Senior Legal Counsel – Shipping & Maritime

About the role

Gulftainer is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to provide strategic, commercially focused legal advice across its shipping, maritime, port, terminal, and logistics operations.

Key responsibilities

• Provide practical legal advice on shipping, maritime, vessel operations and related logistics activities.
• Draft, review, negotiate and advise on maritime agreements such as charterparties, ship management and agency agreements, bills of lading and contracts of affreightment.
• Manage maritime litigation, arbitration and cargo claims in coordination with external counsel and insurers.
• Monitor UAE maritime laws, international conventions and regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance.
• Support procurement and commercial agreements related to marine equipment and services.

Required profile

• Qualified lawyer with 6–8 years post‑qualification experience in shipping or maritime law.
• Strong knowledge of UAE maritime regulations and international conventions.
• Demonstrated experience handling maritime disputes, cargo claims and marine insurance matters.
• Excellent English communication skills; Arabic proficiency is an advantage.

Required skills

• Shipping and maritime legal expertise.
• Commercial contract drafting and negotiation.
• Maritime claims, dispute and arbitration management.
• Regulatory compliance and risk management in maritime context.