Legal Counsel – Corporate

Job description / Role

Our client is the leading general entertainment group in the MENA region, is looking for a mid-level corporate lawyer to join its 12 person legal team. Based in their head office in Dubai, the successful candidate will provide legal and business affairs support in relation to corporate matters across the group.

The role offers a rare opportunity for a corporate lawyer to gain experience and exposure in a media environment as part of a team of internationally experienced lawyers. There is no Arabic language requirement and, if required, support will be offered for international relocation.

The Role:

• You will advise on and support the management of strategic corporate projects, such as joint ventures, acquisitions, investments and tax-related and operational corporate restructuring plans.
• In addition, you will provide a broad range of legal support and advice to company teams across the MENA region. For example, you will:
- field day to day legal queries;
- draft, review and negotiate agreements, documents and correspondence;
- support your colleagues’ understanding of and compliance with applicable law, regulation and internal policy and process; and
- deal with any related contentious matters.
• In particular, you will focus on providing support to the following company teams:
- Corporate Development - including consultancy arrangements, research partnering agreements.
- Human Resources - including all employment related legal issues, recruitment agency terms, training provider and event agreements.
- Finance - including group banking arrangements and financing facilities, payment gateway agreements, supplier credit terms, professional service engagements.
- Properties - including corporate office leases, related licensing requirements, operations support agreements, group wide insurance policies.
• You will also assist with other matters as needed.

Requirements

• Strong academics.
• Common law corporate lawyer (ideally UK, US, Australia or New Zealand qualified) with approximately 5-6 years PQE.
• Worked in both the corporate department of a major international law firm and in an in-house role (either on a permanent basis or on client secondment).
• Solid understanding of the day to day operation and management of corporate entities and structures.
• Excellent drafting skills and the confidence to apply transferable legal knowledge to a range of (often new) issues and agreements.
• A common sense, commercial and proactive approach with sufficient gravitas and commercial acumen to develop productive relationships with and influence management and to command credibility amongst colleagues.
• An original and creative thinker with the ability to translate business decisions into first class legal advice and support without losing sight of underlying commercial and strategic issues.
• Committed to excellence and continued development.
• An absolute team player.
• Adaptable and resilient.
• Able to work independently and to take responsibility for projects.
• Able to work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Willing to travel in the MENA region.

About the Company

Robert Walters is one of the world's largest specialist professional recruitment consultancies with 53 offices spanning 24 countries.

We've helped thousands of professionals find permanent, contract and interim roles with leading global corporations, small to medium sized companies and innovative start ups. Our specialist recruitment focus includes: accountancy and finance, banking, engineering, operations, legal, IT, sales, marketing, procurement & logistics, HR and support/administration.