Associate - Corporate and Advisory Department
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Full timeOn-site
Job description
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly capable and commercially astute Associate to join our Corporate and Advisory Department. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience advising on a broad range of corporate transactions, commercial matters, advisory work, private wealth structures, and financing matters in the UAE.
We are seeking a highly capable and commercially astute Associate to join our Corporate and Advisory Department. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience advising on a broad range of corporate transactions, commercial matters, advisory work, private wealth structures, and financing matters in the UAE.
The role requires strong experience in corporate transactional changes, including changes to shareholders, directors, capital, auditors, and company structure matters, as well as exposure to private equity, cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, private wealth matters, banking and finance transactions, and commercial contracting.
The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent drafting skills, sound commercial judgment, and the ability to provide practical and strategic advice to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, family businesses, institutional clients, start-ups, and multinational companies. Excellent English drafting and communication skills are essential.
Key Responsibilities
- Advise clients on corporate, commercial, and advisory matters across the UAE.
- Handle corporate transactional changes: shareholders, directors, auditors, constitutional documents, company records, and governance matters.
- Support and manage transactions including mergers & acquisitions, private equity, cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate restructuring, and debt/equity financing.
- Advise on private wealth structuring: corporate holding structures, family business structuring, asset holding arrangements, and related matters.
- Support business succession, restructuring, and ownership structuring matters.
- Advise start-ups and established companies on funding rounds, investment structuring, and corporate documentation.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of legal documents and agreements, including shareholder agreements, share purchase agreements, joint venture agreements, subscription agreements, financing and security documents, franchise agreements, distribution agreements, IP licensing agreements, commercial contracts, software development and licensing agreements, SaaS agreements, website/mobile terms & conditions, and privacy policies.
- Prepare legal due diligence reports, red flag reports, and transaction summaries across sectors.
- Provide practical advisory support by identifying legal risks and recommending commercially viable solutions.
- Advise on corporate structuring, governance, regulatory compliance, and general commercial matters.
- Assist in preparing and implementing internal/external compliance documentation, including AML, data privacy, and client onboarding procedures.
- Meet, advise, and build relationships with clients including high-net-worth individuals, family offices, start-ups, established companies, multinational businesses, and institutional clients.
- Liaise with clients, counterparties, regulators, banks, free zones, government authorities, and external advisors as needed.
- Manage matters efficiently from instruction to completion, including timelines, documentation, execution requirements, and client communication.
- Contribute to business development efforts by supporting client conversion, expanding networks, and strengthening referral relationships.
- Stay updated on legal and regulatory developments relevant to corporate, commercial, private wealth, restructuring, and banking practice in the UAE.
- Support M&A transactions from due diligence to drafting, negotiation, and execution of deal documentation.
- Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda on corporate and regulatory matters.
- Collaborate with senior team members on business development efforts and client pitches.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB); master’s degree (LLM) preferred.
- Qualified lawyer with 5+ years post-qualification experience in corporate, commercial, advisory, and transactional work.
- Previous experience in a UAE or GCC law firm is strongly preferred.
- Excellent English drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Arabic is an advantage, but not essential.
- Strong commercial awareness with ability to deliver practical, client-focused legal solutions.
- Ability to manage multiple matters, work under pressure, and maintain attention to detail.
- Professional, polished, and confident with sophisticated clients and stakeholders.
- Strong interpersonal skills and eagerness to develop long-term client relationships.
- Team-oriented with ability to learn from and support senior colleagues.