Regional General Counsel – West Africa (Dubai based)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Regional General Counsel – West to provide strategic and practical legal advice for our client’s operations across West Africa. Based in Dubai, the role reports to the Corporate Legal Officer and supports affiliates in multiple jurisdictions, including OHADA member states and Francophone Africa.

Key responsibilities

• Provide timely, commercially sound legal advice to management and business teams across West Africa.
• Draft, review, negotiate and advise on a broad range of commercial agreements and support mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic partnerships.
• Advise on corporate governance, ensure compliance with local laws and maintain corporate records for regional affiliates.
• Identify legal, regulatory and compliance risks and develop practical solutions to mitigate exposure.
• Coordinate and manage external counsel across West African jurisdictions, monitoring quality, cost‑effectiveness and consistency of advice.
• Assist in managing disputes, claims and litigation, working with internal stakeholders and external counsel to achieve commercially appropriate outcomes.
• Provide guidance on local regulatory requirements, licensing matters and maintain familiarity with OHADA laws.
• Review and prepare legal documents in English and French, including translations as required.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B) minimum; advanced qualifications and admission to practice are desirable.
• At least eight years of post‑qualification experience, preferably in a multinational corporation, international law firm or energy sector.
• Demonstrated experience advising businesses operating across West Africa, especially within OHADA jurisdictions and Francophone countries.
• Fluency in English and French mandatory; Arabic proficiency an advantage.
• Proficiency with modern legal technology tools for e‑discovery, compliance monitoring and efficient legal operations.
• Membership in a recognized professional legal association and/or certifications in compliance or risk management are beneficial.