Senior Associate

Duration: Permanent
Location: Dubai
Reports to: Partner
Type of Role: Senior Associate
Reference no: 8791

The Role

Our top-ranked litigation and arbitration team are seeking a qualified lawyer to join their busy and fast-growing team.

We are seeking an experienced Commercial Litigation Lawyer to join our team in the UAE. The successful candidate will handle a diverse caseload of commercial disputes across both onshore UAE courts (Arabic-language litigation) and offshore/free zone jurisdictions. This role requires a lawyer with a deep understanding of UAE civil and commercial law, procedural rules of local courts, and strong experience in arbitration and free zone dispute resolution.

Key Responsibilities

• Represent clients in UAE local courts (in Arabic) as well as in free zone courts and tribunals.
• Handle a wide range of commercial disputes, including contractual disputes, shareholder conflicts, insolvency, debt recovery, construction claims, and financial disputes.
• Draft, review, and submit court memoranda, pleadings, expert reports, and witness statements in both Arabic and English.
• Advise clients on litigation strategy, risk assessment, and dispute resolution mechanisms (litigation, arbitration, and mediation).
• Coordinate with local advocates, external counsel, and regulatory bodies where required.
• Conduct legal research and stay updated on UAE laws, regulations, and judicial precedents.
• Represent clients in arbitration proceedings under the rules of arbitral institutions such as DIAC, LCIA, ICC, and ADGM Arbitration Centre (arbtirateAD).
• Provide cross-border legal advice where UAE law interacts with international commercial law.

Required experience, skills, and attributes

• Able to work under pressure to tight project deadlines and can adapt to differing demands, with the ability to multi-task and prioritise assigned workload to deliver high-quality work on time.
• Ability to analyse complex issues and present clear and accurate findings.
• A willingness to shoulder responsibility and to deliver solutions to complex problems.
• Strong organisational skills, methodical approach to work, and ability to project manage complex matters.
• Able to interact positively at all levels within the firm and a good team player.
• Admitted/registered to practice in the UAE (or eligible to register as a Legal Consultant/Litigator).
• Minimum 5–8 years of post-qualification experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution.
• Proven ability to practice before local Arabic courts (mandatory).
• Solid experience with free zone jurisdictions (DIFC, ADGM) and arbitration proceedings.
• Fluency in Arabic and English (both written and spoken) – essential.
• Strong drafting, advocacy, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent client management skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Firm Profile

Across more than 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organisation by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com.

Inclusion and Diversity

Essential to our success as a global law firm is our ability to attract and retain the best talent from a diverse range of backgrounds. We want a work environment where everyone can reach their potential and we have an inclusive culture which respects individual differences.

We undertake and support a number of internal and external initiatives aimed at increasing diversity within the profession and we encourage all our partners and staff to get involved. We welcome you to learn more about inclusion and diversity at Dentons: Inclusion and Diversity.

Equal Opportunities

Dentons is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from everyone including of any age, ethnicity, religion, sex, nationality, neurodiversity, disability, or with parental or caring responsibilities.

During the application process, all applicants have the opportunity to tell us about any adjustments or support they require so they are able to perform at their best. Any information you share with us during the application process is treated in confidence.

If you have any questions about this or the role criteria, please email recruitment.matters@dentons.com.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

If you are interested in applying for this position, we welcome direct applications via our careers page, but if you have any questions beforehand, please email recruitment.matters@dentons.com. Enquiries only please - applications will not be accepted via email.

Please note that we will not accept unsolicited CVs sent to the business, not will we accept any associated terms of business.