Listing Snippet

Our client, a major Abu Dhabi energy group, is hiring a Senior Legal Counsel on a six-month fixed-term contract to cover its corporate, M&A and commercial legal workload in Abu Dhabi, spanning joint ventures, transactions and the tendering programme.

Role Overview

This is a great opportunity for an experienced M&A lawyer to join a busy team handling a broad remit of corporate and commercial matters across transactional and day-to-day commercial work. The role runs joint venture formation and governance, acquisitions and divestments, and the legal workstream behind an active tendering and procurement programme. It suits a corporate lawyer who is comfortable moving between a live SPA negotiation and a high-volume commercial contracting workload, and who can operate with limited supervision from day one on a defined six-month term.

Key Responsibilities

Structure, draft and negotiate joint venture agreements, shareholders agreements and associated constitutional documents, including governance, reserved matters, deadlock and exit provisions
Run acquisitions, disposals and investments end to end, including share purchase and sale and purchase agreements, due diligence coordination, disclosure and completion mechanics
Advise on corporate reorganisations, group restructuring and new entity establishment across UAE mainland and free zone jurisdictions
Lead the legal workstream on tenders and RFT / RFP processes, including tender documentation, terms and conditions, evaluation support, clarifications and contract award
Draft and negotiate the general commercial contract suite: services agreements, supply and framework agreements, NDAs, MOUs, agency and distribution arrangements
Advise on shareholder and partner relationship management, board and committee governance, and corporate approvals
Provide clear, commercial advice to senior stakeholders, translating legal risk into practical recommendations at pace

Candidate Profile

Around 8 or more years' post-qualification experience with a substantial corporate, M&A and commercial focus
Common law qualified, trained or with significant experience at a respected international or regional practice, or in a comparable in-house corporate role
Demonstrable ownership of joint ventures and SPAs end to end, with named transactions and deal values
Practical experience of tendering and procurement processes, ideally in an owner or operator environment
Energy, oil and gas or drilling sector background strongly preferred but not essential
GCC experience preferred, Abu Dhabi experience an advantage
Available to start at short notice. UAE residency or a transferable visa is a significant advantage given the six-month term

Senior Legal Counsel - M&A and Commercial | 6 Month FTC