Legal Specialist

About the role

Svitzer is looking for a Legal Counsel to join our team in Dubai, UAE. In Svitzer, our teams are lean, responsibilities are broad, and everyone contributes. As Legal Counsel for AMEA, you will play a key role in supporting Svitzer’s business across the region, providing strategic, commercially focused legal advice across a diverse and dynamic international environment. You will act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders and business stakeholders, helping the business navigate complex commercial, corporate, maritime and regulatory matters while enabling sustainable growth and managing legal and commercial risk. You will work closely with regional and global colleagues and external legal advisers, with the opportunity to shape legal governance, standardise practices and contribute to Svitzer’s regional legal strategy.

Who we are

Svitzer is a global leader in towage and marine services, helping customers safely and efficiently maneuver large vessels in and out of more than 200 ports and terminals worldwide. We build on almost 200 years of experience. Today, our 4,587 colleagues operate 510 vessels across 38 countries, helping keep goods flowing, businesses moving and communities connected. Guided by our values (Constant Care, Humbleness, Uprightness, Our Employees and Our Name), we are also shaping a cleaner, smarter future for towage through digital solutions, greener technologies and new partnerships.

What you can look forward to

You'll be part of a high-performing, growing and very collaborative Svitzer AMEA regional team where you'll have opportunity to work at the intersection of law, commercial strategy and maritime operations. This role presents a diverse portfolio spanning commercial contracts, corporate governance, maritime matters, disputes, joint ventures, M&A & strategic projects. In this high-impact regional role, you will have chance to influence and strengthen legal governance, contracting practices and risk management across the region - helping the business find practical solutions and enabling growth.

What you will do

• Act as a trusted legal adviser and business partner to regional leadership and senior stakeholders across AMEA, translating complex legal and regulatory matters into clear, practical and commercially focused advice.
• Identify, assess and mitigate legal and commercial risks while supporting sound business decisions.
• Lead the drafting, review and negotiation of complex commercial agreements, including charter parties, joint ventures and strategic agreements.
• Provide legal support for tenders, bids, commercial negotiations and new business opportunities, ensuring appropriate risk allocation and compliance.
• Advise on contractual disputes, claims and contentious matters, working towards practical and commercially balanced solutions.
• Provide legal oversight on corporate governance, entity management and regulatory compliance across the regional portfolio.
• Support M&A, restructurings, joint ventures and other strategic corporate transactions across the region.
• Provide legal advice on maritime and operational matters, including charter parties, vessel transactions, flag‑state requirements and cabotage regulations.
• Work with external counsel across jurisdictions on regulatory matters, company registrations and corporate structuring.
• Drive best practices, standardisation and continuous improvement across contracting, legal processes and governance.
• Contribute to the development and execution of the regional legal strategy.
• Provide legal support to Svitzer activities outside AMEA when required.
• Time to time travel if needed to support business on legal matters.

Who we are looking for

• A Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB or equivalent) and qualification/admission to practise law with a recognised legal regulatory body.
• 5 - 8 years of post-qualification legal experience.
• Experience supporting corporate and commercial legal matters within an international business environment.
• Knowledge of cross-border commercial transactions and corporate governance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Experience working in the Middle East is preferred, with candidates currently based in the region being advantageous.
• Maritime, shipping or logistics industry experience is desirable but not essential.
• Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions would be advantageous.

You are

• Commercially minded, with the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• A trusted partner and strong communicator, able to make complex legal concepts clear and actionable for non-legal audiences.
• Proactive and solution-oriented, focused on finding practical ways forward rather than si