About the Role
The Legal Counsel will provide critical support to the legal team in areas such as drafting and reviewing contracts, offering legal counsel, managing mergers & acquisitions, handling litigation, and addressing corporate matters.
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Roles & Responsibilities
- Drafting and Review of Contracts and Agreements: Draft, review, and vet major corporate contracts and commercial agreements, including lease and tenancy agreements, know-how licence agreements, and trademark usage agreements, to minimize legal risks and liabilities.
- Legal Advisory: Provide timely and appropriate legal advice and support to business units and entities across the organization.
- Mergers and Acquisitions: Draft joint venture agreements, share purchase agreements, and other transaction-related documents to reflect commercial objectives and protective interests. Handle related corporate and secretarial documentation and coordinate with external lawyers on legal due diligence.
- Litigation: Issue legal notices, prepare case summaries, draft pleadings, and coordinate with external lawyers on litigation matters involving civil, criminal, labour, property, consumer, tort, and trademark-related disputes, both for and against the organization.
- Corporate Matters: Handle company incorporations and the establishment of representative offices and branches across various countries. Manage corporate secretarial matters, including drafting board and shareholder meeting documents and resolutions, preparing memoranda and articles of association, and obtaining the necessary licences and regulatory approvals.
- Legal Research: Conduct legal research as required to provide effective and timely advice to management and business units. Keep management informed of amendments to applicable laws and regulations across the regions and assess their potential impact on business operations.
- Intellectual Property Rights: Protect the intellectual property rights in coordination with the group's trademark attorney.
- Legal Expenses: Help control legal service costs through the effective use of internal resources and external counsel.
- External Counsel Management: Maintain effective working relationships with external legal counsel.
KPIs
- % of cases handled and successfully closed
- Adherence to service level agreements (SLA) on contracting
- Adherence to timelines as per Corporate Governance calendar
- Zero faults in intellectual property rights and trademarks
- Total resolution cost for litigation
- % adherence to legal budget
- Minimum legal liabilities and risk exposure in all regions
Work Experience Requirement
- 10 to 12 years of total legal experience, ideally 5 to 6 years in the GCC.
- A track record of independently managing legal matters in large, reputable organizations, preferably multinational companies in FMCG, retail, food, pharmaceutical, sales, logistics, or diversified holding groups.
- Strong expertise in high-value commercial transactions, contract drafting and vetting, compliance, and litigation.
- Broad knowledge of mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, company incorporation, intellectual property rights, trademarks, and brand protection.
- Strong legal research skills, with the ability to interpret applicable laws and regulations and provide practical legal advice aligned with business needs and commercial objectives.
- Familiarity with customs matters and legal technology tools, including contract management systems, is an advantage.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in Law from a recognized university. A Master's degree in Law is preferred.
- Admission to the Bar, a valid legal practising licence, or qualification as a practising attorney is preferred.
- Prior experience as a practising advocate or associate in a reputable law firm in the Middle East is an advantage, particularly where it includes court proceedings and litigation.
- Proficiency in English is required. Arabic or French proficiency is an advantage.
Competencies
- Change Management
- Strategic Thinking
- Knowledge of Corporate Governance Practices
- Knowledge of Intellectual Property Rights and Copyright Law
- Knowledge of Mergers and Acquisitions
- Self and Team Management
- Knowledge of Corporate Law
- Planning & Decision Making
- Ownership & Result Orientation
