Senior Associate (7-9 PQE) - Commercial Arbitration - Dubai
Requirements & Personal Attributes
- 7–9 years post-qualification experience (PQE).
- UK, US, Australian, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canadian or other common law qualification preferred.
- Experience advising on complex cross border disputes, cross-jurisdictional contractual disputes, issues arising under shareholder and joint venture agreements and wide-ranging disputes concerning commercial contracts.
- Strong experience gained at a leading international law firm.
- Significant experience advising on international commercial arbitration matters, including arbitrations conducted under major institutional rules (ICC, LCIA, DIAC, SIAC, DIFC-LCIA, ICDR and similar).
- Proven experience handling complex cross-border disputes involving multinational corporates, financial institutions and high-value commercial relationships.
- Strong understanding of arbitration procedure and experience drafting substantive pleadings, witness statements, expert submissions and procedural applications.
- Experience managing matters with multi-jurisdictional elements and coordinating with local counsel across different jurisdictions.
- Commercially minded, strategic and capable of managing matters with a high degree of autonomy.
- Strong client relationship and stakeholder management skills.
- Excellent written and oral advocacy skills.
- Experience supervising and mentoring junior lawyers.
Primary Job Purpose
- The successful candidate will play a key role within the firm's Commercial Arbitration practice, working closely with partners on complex international and domestic arbitration matters, cross-border commercial disputes and enforcement-related proceedings.
- The role will involve advising multinational corporates, financial institutions and other sophisticated clients on disputes arising from commercial contracts, shareholder and joint venture arrangements, cross-border business relationships and other high-value commercial transactions.
Duties & Responsibilities
Case Strategy & Dispute Management
- Work closely with partners and clients to develop case strategy and dispute resolution approaches.
- Analyse complex legal, factual and commercial issues arising in high-value cross-border disputes.
- Assist clients in evaluating risk, managing disputes proactively and identifying opportunities for early resolution where appropriate.
- Contribute to the strategic management of arbitration proceedings from commencement through to award and enforcement.
Arbitration & Advocacy
- Lead the preparation and drafting of requests for arbitration, statements of claim, statements of defence, jurisdictional challenges, procedural applications and post-hearing submissions.
- Draft and review witness statements, expert reports and related evidentiary submissions.
- Prepare hearing bundles, chronologies, case analyses and hearing strategies.
- Support advocacy preparation for hearings, procedural conferences and settlement discussions.
- Participate in client meetings, witness interviews and expert conferences.
Cross-Border Disputes & Enforcement
- Advise on disputes involving cross-jurisdictional contractual arrangements, shareholder disputes, joint venture disputes and other complex commercial matters.
- Coordinate with foreign counsel and manage multi-jurisdictional workstreams.
- Assist with recognition, enforcement and execution strategies relating to arbitral awards and judgments across various jurisdictions.
Client Management & Business Development
- Develop and maintain strong client relationships.
- Serve as a day-to-day point of contact for clients, external counsel, experts and arbitral tribunals.
- Identify opportunities to deepen client relationships and contribute to business development initiatives.
- Participate in client presentations, thought leadership and market-facing activities.
Team Leadership & Matter Management
- Supervise and mentor junior associates and trainees.
- Manage document review, legal research and evidence-gathering exercises efficiently and effectively.
- Delegate work appropriately and oversee quality control of team deliverables.
- Manage matters in a commercially focused manner, ensuring efficient delivery and adherence to client budgets and expectations.
- Meet billing, utilisation and collection targets.
Please note that all applications must be submitted through our job portal, as we are not accepting profiles via recruitment agencies at this stage.
*Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted*
