Senior Director – Legal Counsel
Location: Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Industry: Manufacturing / Industrial
Language: Arabic & English fluency required
Level: Director
About the Opportunity
We are currently supporting a leading manufacturing and industrial organisation based in Abu Dhabi with the appointment of a Senior Director – Legal Counsel.
This is a senior in-house leadership position responsible for providing strategic and commercially focused legal advice across the organisation. The role will work closely with executive leadership and key business functions, supporting complex commercial arrangements, major contracts, corporate matters, disputes and regulatory requirements.
The successful candidate will bring significant legal leadership experience within a large, complex organisation, ideally within manufacturing, industrial, engineering, construction, infrastructure, energy or another asset-intensive environment.
Role Purpose
The Senior Director – Legal Counsel will serve as a senior legal advisor to the organisation, providing strategic and commercially focused legal guidance across corporate, commercial and operational matters.
The role will be responsible for protecting the organisation’s interests, managing legal and contractual risk, supporting major transactions and commercial arrangements, and ensuring compliance with applicable UAE laws and regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Advisory & Leadership
• Act as a trusted legal advisor to executive management and senior business stakeholders.
• Provide strategic legal advice on complex commercial, corporate and operational matters.
• Translate legal risks into clear, commercially practical recommendations for business leaders.
• Provide legal input into strategic projects, investments, partnerships and major business decisions.
• Manage and prioritise legal matters across multiple business functions and operational entities.
Commercial Contracts
• Lead the drafting, review and negotiation of high-value and complex commercial agreements.
• Advise on supply, procurement, manufacturing, EPC, engineering, construction, services, technology, logistics, distribution and long-term framework agreements.
• Review contractual structures and identify commercial, financial, legal and operational risks.
• Lead and support negotiations with major suppliers, contractors, customers, strategic partners and government-related entities.
• Establish and maintain appropriate contracting standards, templates and approval frameworks.
Corporate & Transactional
• Provide legal support for corporate transactions, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, restructuring and investment activities.
• Advise on corporate governance, delegated authorities and legal entity matters.
• Coordinate legal due diligence and transaction documentation where required.
• Partner with Finance, Strategy, Procurement and other functions on major commercial initiatives.
Disputes & Litigation
• Oversee significant disputes, contractual claims, arbitration and litigation matters.
• Develop dispute resolution strategies that protect the organisation while considering commercial relationships and business continuity.
• Manage external counsel and ensure appropriate oversight of legal costs, strategy and outcomes.
• Advise senior management on potential contractual claims and dispute exposure before escalation.
Regulatory & Compliance
• Ensure business activities comply with relevant UAE federal and Abu Dhabi laws and regulations.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting the organisation and its operations.
• Advise on regulatory, licensing and compliance matters relevant to industrial and manufacturing operations.
• Partner with Governance, Compliance, Risk and Internal Audit teams on matters involving legal or regulatory exposure.
Stakeholder Management
• Build strong relationships with executive leadership and senior internal stakeholders.
• Provide pragmatic and solutions-oriented legal advice that balances legal protection with commercial objectives.
• Engage with regulators, government authorities and external legal advisors where required.
• Present complex legal matters clearly to executive-level stakeholders.
• Support the development and capability building of the wider legal team.
Candidate Profile
• Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB or equivalent). A postgraduate legal qualification would be advantageous.
• Qualified lawyer with approximately 15+ years of relevant legal experience, including significant experience at a senior leadership level.
• Strong in-house experience within manufacturing, industrial, engineering, infrastructure, construction, energy, utilities or another asset-intensive sector.
• Deep expertise in commercial contracts, corporate law, complex negotiations and legal risk management.
• Strong knowledge of UAE commercial and corporate legal frameworks.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex disputes, arbitration and external legal counsel.
• Proven ability to advise C-suite and senior executive stakeholders.
• Experience working within a large, complex organisation or group structure is strongly preferred.
• Fluent Arabic and English communication skills are required, with the ability to confidently operate and advise senior stakeholders in both languages.
• Strong UAE and GCC experience is highly preferred.
Key Competencies
Strategic Legal Judgement • Commercial Acumen • Complex Contract Negotiation • Legal Risk Management • Executive Stakeholder Management • Dispute Management • Corporate Governance • Decision-Making • Influencing & Negotiation • Leadership • High Integrity & Discretion
