The Associate Director will provide legal counsel and support across all aspects of our real estate development operations, with a particular focus on real estate transactions, leasing / licensing arrangements and related contractual matters, including but not limited to:
- Serving as the primary legal point of contact for the Commercial Leasing, Asset Management and Real Estate Development teams, with a focus on real estate sales and purchases, leasing, hospitality and commercial contract matters
- Reviewing, drafting and negotiating a broad range of real estate-related agreements, including leases and licenses, sale and purchase agreements (SPAs), reservation agreements, expressions of interest (EOIs), notices, property and facilities management contracts, hospitality / F&B / events agreements, broker agreements
- Providing legal and commercial advice on property-related matters, including in relation to Dubai real estate laws, regulations and practices (e.g. ejari, oqood, AML, etc.) and associated operational matters, as well as advising on master developer / community management requirements and practices
- Coordinating cross-functional, property-related input from stakeholders such as Finance, Compliance, and Insurance to ensure alignment and risk mitigation in real estate and related commercial contracts
- Advising on and managing disputes related to real estate matters and contracts, including terminations, cancellations and evictions, Dubai Court / RDC proceedings and arbitration, and overseeing external counsel and leading dispute resolution strategy
In addition to real estate-related support, the Associate Director will provide additional resource and support for other non-real estate business areas as required, including (but not limited to) to drafting, reviewing and negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts and advising on general, non-property-related matters.
The Associate director will also assist the Vice President- Legal in delegating to, managing and supervising junior team members, including the assignment, supervision and review of work carried out by junior team members.
The main responsibilities for this role include:
Strategic Responsibilities:
- Providing strategic legal guidance on all aspects of the company's real estate development, hospitality and commercial leasing portfolios
- Actively contributing to long-term planning, regulatory horizon-scanning and policy development to ensure compliance with legal requirements and industry best practices across real estate development, hospitality, leasing and commercial agreements
- Advising on major real estate transactions, leasing deals, and property-related disputes, while shaping and supporting the broader legal strategy for real estate development and commercial activities
- Ensuring the real estate legal function is fully aligned with the company's strategic objectives, with a strong focus on compliance, contractual risk management, and commercial enablement
Operational Responsibilities:
- Provide effective and timely legal advice, general oversight on legal risks and support to the business while keeping in mind ECD's strategic and business objectives.
- Complete legal tasks and projects, respond to legal queries in an accurate, efficient and timely manner.
- Supervise and be responsible for resolving disputes and claims and adequate management of litigation or disputes between the business and its customers.
- Conduct legal research and stay abreast of regulatory developments, new laws, rules and regulations through continuous legal education, professional development, attending professional training, conferences, and participating in professional associations.
- Provide updates to the Department on new legislation and regulatory developments that may have an impact on ECD.
- Ensure ongoing compliance with all data privacy laws and regulations applicable to ECD's real estate business; monitor and track privacy and security laws, rules, regulations and trends and provide revisions as needed to data privacy policies, procedures and agreements.
- Liaise with external law firms and relevant authorities to ensure effective resolution of legal matters.
- Ensure all requisite reports are prepared in a timely and accurate manner and make recommendations for improvements to policies and processes and streamlining the same to bring about efficiency and improve turn-around time.
- Perform several other similar or related duties which may not be specifically included within this position description, but which are consistent with the general level of the job and the responsibilities described.
Knowledge, Qualifications and Skills required
Essential:
8+ years of experience in core legal function with proven working experience in the real estate industry (private practice and / or in-house at a comparable UAE real estate developer) as well as:
- A Bachelor of Laws from an accredited law school.
- Excellent knowledge and understanding of Dubai Real Estate laws, regulations and procedures (including DLD, RERA and RDC processes and requirements) and other laws and practices that are relevant / applicable to real estate and property maters within Dubai.
- Accuracy, diligence and attention to detail.
- Time management and a high degree of professional ethics and integrity.
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong planning, problem-solving and organisational skills with an ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
- Resilience, independence, adaptability and ability to progress and complete tasks proactively, with minimum supervision and direction.
