Legal Counsel

Roles and responsibilities

We are looking for an excellent commercial lawyer to join the Miral Experiences Legal Department and focus on a new destination management company, which forms one of the Miral Group’s subsidiaries. The successful candidate will have a strong commercial drafting background and experience working as a lawyer in the leisure and tourism field. Direct experience working for a destination management company or similar is preferred.

The successful candidate will be a motivated, strategically minded commercial lawyer who can balance the commercial needs of a growing company with compliance requirements. We value a lawyer who is a team player with strong interpersonal skills and can form excellent relationships with stakeholders and within the legal team.

Job Scope:

• Drafting and reviewing reseller agreements, hotel, leisure, and tourism supply agreements, bed bank and GDS agreements, GSTs, and procurement agreements such as supply and services agreements.
• Duties may include advising/interpreting delegations of authority, drafting corporate documents, drafting minutes, and drafting founders/board resolutions.
• Duties may include reviewing and advising upon due diligence, compliance, and corporate governance matters, as well as reviewing policies and insurance policies.
• Providing legal training and workshops to the business

The ideal candidate should have:

• LLB, or equivalent legal qualification
• Admitted as a lawyer/solicitor in UAE or another jurisdiction
• Minimum three years PQE or equivalent
• Two years experience working as a lawyer in the leisure and tourism industry
• Previous experience working in an in-house legal role
• Two years experience in a similar DMC/leisure and tourism legal role
• Previous experience in working as a lawyer in the UAE
• Previous experience working for government or semi-government companies
• Fluent in English
• Excellent commercial drafting and negotiation skills
• Overall broad legal knowledge and experience in UAE laws, mainly commercial law
• Knowledge of data protection laws
• Excellent communication, both verbal and written
• Excellent drafting skills
• Excellent time management and organization skills
• Attention to detail
• The high degree of professional ethics and integrity
• Legal research
• Sound judgment and strategic thinking
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to influence people
• Good team player
• Presentation and training skills
• Knowledge of procurement process and documents
• Strong compliance focus

Desired candidate profile

A Legal Counsel is an in-house attorney who provides legal advice and representation to an organization. Legal Counsel is crucial to ensuring that a company operates within the boundaries of the law and avoids legal risks. They may be involved in a wide range of legal matters, including contract negotiation, compliance issues, intellectual property protection, dispute resolution, corporate governance, and employment law, depending on the industry and size of the organization.

Here’s a breakdown of the key skills, responsibilities, and personal qualities required for a Legal Counsel:

1. Legal Knowledge & Expertise

• Corporate Law: Understanding of corporate structures, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, and governance. Knowledge of laws governing business operations, including securities law, corporate finance, and intellectual property.
• Contract Law: Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide variety of contracts (e.g., sales, service, employment, non-disclosure agreements). Ensuring that contracts are legally sound and in the company’s best interests.
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution: Managing or advising on legal disputes, including any litigation the company may face. This includes working with external lawyers and overseeing the strategy and legal position of the company.
• Employment Law: Understanding of laws surrounding employee rights, workplace discrimination, termination processes, and labor relations.
• Compliance: Ensuring the company complies with local, state, federal, and international regulations, including consumer protection, privacy, antitrust laws, and environmental regulations.
• Intellectual Property (IP): Protecting the company’s intellectual property, including trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets. Advising on IP strategies, enforcement, and licensing.

2. Risk Management & Legal Strategy

• Risk Assessment: Identifying legal risks within the business and providing solutions or mitigating strategies to minimize potential exposure. This could include reviewing new business opportunities, joint ventures, and investments.
• Legal Strategy: Collaborating with senior management to align legal strategies with business goals. Offering proactive advice on new business ventures or regulatory changes that could affect the company.