Head of Legal (Group General Counsel)

About the Group

Our client is a privately held investment holding group with operating businesses and investment vehicles across the UAE, the UK and several other jurisdictions. The group holds a diversified portfolio of companies across different sectors and is growing through new acquisitions and further investment in its existing businesses. It currently operates under a mainland licence in the UAE. This is a rare opportunity to join at a formative stage, with direct access to the CEO and Board and the chance to shape the group's legal foundations.

The Role

The Head of Legal will be the group's most senior lawyer, reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the Board. It is a hands-on role, from structuring through to completion, and the postholder will also set up the group's legal, risk and compliance function.

Transactions and Structuring

• Lead acquisitions, disposals, mergers, joint ventures and restructurings across the group's UK, UAE and international holdings, covering structuring, due diligence, negotiation, documentation and post-completion matters.
• Advise on the right legal and ownership structure for new investments and reorganisations.
• Draft, review and negotiate shareholder agreements, financing documents, transaction agreements and the group's key commercial contracts.

Risk, Compliance and Governance

• Act as adviser on corporate, commercial and regulatory matters.
• Build a group compliance framework covering UAE mainland and free zone entities (including DIFC and ADGM where relevant), UK company law obligations and any sector regulation that applies to the businesses.
• Identify and manage legal and regulatory risk across the group and its different jurisdictions as and when required.

External Counsel and Disputes

• Select, instruct and manage law firms in each jurisdiction, keeping the quality of advice consistent and legal spend under control.
• Set the strategy on disputes and litigation, working with local counsel and seeing matters through to resolution.

Building the Function

• Introduce the templates, approval processes and standards the group needs, and recruit and develop the legal team as the portfolio grows.

Essential

• Qualified as a solicitor or barrister in England & Wales, or in another common law jurisdiction.
• At least 15 years' PQE in corporate and commercial law, with substantial M&A and cross-border investment experience.
• A track record of leading transactions from start to finish, not just supporting them.
• Working knowledge of UK and UAE law as it applies to M&A, corporate structuring and holding company governance, including the UAE mainland, free zone (DIFC, ADGM) and offshore regimes.
• Experience instructing law firms across several jurisdictions and managing a legal budget.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills and fluent English.
• Sound judgement and discretion.

Desirable

• A previous role as General Counsel or Head of Legal in a holding company, family office, private equity platform or the investment arm of a bank.
• Experience of working in an owner-managed or majority-shareholder business.
• Post-acquisition integration experience.

• Competitive remuneration package commensurate with seniority and experience, to be discussed with shortlisted candidates.

• Based in Dubai, with regular travel to the UK and other countries where the group operates.
• A broad mandate covering M&A, JVs, governance, compliance and commercial work across several sectors and jurisdictions.
• The chance to build the group's legal function largely from scratch.