Group Legal Counsel

Our client is a Dubai-headquartered group combining property development, capital strategy and physical commodity trading through three specialist businesses. They're building their legal function and looking for a Group Legal Counsel to lead it.

The role
You'll provide practical, independent legal advice to executive management and the Board, helping their development, capital and trading businesses structure transactions well, document them properly and spot legal exposure early. You'll also coordinate specialist external counsel where jurisdiction, regulation or complexity requires it. 

You'll report to the Group Chief Operating Officer and manage the Group Risk Manager.

What we're looking for

• Qualified lawyer with significant in-house or private-practice experience (typically 8+ years) in real estate, construction, corporate or commercial transactions
• Experience across several of: property development, joint ventures, finance and security documents, commodity or trade contracts
• Strong UAE market experience; familiarity with DIFC/ADGM and onshore frameworks is a plus
• Experience instructing and managing external counsel
• Ability to give clear, commercial advice to senior executives and the Board, and to escalate firmly when needed
• Comfortable building templates, processes and records in a growing group

What you'll do

• Advise on entity structures, MOAs, shareholder arrangements, delegated authorities, related-party arrangements and conflicts
• Review land acquisitions, JV and development agreements, consultant and construction contracts, and sales documentation
• Advise on lending, security and investment documentation, and coordinate specialist fund and regulatory counsel for a proposed fund platform
• Review commodity trading contracts, including title, delivery, payment security, inspection, default and dispute terms
• Run legal due diligence and conditions precedent, and explain residual risks and alternatives before commitments are made
• Manage notices, disputes and claims, and prepare settlement recommendations within authorised instructions
• Own approved contract templates, clause guidance, matter files and obligation records
• Direct and budget external counsel, and track their quality and spend
• Advise on IP, confidentiality, data obligations and investor or public claims alongside Marketing, Technology and Compliance