Senior Legal Counsel – Retail & Commercial

We’re Hiring: Senior Legal Counsel – Retail & Commercial

Location: Dubai, UAEIndustry: Retail / Fashion / Franchise / DistributionExperience: 7–10+ Years

Employment Type: Full-TimeAbout the RoleWe are seeking a highly experienced, commercially minded Senior Legal Counsel to join our retail business in Dubai.The ideal candidate must have strong hands-on experience in retail leasing, mall agreements, commercial negotiations, franchise and distribution agreements, and UAE employment law.We are looking for a proactive legal professional who can go beyond traditional legal advisory responsibilities, independently manage complex commercial matters, negotiate effectively, resolve disputes, and provide practical, business-oriented legal solutions.Key Responsibilities1.

Retail Leasing & Mall Agreements* Draft, review, negotiate, and manage retail lease agreements with shopping malls and commercial landlords.* Lead negotiations with mall management regarding rental increases, lease renewals, service charges, marketing fees, penalties, and other commercial terms.* Handle landlord disputes, legal notices, contractual breaches, and commercial claims.* Negotiate lease restructuring, early termination, settlements, and exit arrangements.* Prepare formal legal responses to mall management and landlords.* Protect the company’s commercial interests while maintaining strong relationships with mall operators.2. Franchise & Distribution Agreements* Draft, review, and negotiate franchise, distribution, agency, and supply agreements.* Advise on exclusivity, territory rights, royalties, performance obligations, termination clauses, and contractual liabilities.* Manage contractual disputes and negotiate commercially viable settlements with franchisors, distributors, and suppliers.3. Employment Law & HR Support* Provide legal advice on UAE Labour Law and employment-related matters.* Review employment contracts, HR policies, disciplinary procedures, and termination arrangements.* Support HR in employee grievances, internal investigations, labour disputes, and end-of-service matters.* Ensure compliance with applicable UAE employment laws and regulations.4. Commercial Disputes & Legal Advisory* Draft legal correspondence, notices, settlement agreements, and contractual amendments.* Independently negotiate and resolve commercial disputes before escalation to litigation.* Provide practical legal advice to management on operational and commercial matters.* Coordinate with external law firms and legal authorities when required.* Identify and mitigate legal, financial, and contractual risks.Qualifications & Requirements* Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B.) or equivalent.* Minimum 7–10 years of relevant legal experience, preferably within the UAE retail sector.* Proven hands-on experience dealing directly with shopping mall management and retail landlords in the UAE is essential.* Strong expertise in retail leasing, commercial contracts, franchise agreements, and distribution arrangements.* Solid knowledge of UAE Labour Law and commercial regulations.* Demonstrated experience in commercial negotiations, dispute resolution, and settlement agreements.* Excellent legal drafting, communication, and negotiation skills.* Fluency in English is essential; proficiency in Arabic is highly preferred.* Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and provide commercially practical solutions.Ideal Candidate ProfileWe are particularly interested in candidates who:* Have worked as in-house legal counsel for a multi-brand or multi-store retail company.* Have successfully negotiated with major shopping malls and landlords in the UAE.* Can confidently handle rental disputes, lease renewals, rental increases, and commercial settlements.* Have experience managing franchise and distribution relationships.* Understand retail business operations and the financial impact of legal and contractual decisions.* Are strong negotiators, solution-oriented, commercially aware, and proactive.#Hiring #SeniorLegalCounsel #LegalJobs #DubaiJobs #UAEJobs #RetailLegal #CommercialLaw #RetailLeasing #Franchise #Distribution #InHouseCounsel