Assistant Legal Counsel

Key responsibilities:

1. Litigation & Dispute Management 
• Manage litigation cases independently from inception through resolution, coordinating all procedural steps and deadlines. 
• Handle police cases, criminal complaints, and employee disputes, ensuring timely and well-documented responses. 
• Instruct and coordinate external lawyers, monitor case progress, and maintain up-to-date status reports for senior 
management. 
• Prepare and review litigation-related documentation, pleadings, and correspondence in both Arabic and English. 
• Advise internal stakeholders on litigation risks, likely outcomes, and recommended courses of action. 
2. Contract Drafting & Review 
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts in Arabic and English across retail, real estate, F&B, and franchise 
operations. 
• Ensure contractual terms adequately protect the Group's interests while remaining commercially practical and enforceable. 
• Maintain a structured contract repository and tracking system to support renewals, expirations, and compliance obligations. 
• Provide clear and concise legal commentary to business units on contractual risks and proposed amendments. 
3. Legal Advisory & Stakeholder Support 
• Advise cross-functional teams on day-to-day legal matters including employment, commercial, and regulatory issues. 
• Support HR and operations on employee disputes, disciplinary proceedings, and labor law compliance. 
• Coordinate with external counsel and regulatory bodies to obtain timely legal opinions and approvals. 
• Communicate legal positions clearly and concisely to non-legal stakeholders in both Arabic and English. 
4. Regulatory Monitoring & Compliance 
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments across relevant jurisdictions and assess their impact on business operations. 
• Prepare and circulate timely legal updates to keep internal teams informed of new or amended requirements. 
• Support the development and maintenance of internal legal policies, templates, and compliance frameworks. 
• Assist in ensuring the Group's operations remain aligned with applicable laws, regulations, and licensing requirements. 
What you will bring – Skills & Qualifications: 
• Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB or equivalent) from a recognized institution; postgraduate legal qualification is an advantage. 
• Minimum 4 - 7 years of legal experience, with substantial hands-on litigation and dispute resolution practice. 
• Proven experience managing police cases, criminal complaints, and employment disputes independently. 
• Demonstrated ability to instruct external lawyers, track case progress, and report to senior stakeholders effectively. 
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills in both Arabic and English across commercial and operational contexts. 
• Full professional fluency in Arabic and English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages. 
• Sound understanding of UAE and/or GCC commercial, labor, and regulatory laws applicable to retail and multi-brand 
environments. 
• Ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. 
• High degree of professional integrity, discretion, and sound judgment in handling sensitive legal matters. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and legal document management systems.