Associate (Mid to Senior level; Abu Dhabi)

After another strong year, the MENA Global Transactions (Corporate) practice has a solid pipeline of work for the most high profile and highly sophisticated clients in the region. As a result, we are looking to recruit an Associate (mid to senior level subject to relevant experience) to join the Global Transactions (Corporate) practice in Abu Dhabi.

The successful candidate will work on a broad mix of transactions, with a primary focus on private and public M&A and joint ventures. Much of the work will have a significant international dimension, providing visibility across our global network. Transactions will range from some of the largest and most complex deals to smaller matters that offer greater responsibility and direct client exposure.

For this position, we are looking for a 3 to 6 years PQE lawyer (England & Wales or equivalent) to work on a wide variety of transactions for clients across the region and globally.

If you are interested in joining a Band 1-ranked corporate practice, working on some of the most prestigious deals in the market, we would love to hear from you.

Department:

We are widely regarded as having one of the leading corporate transactional and advisory practices in the world and we continue to act on some of the most prestigious and complex international deals – the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is no exception to this, where our corporate practice covers M&A (particularly cross border), joint ventures, securities and capital market transactions, regulatory, restructurings and reorganisations as well as more general corporate advisory work.

We act for a variety of organisations including sovereign wealth funds and government investment vehicles, leading regional and international corporates, international and regional banks, some of the most successful regional and international private equity houses, supporting them with their most complex and strategically important transactions.

Our core sectors include financial institutions, energy (especially oil & gas) and utilities, healthcare, retail and consumer and telecommunications within which we advise on outbound investments across the globe as well mandates throughout the region including in the GCC, wider Middle East and North Africa.

Our practice is ranked Band 1 across the Middle East by all of the leading legal research directories.

Our Middle East team has over 50 lawyers across the region in the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Our Global Transactions (Corporate) Practice is Freshfields MENA’s largest practice with experienced lawyers throughout the region.

Key Responsibilities:

• Working on a wide variety of transactions for a range of clients
• Working on full scale worldwide acquisitions of existing businesses, new ventures and a variety of joint ventures
• Involvement in the highest profile transactions in the market, not only regionally but globally
• Contributing to developing and deepening relationships with existing key clients
• Mentoring more junior colleagues and demonstrating leadership on corporate transactions
• Contributing to developing and managing client relationships
• Initiating specific business development activities

Key Requirements:

• 3 – 6 years PQE in England and Wales terms (or equivalent)
• Committed to pursuing a legal career in Abu Dhabi
• Strong academic record and qualifications
• Strong technical and commercial background
• Highly effective communicator (both oral and written)
• Able to work effectively as part of a team
• Confident, self-motivated and committed to providing excellent client service
• Able to manage a high degree of responsibility of work demands
• Enthusiastic participant in business development activities, including networking, organising and delivering seminars, attending conferences and publishing as well as proactive involvement in knowledge management
• Our lawyers in Abu Dhabi work closely with colleagues in other offices and are responsible for transactions throughout the MENA region. The candidate must be willing and able to travel across the MENA region and further afield as and when required