Litigation Counsel

We are seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Senior Litigation Counsel to join our legal team in Dubai. This pivotal role requires an individual with deep expertise in both contentious and non\-contentious matters. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in managing and overseeing the company’s litigation portfolio, providing legal advice on complex disputes, and delivering strategic guidance on a range of legal matters. You will work closely with senior management, external counsel, and other key stakeholders to protect and advance the company’s interests in a wide variety of legal contexts. **Key Responsibilities:** **Contentious Legal Matters:** * Lead and manage high\-profile litigation cases in various sectors, including commercial disputes, regulatory investigations, intellectual property, and employment matters. * Provide strategic advice on dispute resolution and represent the company in court proceedings and arbitration's. * Manage relationships with external law firms, ensuring the efficient and cost\-effective handling of legal disputes. * Oversee the preparation and review of pleadings, legal submissions, evidence, and witness statements. * Develop case strategies and provide tactical advice to senior leadership to manage representational risk and mitigate business risks. * Handle contentious matters across various jurisdictions, particularly with regard to international disputes. - **Non\-Contentious Legal Matters:** * Provide legal counsel on a wide range of corporate, commercial, and regulatory matters, including contract negotiations, compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate governance. * Draft, review, and negotiate high\-value and complex contracts, ensuring that legal risks are mitigated, and business objectives are met. * Advise on intellectual property rights, data protection, and regulatory compliance, ensuring alignment with UK and EU laws. * Collaborate with internal business units to proactively identify potential legal risks and offer practical, solutions\-focused advice to resolve non\-contentious legal issues. * Develop and implement policies and procedures for legal compliance and risk management. - **Team Leadership \& Collaboration:** * Mentor and provide leadership to junior legal team members, sharing knowledge and fostering a collaborative working environment. * Collaborate effectively with cross\-functional teams, including compliance, finance, HR, and risk, to ensure that legal perspectives are integrated into business decisions. * Manage external counsel relationships to ensure legal services are delivered efficiently and within budget. - **Strategic Advisory:** * Advise senior management and the board of directors on key legal risks and strategic business decisions. * Assess the potential legal impact of emerging business opportunities and challenges, ensuring proactive risk management. - **Qualifications \& Experience:** * **Education:** Qualified solicitor or barrister with a Law degree (or equivalent) from a recognized institution. * **Experience:** * At least 8\-10 years of experience in both contentious and non\-contentious legal matters, ideally gained in a combination of law firm and in\-house roles. * Proven experience managing complex litigation, including high\-stakes commercial disputes and regulatory matters. * Strong background in non\-contentious legal work, such as contract negotiation, corporate governance, and compliance. * Experience in managing cross\-border legal issues and multi\-jurisdictional disputes. * **Skills:** * Excellent communication, negotiation, and drafting skills. * Strong leadership and team management capabilities. * Ability to manage competing priorities and complex legal challenges in a fast\-paced environment. * Demonstrated ability to provide clear, strategic legal advice to senior business leaders. * A practical, solutions\-focused approach to legal issues with the ability to influence and drive business outcomes. * **Desirable:** Experience in specific sectors such as technology, finance, or intellectual property is advantageous. **Personal Attributes:** * High level of integrity, professionalism, and business acumen. * Resilient, detail\-oriented, and capable of working under pressure. * Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships across all levels of the business. * A proactive and collaborative approach to problem\-solving.