Role overview
Our client is a major UAE-headquartered industrial group with significant operations across the Emirates and a global commercial footprint. With a well-established in-house legal function and a growing volume of litigation, regulatory and transactional work, they are seeking a Junior Legal Counsel specialising in UAE law to join their legal team in Abu Dhabi. This role is open exclusively to UAE Nationals.
Key responsibilities
- Represent the company in UAE court proceedings across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including criminal, labour and commercial matters under the supervision of senior counsel
- Provide practical legal advice on UAE law to internal departments including Human Capital, Health and Safety and Operations
- Manage and maintain the company's portfolio of permits and licences, including new applications and renewals with relevant ministries and government entities
- Support internal investigations relating to ethics, compliance and business integrity matters
- Draft powers of attorney, legal memoranda and standard template documentation for use across the group
- Manage external counsel on day-to-day UAE law matters with a focus on cost efficiency and quality of advice
- Provide on-site emergency legal support in the event of workplace incidents requiring engagement with police or public prosecution authorities
- Deliver regular training sessions on UAE law developments to the legal team and wider business
Candidate profile
- A UAE National holding a UAE law degree from a recognised institution
- Licensed by the Ministry of Justice to appear in courts in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi
- In possession of a minimum of 4 years legal experience (including training contract), with at least 2 years of court advocacy experience across criminal, labour and/or commercial matters
- Fluent in both English and Arabic, with strong written and verbal communication in both languages
- A pragmatic problem-solver with the ability to manage a varied workload across litigation, advisory and transactional matters
- Experienced at a recognised UAE law firm or in-house legal department
About Meyssa Legal
Meyssa Legal places lawyers across private practice and in-house roles in the UAE, with deep experience in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We work consultatively with leading firms, in-house teams, and senior counsel across banking and finance, disputes, corporate, regulatory, and TMT.
Our approach prioritises judgment over targets and discretion over volume. We brief every role in confidence, submit only candidates we genuinely believe fit, and treat every conversation as the start of a long-term relationship.
