Senior Counsel / Manager – Governance

About the role

An established international energy and investment group is seeking a Senior Counsel / Manager – Governance in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to support the development and implementation of its governance framework across a complex, multi-jurisdictional organisation. Reporting to the Associate Director – Governance, this is a senior, business-facing role advising on corporate governance, commercial risk and strategic transactions, working closely with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

Key responsibilities

• Act as a trusted adviser to business leaders and functional stakeholders on governance matters, corporate structures and legal risks.
• Support and lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of governance policies, procedures and frameworks, including delegations of authority and committee terms of reference.
• Identify, assess and mitigate governance risks throughout the transaction lifecycle, from deal planning and due diligence through approvals, execution and post-completion integration.
• Oversee company secretarial activities for relevant committees, ensuring proper governance processes, documentation and approvals.
• Assess governance requirements across multiple jurisdictions, including subsidiaries, affiliates, cascading authorities, regulatory obligations and jointly held entities.
• Identify governance gaps, develop mitigation measures and escalate material risks.
• Build relationships across the business so governance is considered early in commercial planning and strategic decisions.
• Support the communication, implementation and evaluation of governance policies, including training and reporting on effectiveness.
• Coordinate and contribute to key governance initiatives.

Required profile

• A law degree, Juris Doctor, Master of Laws or equivalent academic qualification; professional certifications in governance, compliance, risk, audit or accounting are advantageous.
• At least 10 years' relevant experience in legal, corporate governance, compliance or regulatory advisory roles.
• Experience advising on cross-border transactions, investments, acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic partnerships.
• Understanding of governance requirements across complex groups of subsidiaries, affiliates and jointly held entities.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to turn complex legal and governance issues into practical advice.
• Confidence to influence senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and communicate risk and mitigation strategies clearly.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across legal, governance and wider business functions.
• Experience in the energy sector, financial services, private equity, infrastructure, sovereign investment, asset management or another complex international industry is particularly advantageous.