Legal Counsel - Emirati Applicants

The Legal Counsel position at a confidential company in Abu Dhabi is for Emirati applicants. The role involves providing legal advice on regulatory compliance, contracts, and media laws. Responsibilities include drafting legal documents, ensuring compliance with UAE laws, and advising internal teams on legal matters. Candidates should have a law degree, 7-10 years of experience, and be bilingual in Arabic and English. The position is full-time and requires in-person presence.
Role Summary:

The Legal Counselor will provide legal advice and support on a wide range of issues affecting the entity’s operations, including regulatory compliance, contracts, intellectual property, media and content laws, and government protocols. The role ensures that the organization’s actions, publications, partnerships, and external communications comply with applicable local and international laws, especially those relevant to media, communications, and reputation management.

Key Responsibilities:
• Provide timely and accurate legal advice on matters related to media law, content compliance, contracts, and government regulations.
• Review, draft, and negotiate a variety of legal documents, including service agreements, NDAs, MoUs, licensing agreements, partnership contracts, and procurement-related contracts.
• Ensure alignment with UAE federal laws, Abu Dhabi government policies, and international standards in all legal matters.
• Support the Communications, Content, and Events teams by advising on defamation risk, copyright, privacy, and intellectual property issues.
• Collaborate with external legal counsel when required and coordinate on litigation or arbitration matters.
• Monitor legal developments, especially those related to public communication, digital content, and international media regulations, and advise on risks and implications.
• Develop internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws and best practices.
• Conduct legal risk assessments for strategic partnerships, high-profile campaigns, and international engagements.
• Provide legal training and guidance to internal departments on relevant legal topics.
• Represent the entity in legal meetings, working groups, and negotiations as necessary.

Qualifications & Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB); Master’s or postgraduate legal qualification preferred.
• Must be licensed to practice law in the UAE or another relevant jurisdiction.
• Minimum 7–10 years of post-qualification legal experience, ideally including in a government, media, or PR-related entity.
• Strong understanding of UAE media, communication, and privacy laws.
• Experience advising on legal issues involving public reputation, digital platforms, and high-level government engagements is a plus.
• Bilingual (Arabic and English) is preferred for drafting and negotiation.

Skills & Competencies:
• High-level discretion, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills.
• Excellent legal drafting and communication abilities.
• Able to navigate complex legal and governmental environments.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with strong risk management awareness.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.