Head of Legal

Role - Assistant Vice President – LegalLocation - Abu DhabiSalary - 30 K AEDBenefits - Annual air tickets and medical insurance for self and familyRole PurposeThe Assistant Vice President – Legal is the senior legal leader responsible for all legal, governance, regulatory and risk matters across the Group. The role acts as the principal legal adviser to the Group CEO, Board and executive leadership team and provides commercially focused legal guidance to support sustainable growth, investments, financing activities and international expansionQualifications & ExperienceQualified lawyer with LLB or equivalent professional qualification.Admission to practice in a recognised jurisdiction.15+ years post-qualification experience.Extensive in-house legal leadership experience.Strong UAE legal knowledge with GCC and APAC exposure preferred.Strategic Leadership & Executive AdvisoryAct as trusted adviser to the CEO, Board and executive leadership.Develop and execute the Group legal strategy.Provide legal risk assessments supporting strategic decisions.Support transformation, investment and growth initiatives.Establish legal governance standards across all entities.Lead enterprise-wide legal risk management.Corporate & Commercial LegalAdvise on corporate law matters and commercial transactions.Draft, review and negotiate complex agreements.Support procurement, vendor, customer and partnership arrangements.Advise business units on contractual and operational risks.Develop standard legal documentation and playbooks.Banking, Finance & TreasuryLead legal support for bilateral and syndicated facilities.Review loan agreements, security and collateral documents.Support guarantees, letters of credit and treasury arrangements.Advise on project finance, structured finance and refinancing.Support investor and lender negotiations.Oversee financing covenant compliance.M&A, Investments & Joint VenturesLead legal due diligence.Manage acquisitions, divestments and restructurings.Negotiate SPA, SHA, JV and investment agreements.Coordinate with financial advisers and external counsel.Support post-transaction integration.Governance & Corporate SecretarialManage Board and shareholder governance processes.Oversee resolutions, minutes and statutory filings.Advise directors on fiduciary obligations.Maintain governance and delegation-of-authority frameworks.Regulatory Affairs & Government LiaisonEngage with regulators, ministries and licensing authorities.Manage permits, registrations and approvals.Support regulatory inspections and submissions.Monitor legislative developments and advise management.Compliance, Ethics & InvestigationsLead compliance policies and control frameworks.Support anti-bribery, sanctions and AML compliance.Manage whistleblowing investigations.Conduct compliance training and awarenessprograms.Litigation & Dispute ResolutionManage litigation strategy across jurisdictions.Oversee arbitration, mediation and settlements.Control external legal spend.Protect the Group from legal and reputational risk.Employment, Intellectual Property & PrivacyAdvise on employment law and executivecontracts.Manage labour disputes and workforce restructuring matters.Protect trademarks and intellectual property assets.Oversee privacy, cybersecurity and data protection matters.InternationalExpansionAdvise on market entry structures and licensing.Coordinate cross-border legal support.Support establishment of entities in new jurisdictions.Legal Operations & LeadershipLead and develop the Grouplegal team.Implement legal technology and contract lifecycle tools.Manage budgets and external counsel panels.Drive continuous improvement within the legal function.Key PerformanceIndicatorsLegal risk mitigationeffectivenessTimely contractturnaroundSuccessful transaction executionRegulatory compliance outcomesLitigation managementeffectivenessStakeholdersatisfactionTeam development and capability building