GROUP LEGAL COUNSEL

Reporting to Executive Management, the Group Legal Counsel will serve as the principal legal adviser to the Group, providing commercially focused legal guidance across multiple companies and business sectors. The successful candidate will lead the Group's legal function, ensuring legal compliance, managing corporate legal risk, supporting strategic business initiatives, and delivering practical legal solutions that enable sound commercial decision-making. This position will work closely with the existing Legal Manager and Contracts Manager, providing professional legal leadership while ensuring the highest standards of legal governance across the Group. Key Responsibilities • Serve as the principal legal adviser to Executive Management and provide strategic legal guidance across all Group companies. • Advise on corporate, commercial, employment, manufacturing, engineering, construction, procurement, environmental, regulatory, governance, compliance, and international trade matters. • Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a wide range of commercial agreements, including supply agreements, customer contracts, distribution agreements, procurement contracts, joint ventures, shareholder agreements, service agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other legal documentation. • Lead the management of litigation, arbitration, dispute resolution, claims, regulatory investigations, and other contentious matters, coordinating with external legal counsel where appropriate. • Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and other jurisdictions in which the Group operates. • Advise on corporate governance matters, Board resolutions, shareholder matters, company restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, investments, and strategic corporate transactions. • Develop and implement legal policies, governance frameworks, compliance programms, and legal risk management strategies across the Group. • Identify legal risks affecting the business and provide commercially practical recommendations to mitigate those risks while supporting business objectives. • Provide legal guidance on employment matters, intellectual property, insurance, regulatory compliance, procurement, and operational issues. • Manage relationships with external law firms, government authorities, regulatory bodies, and legal service providers. • Provide professional legal oversight and guidance to the Group's Legal Manager and Contracts Manager, ensuring alignment between legal advice, contract management, and business operations. • Support business leaders by delivering timely, practical, and commercially sound legal advice that facilitates informed decision-making. Qualifications • Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is essential. • Admission to practice law in a recognised jurisdiction is mandatory. • A Master of Laws (LLM) or additional professional legal qualifications will be an advantage. • Strong working knowledge of the legal and regulatory frameworks of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is essential. Experience • Minimum 15 years' post-qualification legal experience, including at least 5 years in a senior in-house legal leadership role within a diversified corporate group or multinational organisation. • Proven experience providing strategic legal advice to Executive Management and Boards of Directors. • Demonstrated experience supporting diversified business groups operating across multiple industries, with the ability to understand and advise on the distinct legal and regulatory requirements of different sectors. • Extensive experience in manufacturing, industrial operations, engineering, construction, procurement, international trade, commercial contracting, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, litigation management, and regulatory compliance. • Strong working knowledge of the legal systems and regulatory environments of both the UAE and KSA. • Experience managing cross-border legal matters, coordinating with external legal counsel, and supporting business operations across multiple jurisdictions. • Demonstrated ability to establish legal governance frameworks, manage corporate legal risk, and deliver commercially practical legal solutions that support business growth while protecting the Group's interests. Skills & Competencies • Exceptional legal drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills. • Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives. • Excellent knowledge of corporate governance principles and regulatory compliance. • Outstanding communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. • Ability to build trusted relationships with senior executives and business leaders. • High ethical standards, sound professional judgment, and absolute integrity. • Strong leadership and decision-making capabilities. • Ability to manage multiple complex legal matters across a diverse portfolio of companies and industries.