Legal Counsel – Governance
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
The Opportunity
Our client is a leading international energy and investment group headquartered in Abu Dhabi, with a growing portfolio of strategic investments and interests across multiple markets and jurisdictions. Operating at the intersection of energy, investment and long-term strategic growth, the organisation works across a diverse range of businesses, transactions and partnerships.
As the organisation continues to develop its governance capabilities and international portfolio, it is seeking a Legal Counsel – Governance to provide commercially focused legal and governance advice, strengthen group-wide governance frameworks and support complex transactions and strategic initiatives.
This is an opportunity to join a dynamic, international environment where legal and governance expertise plays a key role in supporting investment decisions, managing risk and enabling sustainable business growth.
The Role
Reporting to senior leadership within the Governance function, the Legal Counsel will act as a trusted adviser to business leaders and functional stakeholders across the group. The role will focus on providing practical, risk-based governance advice, supporting the development and implementation of governance policies and procedures, and helping ensure appropriate governance arrangements across subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures.
The successful candidate will also contribute to company secretarial activities and advise on governance considerations throughout the lifecycle of investments, acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide clear, commercially minded legal and governance advice to business teams and internal stakeholders.
- Support the development, implementation and ongoing enhancement of the group’s governance framework, including policies, procedures, delegations of authority and terms of reference.
- Advise on governance matters relating to investments, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic partnerships and new-market entry.
- Support transactions throughout their lifecycle, including planning, due diligence, internal approvals, execution and post-completion integration.
- Identify, assess and mitigate governance and legal risks across a complex, multi-jurisdictional group structure.
- Review governance arrangements across subsidiaries, affiliates and jointly held entities, ensuring appropriate authorities, documentation and compliance with relevant regulatory requirements and internal policies.
- Support the preparation and maintenance of corporate governance documentation and provide company secretarial support to relevant group entities.
- Contribute to governance training, evaluations, reporting and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Work collaboratively with legal, compliance, risk and other functional teams to address governance gaps and implement practical solutions.
- Support wider governance projects and strategic initiatives as required.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will be a commercially astute legal professional with strong governance expertise and the ability to operate effectively in a complex, international business environment. They will combine sound legal judgement with a pragmatic approach to risk management, stakeholder engagement and business decision-making.
Essential Experience and Qualifications
- A law degree and/or postgraduate legal qualification, such as an LLM or equivalent.
- At least seven years of relevant experience in legal, corporate governance, compliance or regulatory advisory roles.
- Experience advising on complex corporate structures, governance frameworks and stakeholder requirements.
- Strong commercial awareness and the ability to translate complex legal and governance issues into clear, actionable advice.
- Demonstrated ability to engage with senior stakeholders, influence decision-making and challenge constructively.
- Excellent judgement, communication and analytical skills, with the ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
Desirable Experience
- Experience supporting cross-border transactions, investments, acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic partnerships.
- Exposure to governance requirements across multiple subsidiaries, affiliates and jurisdictions.
- Experience within the energy sector, financial services, private equity, infrastructure, sovereign investment, asset management or another complex international industry.
- Experience developing governance policies, delegations of authority, board or committee terms of reference, and related procedures.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This role offers the opportunity to join a significant international investment platform at an important stage of its development. The successful candidate will work closely with senior stakeholders, contribute to the evolution of group-wide governance standards and gain exposure to a broad range of strategic investments, corporate structures and cross-border transactions.
For a legal professional looking to combine sophisticated governance work with meaningful commercial involvement, this represents an opportunity to make a tangible impact within a complex and internationally focused organisation.
