Head of Legal

Company Description

Actively engaged in multi-asset class investment activities across various geographies, carried out by a highly qualified and experienced in-house team of investment professionals using an 'Asset Allocation Matrix' to realize risk adjusted returns on invested capital over a long-term period. Investment activities include direct investments in startups, taking stakes in established businesses, acquisitions of business enterprises and setting-up new businesses through collaborative joint venture routes. Ghobash Trading & Investment is also active in private financial investments, including private equity and debt, venture capital, real estate and publicly listed financial investments.

Job Description

The Head of Legal serves as the senior deputy to the Group Legal Director, responsible for managing day-to-day legal operations, overseeing the legal team, and driving strategic legal initiatives across the Group. This role ensures high standards of governance, compliance, and legal risk management while supporting major transactions, banking/financial regulatory matters, and complex commercial negotiations.

The role provides senior-level counsel across diverse industries, leads the operational delivery of the Legal Department, and ensures that legal frameworks, processes, standards, and templates are consistently applied across all Group entities.

The Head of Legal partners with the Group Legal Director to advance strategic projects, transformation initiatives, and cross-border transactions while enabling business growth through proactive risk mitigation, stakeholder engagement, and commercial legal advisory.

Strategic & Advisory Responsibilities

• Support the Group Legal Director in defining and executing the Group legal strategy.
• Provide senior legal advice on corporate structuring, financing arrangements, banking documentation, securities, credit facilities, and treasury-related transactions.
• Advise on M&A, joint ventures, due diligence, and cross-border commercial initiatives.
• Lead legal workstreams for enterprise transformation, restructuring, and governance upgrades.
• Assess legal risks across all business units and develop plans to mitigate exposure.
• Represent the Group in high-level discussions with regulators, banks, strategic partners, and authorities.

Operational & Managerial Responsibilities

• Act as the functional manager for the Legal Department, overseeing workload allocation, quality control, team development, and performance management.
• Supervise drafting, reviewing, and negotiation of complex agreements, ensuring legal accuracy, business alignment, and compliance with Group standards.
• Ensure consistent application of governance frameworks, corporate compliance, and regulatory obligations across all entities.
• Develop and maintain Group-wide legal templates, playbooks, and process documentation to enhance efficiency and standardization.
• Oversee dispute resolution strategy and manage external counsel on behalf of Group entities.
• Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, international corporate standards, GRC frameworks, tax compliance requirements, UBO/ESR obligations, and banking-related statutory requirements.

Transformation, Technology & Process Improvement

• Drive Legal-Tech adoption including automation of workflows, contract lifecycle management, and digital archiving systems.
• Support the implementation of AI-driven tools for contract review, compliance monitoring, and legal research.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and enhance commercial responsiveness.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the key liaison between Legal and Business Unit leaders on operational and strategic matters.
• Conduct legal training for executives and managers on governance, compliance, and legal risk awareness.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, banks, regulators, and legal service providers.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Bachelor's degree in law
• PQE: years' experience
• Background in banking/financial regulatory matters
• Corporate law
• Contracts
• Corporate governance & compliance
• Contract drafting and complex negotiation
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Stakeholder management & influencing
• Team leadership and people development
• Legal process optimization & LegalTech literacy
• Commercial acumen & business partnering
• High-level communication (written & verbal)

Desired:

• Master's degree (LLM or MBA)
• Experience in a diversified conglomerate or major financial institution
• Exposure to M&A, JV structuring, and cross-border transactions