About the Role
To provide expert legal advice and guidance on a wide range of issues affecting the retail business, including commercial transactions, consumer protection, regulatory compliance, employment law, and litigation management. This role requires a keen understanding of the retail industry and the ability to translate complex legal concepts into actionable business strategies..
Key Duties :
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior management and business units by offering in-depth legal insight that enables sound commercial decision-making and effective risk management.
Provide early-stage legal input into major strategic initiatives such as new store openings, regional expansions, acquisitions, joint ventures, franchising, e-commerce platforms, and technology implementations.
Participate in executive and operational meetings, contributing a legal perspective to strategy formulation, product development, pricing policies, marketing campaigns, and digital innovation.
Offer preventive legal advice that anticipates legal exposure and proposes proactive mitigations, not just reactive remedies.
Interpret and advise on national and regional laws impacting the retail industry including consumer rights, advertising and promotions, data privacy (e.g., GDPR/UAE PDPL), environmental regulations, and competition laws.
Monitor legal and regulatory developments relevant to the retail sector and ensure timely updates and advisories to management and affected departments.
Partner with Compliance to enhance governance frameworks, develop risk registers, and drive internal audits.
Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements such as vendor contracts, leases, logistics agreements, licensing, partnerships, and procurement deals.
Act as a legal gatekeeper for new initiatives involving third parties, ensuring contract terms align with commercial objectives while safeguarding legal and reputational interests.
Lead legal due diligence efforts during potential mergers, acquisitions, or franchisee engagements.
Manage investigations, customer complaints with legal ramifications, and pre-litigation disputes; lead settlement discussions and oversee litigation strategy with external counsel.
Advise on reputational risk and public communications from a legal standpoint during incidents or disputes.
Conduct training sessions for internal stakeholders on legal topics including contract negotiation, employment law, anti-bribery, workplace harassment, and ethical conduct.
Act as a liaison between the company and external law firms, regulatory bodies, and enforcement authorities.
About You
Minimum Requirements :
Minimum of 7–10 years post-qualification experience, with at least 3 years in an in-house legal role within the retail, FMCG, or consumer-facing sectors.
Sound knowledge of all applicable Laws, Rules, Regulations, Notices, and the Standards related to Exchange Business in the UAE.
Bachelor’s Degree in Law; Master of Laws or equivalent advanced qualification is a plus.
Additional jurisdictional experience (e.g., GCC, Common Law) is advantageous.
Demonstrated ability to advise senior leaders and engage at a strategic level.
Sound experience across commercial law, labor law, regulatory compliance, dispute management, and retail operations.
Strong commercial understanding, risk analysis, and negotiation capabilities.
Understanding of UAE legal frameworks, particularly in commercial, labor, and regulatory law.
Exposure to GCC or Common Law systems, allowing for broader legal insight in multi-national operations or cross-border matters.
Familiarity with legal issues common to retail, FMCG, and consumer-facing businesses, such as product liability, consumer protection, IP, and leasing.
Experience in planning and budgeting
Knowledge of different business process and functions
Strong analytical and assessment skills
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Outstanding organizational and leadership skills
Problem-solving aptitude and sound judgment
Notes for the Applicants
This position is open for U.A.E National Only
Note: you will be required to attach the following:
Resume/CV
Passport-size photograph
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Tip
Make sure you balance hard skills vs soft skills on your resume to show you’re a rounded candidate.
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Dishonest Keywords
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