Legal Counsel, Dubai

Location:
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Business:
Group
Position type:
Full Time
Contract type:
Permanent Employee
Job ID:
4080
Apply

Overview

About us

We are the independent expert in assurance and risk management. Driven by our purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, we empower our customers and their stakeholders with facts and reliable insights so that critical decisions can be made with confidence.

As a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful organizations, we use our knowledge to advance safety and performance, set industry benchmarks, and inspire and invent solutions to tackle global transformations.

About Group functions

Group functions in DNV are experts on finance and accounting, human resources, communication and sustainability, legal, tax and compliance – providing company-wide support, governance and strategic projects. Group also includes our strategic Research and Development unit, which provides science-based insights and foresight to tackle transformations and challenges across the industries we serve.

About the role

Group Legal is part of DNV’s Group functions responsible for providing legal advice to all business areas on a global basis and consists of over 40 lawyers and support staff. Group Legal is a distributed team with lawyers located in Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Hamburg, Høvik, London and Houston, headed by the Group Legal Director at the DNV headquarters in Veritasparken at Høvik.

The Legal Counsel will be reporting to the Head of DNV Group Legal, Region Middle East & Asia Pacific in Singapore and will be part of a highly skilled and motivated team responsible for the provision of high-quality legal services and advice to the DNV Group in the Middle East & Asia Pacific Region. In this role you will be working with the entire DNV organization, advising all business areas (Energy Systems, Maritime, Digital Solutions, Accelerator, Supply Chain and Product Assurance and Business Assurance) as well as providing legal advice to our shared service functions. As a member Group Legal, you will also work closely with other lawyers in the region as well as the ones that are based in Head Office or other regions.

As Legal Counsel in Dubai you will provide legal support and will be in direct contact with DNV managers and employees, at all levels and frequently have the opportunity to participate actively and support the business in its day-to-day challenges.

As Legal Counsel you will be required to analyze and identify legal risks and implications on a wide variety of issues, such as:

  • Contractual matters, including drafting and negotiations
  • Corporate law
  • Intellectual Property Rights
  • Claims handling and litigation
  • Procurement
  • Regulatory issues

Some of the responsibilities are:

  • To act in accordance with and promote DNV Group’s purpose, vision and values, actively promoting and advising on business procedures and policies
  • To routinely draft, negotiate and conclude a variety of commercial agreements including, but not limited to, service contracts, subcontract agreements, MOUs, collaboration agreements, joint industry participation agreements, procurement agreement, across all business areas
  • To liaise with client’s legal advisors / representatives to negotiate and finalize mutually acceptable legal terms
  • Support and assist with litigation and other dispute proceedings involving DNV and to support a positive conclusion of such
  • Advise DNV on statutory laws, regulations and judicial developments affecting the Company within the Middle East & Asia Pacific region
  • M&A work including provision of support in corporate and strategic restructuring of the company, including divestments of business units and corporate entities
  • Work with and effectively manage external counsel instructed to undertake matters on behalf of DNV
  • Develop, prepare and provide legal training to internal stakeholders
  • Driving improvement of internal processes and governance
  • Able to challenge, influence and communicate effectively with key directors, senior managers and customers in a constructive, pragmatic and positive manner, building positive working relationships including providing required responses to business needs and compliance with legal obligations required by regulatory bodies

What we offer
  • Flexible work arrangements for better work-life balance
  • Generous Paid Leaves (Annual, Sick, Compassionate, Local Public, Marriage, Maternity, Paternity, Medical leave Household Moving, Hajj Leave, Exam leave, Unpaid leave)
  • Pension and Insurance Policies (Medical Insurance, Group Life Insurance, Pension Policy)
  • Additional Benefits (Long Service Awards, Mobile Phone Reimbursement, Car Allowances, Relocation Allowances, Housing Allowances, UAE National Allowance, Health / Fitness Club Subsidy, Professional Membership Fees, School Fee Contribution)

*Benefits may vary based on position, tenure/contract/grade level*

DNV is an Equal Opportunity Employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to gender, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, cultural background, social group, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age or political opinion. Diversity is fundamental to our culture and we invite you to be part of this diversity.

About you
  • Practical legal training and professional legal experience from either a top-ranked law firm and/or well-regarded in-house legal department in a reputable commercial multinational organization.
  • Qualified lawyer with 3 to 5 years’ proven track record in commercial and corporate legal affairs.
  • Excellent academic credentials from a respected law school.
  • Professional written & spoken English, secondary language skills, especially Arabic would be an advantage.
  • Excellent drafting skills.
  • A structured, yet pragmatic approach to work.

Person's specifications:

  • is a strong communicator and possess a commercially savvy approach to legal matters
  • able to handle tasks and cases independently and effectively engage and consult with internal stakeholders
  • has experience from the UAE or other countries in the GCC
  • is ideally currently located in the UAE or in the GCC and intends to work and stay in Dubai for the foreseeable future
  • is delivery-focused and able to work in a highly pressurized, deadline-driven environment whilst maintaining focus on quality and attention to detail
  • is genuinely interested in our clients and possesses a driving need to facilitate their own, and thereby your, success
  • is a self-motivated and creative self-starter
  • has a commercial, international and common-sense approach to legal challenges
  • has an appetite to use and develop wider legal skills/knowledge including taking advantage of available AI-tools
  • asks critical questions but is a “to the point” person
  • takes personal responsibility and ownership for own decisions/actions
  • has flexibility to travel within the GCC, India and other countries in the Region as well as overseas as needed; and
  • is an open and straight-forward individual with a good sense of humor

The successful candidate will play a key role in the identification and management of legal risk issues across our business in the MEA APAC region.

Closely working as a business partner of respective regional leaders in our MEA APAC business, the position will report to the Head of DNV Group Legal, Region MEA APAC based in Singapore.

Benefits

Profit Share

You’ll be part of our global profit share scheme that means we all share in our success as a business. If we profit, so do you. This will be part of our Total Compensation approach each year and depends on our year-end results.

Insurance

Taking care of you with travel, life, and accident insurance.

Pension Schemes

We care about your long-term financial security and prioritize pension and retirement benefits to reflect our caring values.

Professional Development

We believe in the 70/20/10 learning model, where 70% of your learning comes from performing your everyday tasks and working on different projects, new areas and initiatives to gain new skills. 20% from working with others and mentoring and the rest from formal education.

Hybrid Working

Adapting to the changing world of work around the world.

Purpose-led organization

You become part of a world-leading company where we know and live our purpose; to safeguard life, property, and the environment, with the opportunity to tackle global change through your work.

Supportive and caring culture

We offer opportunities to connect through social and professional networks. Our largest community CONNECT, organizes after-work events and informal meetings throughout the year.

Attractive rewards

We focus on work/life balance and offer employees flexible working hours and workplace, annual vacation allowance, competitive pension, insurance, and a global profit share scheme.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At DNV, our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is not only an ethical choice, but also a business decision.

Diversity, fairness, and a sense of belonging are a source of strength for our people, our business, and our customers, and help us to deliver on our purpose, vision, and values.

Learn more

Working here

Since 1864 we’ve been dedicated to safeguarding life, property and the environment. Today we remain at the forefront of new technologies and techniques to help our customers transform for a more sustainable future.

At DNV you can expect to deliver career and industry defining work. You’ll be given the time to build your network, the resources to support your development, and the freedom to satisfy your curiosity and desire to learn.

Learn more

Application Process

FAQs

Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions page. We’ve put together answers to the questions we’re asked most often to help you find the information you need quickly and easily. Whether you're curious about our recruitment process, benefits or career growth and development, you should find the information below.

How can I find job openings that fit my skills and interests?

Explore our official job search page where you can use filters such as job type, location, and department to find roles that best match your qualifications and career aspirations.

What’s your application process like?

You can apply directly through our careers page by submitting your CV and any other documents we require (i.e. university diplomas/transcripts; visas; previous employment reference letters). Make sure your application is fully completed, and you tailor it to the specific job listing. 

Is your recruitment process designed to be inclusive and accessible?

Yes, it is. We're an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all candidates. We’re happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process. Share the details of what you need within your application.

What types of interviews might I undergo?

Depending on your role, our interview process may include initial phone screenings, video conferences, and in-person interviews, focusing on both your technical abilities and our shared values. You can ask your recruiter specifically about the interview process for your role. 

How long does the hiring process typically take from application to decision?

The timeline can vary but we make every effort to reply to each candidate as soon as possible and keep everyone up-to-date with where they are in the recruitment process.

How do I know if a recruitment contact is legitimately from your company?

Official communication will come from our verified company email addresses. Carefully check any suspicious looking emails and if you have any doubts, don’t engage.

Are there any fees involved in your recruitment process?

No, we do not charge any fees at any stage of our recruitment process. All applications and interviews are free of charge, we will never ask you to pay any fees or make any payments – please be wary of any requests for payment as these are likely scams.

What should I do if I suspect a job scam?

If you encounter suspicious job postings or recruitment practices, do not provide personal information and contact your recruiter as soon as possible. We take these matters seriously. We will never ask you to pay any fees or make any payments part of our recruitment process.

Join our talent community

Can't find the right fit?

Be the first one to learn about new job opportunities that might be a perfect fit for you.

Join

Disclaimer

Please beware of recruitment scams that pretend to be from DNV or its employees. We will never ask you to pay any fees or make any payments as part of our recruitment process.