafts letters in both Arabic & English Incorporation of new companies and maintaining Group companies’ registers and POAs:
• Establishes new companies and maintains lawful legal structure of the Group and its subsidiaries and affiliates companies in coordination with external lawyers.
• Maintains updated company registers for all the Group Companies and carries out follow-up and renewal of licenses and permits for the Group Companies
• Prepares Powers of Attorney as required from time to time and assists in the notarization process in the UAE and overseas.

Note: employees must step into other work assigned to them as business needs arise and are not limited to the above.

COMPETENCIES FOR THE JOB

• Functional Competencies
  • Legal Advisory
  • Contract Drafting and Negotiation
  • Compliance and Risk Management
  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution
  • Legal Research and Analysis
  • Problem Solving Orientation
  •  
• Behavioural Competencies
  • Ethical and Professional Conduct
  • Communication Skills
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Collaboration and Teamwork
  • Attention to Detail
  • Resilience and Stress Management
  • Integrity and Ethics

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ATTITUDE, EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES:
Requirements Mandatory Requirement Preferred Requirement
Minimum Qualification:
Bachelor’s Degree /bachelor’s
degree in law.

• Master’s degree
  • The ability to provide, and a proven track record of providing, quality legal advice with a commercial slant, and understand the commercial realities and needs of a business

Experience:

• 5+ Years of Experience
• Knowledge of UAE laws, regulations, and the business environment is essential. Strong legal writing and drafting skills are mandatory, along with the ability to clearly communicate and influence.

Job Specific Skills:

• Legal Research and Analysis
• Contract Drafting and Review
• Regulatory Compliance
• Litigation Management
• Risk Assessment and Management
• Due Diligence
• Communication and Negotiation
• Team Leadership and Collaboration
• Strategic thinking
• Advance Legal Degree
• Experience in corporate legal environment
• Industry knowledge

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.