General Counsel (Chief Legal Officer), Sovereign Institutional Investor - Riyadh

General Counsel (Chief Legal Officer), Sovereign Institutional Investor - Riyadh

Our client, a leading institutional investor with one of the largest and most diversified portfolios in the GCC, is seeking to appoint a General Counsel to lead its legal function, based in Riyadh. Reporting directly to the CEO, this is a senior executive position with broad responsibility for all legal matters related to the company's investment transactions, operations, and governance.

Operating at the forefront of the Kingdom's long term economic transformation, the organisation plays a pivotal role in both Saudi and international markets, with exposure across public and private asset classes. The General Counsel will serve as a trusted advisor to the Board and executive leadership, oversee internal and external counsel, and ensure robust compliance across jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all legal aspects of complex investment transactions including M&A, joint ventures, fund formation, and structured finance.
• Act as the principal legal advisor to the Board, CEO, CIOs, and Committees on corporate, investment, governance, and regulatory matters.
• Negotiate and coordinate with international and local law firms to ensure high quality legal support across diverse sectors and jurisdictions.
• Ensure robust governance, compliance, and control frameworks that support high velocity investment execution.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with relevant Saudi, GCC, and international laws and regulatory developments.
• Build and mentor a high performing legal team and foster a culture of commercial awareness and legal excellence.
• Support key strategic partnerships with sovereign funds, corporates, and financial institutions both locally and globally.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Strong expertise in cross border M&A, corporate finance, private equity, and public equity structures.
• Currently serving as General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, or Head of Legal at a major investment institution, sovereign fund, or financial group (this role is not a developmental step up).
• At least 10+ years of legal experience, including time at a leading international law firm or in house within a fund, asset manager, or capital arm of a bank.
• Experience spanning both international and Saudi legal frameworks, with deep familiarity with CMA, SAMA, and MISA. Direct transactional experience in Saudi Arabia is essential.
• Fluent in Arabic and English, with the ability to operate seamlessly in both legal and business contexts.
• A track record of leadership in respected institutions with evidence of stability and long term value creation.