Litigation Counsel

We are seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Senior Litigation Counsel to join our legal team in Dubai. This pivotal role requires an individual with deep expertise in both contentious and non-contentious matters. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in managing and overseeing the company’s litigation portfolio, providing legal advice on complex disputes, and delivering strategic guidance on a range of legal matters. You will work closely with senior management, external counsel, and other key stakeholders to protect and advance the company’s interests in a wide variety of legal contexts.

Key Responsibilities:

Contentious Legal Matters:

• Lead and manage high-profile litigation cases in various sectors, including commercial disputes, regulatory investigations, intellectual property, and employment matters.
• Provide strategic advice on dispute resolution and represent the company in court proceedings and arbitration's.
• Manage relationships with external law firms, ensuring the efficient and cost-effective handling of legal disputes.
• Oversee the preparation and review of pleadings, legal submissions, evidence, and witness statements.
• Develop case strategies and provide tactical advice to senior leadership to manage representational risk and mitigate business risks.
• Handle contentious matters across various jurisdictions, particularly with regard to international disputes.

Non-Contentious Legal Matters:

• Provide legal counsel on a wide range of corporate, commercial, and regulatory matters, including contract negotiations, compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate governance.
• Draft, review, and negotiate high-value and complex contracts, ensuring that legal risks are mitigated, and business objectives are met.
• Advise on intellectual property rights, data protection, and regulatory compliance, ensuring alignment with UK and EU laws.
• Collaborate with internal business units to proactively identify potential legal risks and offer practical, solutions-focused advice to resolve non-contentious legal issues.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for legal compliance and risk management.

Team Leadership & Collaboration:

• Mentor and provide leadership to junior legal team members, sharing knowledge and fostering a collaborative working environment.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including compliance, finance, HR, and risk, to ensure that legal perspectives are integrated into business decisions.
• Manage external counsel relationships to ensure legal services are delivered efficiently and within budget.

Strategic Advisory:

• Advise senior management and the board of directors on key legal risks and strategic business decisions.
• Assess the potential legal impact of emerging business opportunities and challenges, ensuring proactive risk management.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Education: Qualified solicitor or barrister with a Law degree (or equivalent) from a recognized institution.
• Experience:
• At least 8-10 years of experience in both contentious and non-contentious legal matters, ideally gained in a combination of law firm and in-house roles.
• Proven experience managing complex litigation, including high-stakes commercial disputes and regulatory matters.
• Strong background in non-contentious legal work, such as contract negotiation, corporate governance, and compliance.
• Experience in managing cross-border legal issues and multi-jurisdictional disputes.
• Skills:
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and drafting skills.
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and complex legal challenges in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clear, strategic legal advice to senior business leaders.
• A practical, solutions-focused approach to legal issues with the ability to influence and drive business outcomes.
• Desirable: Experience in specific sectors such as technology, finance, or intellectual property is advantageous.

Personal Attributes:

• High level of integrity, professionalism, and business acumen.
• Resilient, detail-oriented, and capable of working under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships across all levels of the business.
• A proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving.