Senior Associate (6+ PQE) - Employment

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Associate to join our Employment practice, catering to a diverse international client base from our Dubai office. 

The team advises a broad range of clients, including businesses, senior executives and entrepreneurs.  The work mix is varied and high quality, covering day-to-day strategic HR advisory work, Employment litigation, complex exits, restrictive covenant and confidentiality issues, workplace investigations, and transactional support. The team works closely with colleagues across the Firm, including Corporate, Real Estate, Private Client, Immigration and Dispute Resolution, providing an excellent opportunity to be involved in cross-practice, commercially focused employment work for an international law firm that has a diverse and sophisticated client base.

You will also benefit from a strong knowledge‑sharing culture, supported by a comprehensive training programme, established know‑how systems and access to specialist support. 

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide practical and commercial legal advice to clients in a clear and succinct manner on employment documentation, policies, disciplinary and grievances, family-friendly issues and redundancy processes.

• Run employment litigation, attend Preliminary Hearings and deal with case management steps.

• Carry out due diligence on transactions and advise on “red flag” issues, drafting warranties and indemnities.

• Advise Senior Executives on maximising their severance terms on exit.

• Manage a substantial and varied workload efficiently and cost-effectively.

• Draft documents with minimum instruction and supervision, making use of appropriate precedents and negotiating related transaction documents.

• Support in client marketing and events, thought leadership, and business development activities to develop the practice’s client base in the Middle East, the individual’s contacts and the team’s network of referrers.

• Apply a commercial approach to research and evaluate relevance and accuracy in delivery of advice.

• Contribute to group knowledge and know-how initiatives.

• Live by and promote the Firm’s values and reputation, demonstrating professionalism, leadership and a client‑focused approach in all internal and external interactions.

Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified across both Middle East onshore and offshore jurisdictions

• Ideally DIFC/ADGM experience

• Experience in dealing with/managing local firms across the wider GCC will be an advantage

• Experienced in giving advice on corporate transactions both for buyer and seller.

• Expertise in dealing with employment status issues including worker status and drafting contracts for services.

• Experienced in all aspects of grievances, performance issues and disciplinary matters.

Personal Attributes

• Candidates must be located in the UAE region already.

• Demonstrate good judgement and a good legal and commercial understanding of clients’ particular needs.

• Understand scope of task, manage time effectively and perform well under time and work pressures.

• Possess excellent team working skills with the ability to work with colleagues of all levels, including supervising, delegating appropriately to, and mentoring less experienced members of the team, as required.

• Have a high degree of attention to detail.

• Have strong problem-solving skills.

• Be flexible and willing to undertake a wide variety of tasks.

• Be a pro-active team player, who is also highly self-motivated and able to work on their own initiative.

• Be confident in both verbal and written communication with a diverse range of clients.

• Be able to build rapport with clients and colleagues and develop an effective working relationship.

• Demonstrate a collaborative mindset and a commitment to the Firm’s values and responsible business agenda.

Benefits include (but are not limited to)

• Competitive salary.

• Annual salary review

• Discretionary annual bonus

• Annual time recording (Fee Earner) bonus

• Premium international medical, dental and optical insurance

• 30 days’ annual leave

• International Employee Assistance Programme

• DIFC Employee Workplace Savings Plan (DEWS)

• Life Assurance

Hybrid working - We adopt a hybrid and flexible working approach, dependent on the requirements of the role and subject to manager approval.

For a detailed specification please download the job description in the documents section of this page.

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