Legal Coordinator (Paralegal)

Job description / Role

To assist the General Counsel-Legal in ensuring that the Legal Department performs its role within the Group effectively and efficiently by independently processing Department's legal documents, applying judgments in coming to conclusions. Organising the work flow and references within the Department which involves, interalia, liaising between the Department and other Divisions of the Group.

Periodically reporting on legal works performed by the Department and other reports of diverse nature such as reports related to the Legal structure and status of the Group Companies; Ensuring the due safety and security of legal and confidential information and documentation.

1. Prepare, retrieve references and documents required for negotiating, drafting and execution of agreements made by the Legal Department's Lawyers.
2. Organise complete records and filing system for easy and efficient retrieval.
3. Maintain record of the daily work done by each of the lawyers of the Legal Department and follow up of each of the matters to ascertain the status.
4. Prepare monthly / annual reports from the records setting out a summary of the legal work performed for the Group.
5. Perform legal translation from English and French to Arabic and vice-versa, especially for confidential documents which cannot be disclosed to external translator. Review the translation done by external legal translators for all Divisions of MAF Group.
6. Process some of the Legal Department is procedural functions under guidance of General Counsel-Legal which relieves him and other lawyers from routine matters.
7. Prepare legal documents and formats and arrange all legal, administrative and financial documents required to be submitted to the Governmental Authorities for varied purposes such as formation of new legal entities, branches, renewal of the licences of existing companies of the Group, alteration of capital, change of managers, registration of Agency Agreements and their renewal etc.
8. Initiate and follow up till the stage of issuance of the Certificate of Registration of a Trademark/Tradename by the concerned Licensing Authority, the administrative and prescribed Legal procedures for Registration of Trademarks/Tradenames of MAF Group inside the UAE and abroad through the appointed Intellectual Property Agents and update the General Counsel-Legal on such procedures.
9. To give effect to the above (Items 8 & 9), ensure the due compliance with administrative and procedural formalities prescribed under different laws of the UAE and overseas Where the Group operates/intends to operate.
10. Drafting of Agendas, Minutes of Board Meetings, General Assemblies & Power of Attorney of various Group Companies.
11. Liaise with external advocates appointed locally or overseas for matters relating to the expansion of MAF Group business, which includes preparing the required documents, files, follow up of the matters and updating the General Counsel-Legal on the position of each matter.
12. Safekeep the Group's original legal documents, Share Certificates and Power of Attorney after verifying the signatures and keeping an up-to-date record of them. Release the original documents on "as required" basis and follow-up to ensure the documents safe and secure return.
13. Prepare reports and charts regularly reflecting the Group's expansion plan within and outside UAE, the legal structure of the different legal entities constituting the Group, describing their objects and share holding pattern, preparing status report on the Group's Property Development in the Middle East.

Requirements

1. Required to be a University Graduate with able administrative skills, be trilingual (Arabic/English/French) which is important and useful for the present work requirement.
2. Must be certified Paralegal Specialist who has received a special training Paralegal profession.
3. Must be able to research references through Legal Digest specially for the Middle East.
4. Must be able to analyse cases and presentation and provide to General Counsel-Legal.
5. Possessing legal knowledge acquired through involvement in detailed legal practice & procedures and adequate experience in corporate legal matters.
6. Must be able to communicate, influence, serve Legal Department (6 Lawyers + Assistant) and the Group's Senior Staff and important visitors, and coordinate with external parties engaged to provide service to the Group, and effectively respond to requests for information.
7. Needs to be conversant and familiar with the legal system of the countries in which the Group operates, required to stay updated on all changes in Governmental procedures which will have an impact on the business of the Group Companies
8. Should be able to deal with different situation requiring selection of solutions by applying the gained knowledge, and to set priorities and work on them and meet deadlines within the Group standard policies and strategies.
9. To be fully aware at all times of the status of all matters referred to the Legal Department from the stage of legal advice being sought to the stage of legal advice being given.
10. Should be articulate and presentable.
11. Should have an attribute of sense of belonging to the Group and be able to follow up, support and influence other lawyers and staff to enable them to achieve their job requirement.
12. Should be reliable and trustworthy as the job involves maintaining a high degree of confidentiality.

About the Company

Majid Al Futtaim Properties is one of MENAs leading diversified property companies with operations across shopping malls, hotels and mixed-use communities.

The Shopping Malls Business Unit, an industry leader, owns, manages and develops mall destinations that provide memorable shopping, entertainment and social experiences for its customers. Majid Al Futtaim Properties has pioneered the regional face of retail, leisure and entertainment, since the launch of its first mall, Deira City Centre in 1995. The companys mall portfolio includes 17 shopping centres across UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt and Lebanon with a combined gross leasable area (GLA) of over 1 million sqm, more than 2,800 tenants and an increasing footfall of over 160 million visitors in 2013.

The Hotel Business Unit develops and manages hotels and branded serviced apartments that are synergistic with the companys malls. Majid Al Futtaim owns nine hotels in the UAE and two in Bahrain. Their strategic proximity to the malls contributes to welcoming over 1.2 million guests annually.

The Communities Business Unit develops quality mixed-use projects anchored by residential housing. Majid Al Futtaim currently has three communities under development. The Wave, a joint venture with the government of Oman to develop Muscats largest ocean-front integrated community; Al Zahia, a joint venture with the Government of Sharjah, to build the Emirates first gated residential community with a regional mall in a prime growth corridor; The 250,000 sqm Waterfront City development in Beirut, Lebanon, a joint venture with Socit Joseph Khoury & Fils Holding SAL to build Beiruts premier mixed used community with one of the largest marinas in the Mediterranean.

Majid Al Futtaim Properties is recognised as a sustainability leader in the MENA region. According to the 2013 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) survey, the company ranks No. 1 in MENA, second in the Asia-Pacific region and in the top 133 property businesses worldwide. In 2013, Majid Al Futtaim launched its new five-year sustainability strategy with the vision to enhance peoples lives through sustainable real estate. This commitment is reflected in Majid Al Futtaim Properties pioneering standards, prosperous communities and high performance assets.