job Overview
The Assistant Legal Counsel will provide legal support and advisory services across litigation, commercial contracts, employment matters, regulatory compliance, and day-to-day business operations. The role will manage legal matters, coordinate with external lawyers, review and negotiate agreements, and provide practical legal guidance to internal stakeholders.
The successful candidate will work across a diverse business environment covering retail, real estate, food and beverage (F&B), and franchise operations, with a strong focus on UAE and GCC legal requirements.
Key Responsibilities
1. Litigation and Dispute Management
- Manage assigned litigation and dispute matters from initial proceedings through resolution, ensuring all procedural requirements and deadlines are followed.
- Handle police cases, criminal complaints, employee disputes, and other legal matters in coordination with relevant internal and external stakeholders.
- Appoint and coordinate with external legal counsel and monitor the progress of ongoing cases.
- Maintain accurate case records, legal documentation, and regular status reports for senior management.
- Draft, review, and coordinate litigation-related documents, pleadings, legal correspondence, and case submissions in Arabic and English.
- Provide internal stakeholders with practical advice regarding litigation risks, available options, and potential legal implications.
- Track important court, regulatory, and procedural deadlines to ensure timely action.
2. Commercial Contract Drafting and Review
- Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on commercial contracts in Arabic and English.
- Support contracts related to retail, real estate, F&B, franchise operations, suppliers, service providers, and other commercial activities.
- Review contractual terms to identify legal risks and ensure appropriate protection of the organization’s interests.
- Provide practical legal recommendations while considering commercial requirements and operational objectives.
- Maintain an organized contract management and tracking system covering renewals, expiry dates, obligations, and compliance requirements.
- Review proposed contract amendments and provide clear legal comments to business teams.
- Support internal departments throughout the contract lifecycle, from initial drafting and negotiation through execution and renewal.
3. Legal Advisory and Business Support
- Provide day-to-day legal advice to business units and cross-functional teams on commercial, employment, operational, and regulatory matters.
- Support HR and operations teams with employee disputes, disciplinary matters, employment-related issues, and labor law compliance.
- Work with external lawyers, government authorities, and regulatory bodies when legal opinions, documentation, or approvals are required.
- Explain legal requirements and recommendations clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
- Provide legal guidance in both Arabic and English to support business decision-making.
- Identify potential legal risks and recommend practical approaches to help business teams address them appropriately.
4. Regulatory Compliance and Legal Updates
- Monitor relevant UAE and GCC laws, regulations, and legislative developments that may affect business operations.
- Assess the potential impact of new or amended legal requirements on relevant business functions.
- Prepare and communicate legal and regulatory updates to internal stakeholders.
- Support the development and maintenance of legal policies, contract templates, procedures, and compliance frameworks.
- Assist business teams in maintaining compliance with applicable laws, regulations, permits, and licensing requirements.
- Work with relevant departments to address identified legal and regulatory compliance matters.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB or equivalent) from a recognized institution.
- A postgraduate legal qualification is an advantage.
- 4–7 years of relevant legal experience, including substantial practical experience in litigation and dispute resolution.
- Proven experience independently handling or supporting police cases, criminal complaints, and employment disputes.
- Experience coordinating with external lawyers and monitoring litigation matters.
- Strong commercial contract drafting, reviewing, and negotiation skills.
- Professional fluency in Arabic and English, including strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Sound knowledge of applicable UAE and/or GCC commercial, employment, labor, and regulatory laws.
- Experience supporting businesses operating in retail, real estate, F&B, franchising, or other multi-brand environments is beneficial.
- Strong legal research, analytical, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple legal matters, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced business environment.
- High level of professional integrity, confidentiality, discretion, and attention to detail.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and legal document or case management systems.
Key Skills
- Litigation and dispute resolution
- UAE commercial and labor law
- Contract drafting and negotiation
- Legal advisory and risk assessment
- Employment and employee disputes
- Regulatory compliance
- Police cases and criminal complaints
- External counsel management
- Legal research and documentation
- Arabic and English legal communication
- Contract management
- Stakeholder management