Senior Counsel

Job Title

Senior Counsel

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced and highly accomplished Senior Counsel to lead and oversee the firm's legal practice, provide strategic legal advice, manage complex transactions and disputes, and mentor junior lawyers. The successful candidate will play a key leadership role in delivering high-quality legal services, maintaining client relationships, driving business development, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and professional standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice to clients on a broad range of corporate, commercial, regulatory, employment, real estate, dispute resolution, intellectual property, and investment matters.
• Lead and manage complex legal transactions, negotiations, and high-value matters from inception to completion.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of legal documents, including commercial agreements, shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements, mergers and acquisitions documentation, financing documents, and settlement agreements.
• Represent clients before courts, arbitration tribunals, government authorities, regulatory bodies, and administrative agencies where applicable.
• Supervise and mentor associates, legal consultants, and support staff, ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal services.
• Develop legal strategies to protect clients' interests while identifying practical and commercially sound solutions.
• Conduct legal due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, investments, financing transactions, and corporate restructurings.
• Advise clients on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and business structuring.
• Manage complex dispute resolution matters, including litigation, arbitration, mediation, and settlement negotiations.
• Oversee intellectual property matters, including trademarks, patents, copyrights, licensing, and technology-related transactions.
• Advise on employment, construction, real estate, commercial leasing, and contractual matters.
• Coordinate with local and international law firms, external counsel, government authorities, and regulatory agencies on cross-border legal matters.
• Prepare legal opinions, memoranda, risk assessments, and strategic advisory reports for clients and senior management.
• Maintain strong client relationships by providing responsive, practical, and commercially focused legal advice.
• Support business development initiatives by identifying new opportunities, preparing legal proposals, participating in client presentations, and representing the firm at industry events.
• Stay informed of developments in UAE laws, international legal frameworks, and industry regulations to ensure clients receive current and accurate legal advice.
• Ensure compliance with professional ethics, internal policies, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Law (LL.B.)
• Master's Degree (LL.M.) is an advantage.
• Licensed to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.
• Membership in a recognized Bar Association or Law Society.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of post-qualification legal experience.
• Proven experience in corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, real estate, regulatory compliance, and intellectual property.
• Experience advising multinational corporations, government entities, investors, and high-net-worth individuals is preferred.
• Experience managing legal teams and supervising junior lawyers.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent legal drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and strategic thinking.
• Ability to manage multiple complex matters simultaneously.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and ethical judgment.
• Excellent client relationship and stakeholder management s