Senior Manager - Legal, Real Estate & Commercial Operations

About the role

Shamal Holding, a diversified investment firm based in Dubai, is looking for a Senior Manager - Legal - Real Estate & Commercial Operations. The role sits within the Legal - Real Estate & Commercial Operations sub-function and acts as the primary legal adviser to the Commercial Asset Management team, delivering commercially sound, risk-managed outcomes on real estate, commercial and operational matters, with a focus on commercial leasing and F&B services.

Key responsibilities

• Own matters end to end: set legal strategy, structure transactions, lead negotiations and drive them to signing, completion or resolution on terms that protect the organisation and meet business timelines.
• Draft, negotiate and complete real estate and commercial transaction documents (including F&B services) on time, and hand over post-completion obligations to the business.
• Identify and mitigate legal risk early while enabling business outcomes.
• Manage significant matters and escalate material risks so the Executive Director and leadership are never surprised.
• Manage external legal counsel within agreed scope, quality and cost.
• Improve legal service delivery by strengthening precedents, risk approach and ways of working, and use AI and legal technology to reduce cycle time and cost.
• Keep external legal spend scoped, managed and within approved budgets and delegated authorities.

Required profile

• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience, including at least 5 years after qualification.
• Bachelor's degree in Law or post-graduate qualification in Law; qualified lawyer in a recognised jurisdiction.
• Preferred: qualification in a common law jurisdiction such as England & Wales, Scotland, Australia or New Zealand.
• Significant real estate transactional experience, including sales and commercial leasing; experience advising on F&B-related contracts preferred.