Senior Legal Counsel

About Emirates Global Aluminium

Emirates Global Aluminium is the world’s biggest ‘premium aluminium’ producer and the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside the oil and gas industry.  EGA is an integrated aluminium producer, with operations on four continents from bauxite mining to the production of cast primary aluminium and recycling. EGA employs over 7,000 of these people including more than 1,200 UAE Nationals. EGA operates aluminium smelters in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah in the United Arab Emirates, an alumina refinery in Al Taweelah, a bauxite mine and associated export facilities in the Republic of Guinea, a speciality foundry in high strength recycled aluminium in Germany, and a recycling plant in the United States.

SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL – MARKETING, SALES & COMMODITY TRADING

Legal, Ethics & Business Integrity

JOB PURPOSE

EGA is seeking an exceptional Senior Legal Counsel to join our Legal, Ethics and Business Integrity (LEBI) function, providing dedicated legal support to our Marketing & Sales and Supply Chain businesses. This strategic, senior appointment offers the opportunity to advise on the full spectrum of EGA’s commercial operations – from aluminium sales and commodity trading to the procurement of critical raw materials including bauxite and alumina.

Based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, this role carries responsibility for EGA’s global commercial legal affairs, including our international sales and purchasing offices in Singapore, Shanghai, Mexico and the USA, as well as our overseas metal production and recycling assets in Germany (EGA Leichtmetall, Hannover), Italy (EGA Eco Green, Verona region) and the United States (EGA Spectro Alloys, Minnesota). The successful candidate will report to the General Counsel and Head of Ethics and Business Integrity and will be instrumental in managing legal risk across EGA’s expanding international commercial portfolio.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Commercial Contract Drafting and Negotiation

• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements supporting EGA’s marketing, sales and supply chain operations, including aluminium sales contracts, offtake agreements, commodity purchase contracts, tolling arrangements, agency and distribution agreements, and related trading documentation.
• Advise on complex sale and purchase structures, trading terms, pricing mechanisms, delivery obligations and risk allocation, providing pragmatic legal analysis to achieve optimal commercial outcomes.
• Serve as the primary legal contact for international sales offices and overseas production assets, ensuring timely and commercially-focused legal support.
• Maintain expertise in EGA's standard terms and conditions for metal sales, market standard terms for commodity transactions, and major long-term supply contracts, providing training to commercial teams.
• Identify, assess, manage and mitigate key legal and commercial risks across all contractual arrangements within the Marketing & Sales and Supply Chain portfolios.

International Operations and Subsidiary Support

• Provide legal support to EGA's international sales offices in Singapore, Shanghai, Mexico and the USA, ensuring compliance with local laws and consistent application of EGA's commercial policies and contracting standards.
• Support EGA's overseas recycling and production facilities, including EGA Leichtmetall (Germany), EGA Eco Green (Italy) and EGA Spectro Alloys (USA), advising on commercial agreements, operational matters and local legal requirements.
• Coordinate with external counsel in relevant jurisdictions to obtain specialist local law advice where required, managing instructions and ensuring cost-effective delivery of external legal services.

Post-Contractual Support and Contract Management

• Provide ongoing legal counsel and support to operations and contract managers throughout the lifecycle of active commercial contracts, including those with international subsidiaries and production assets.
• Deliver training to business units to enhance awareness of rights, liabilities and obligations under ongoing contracts, and conduct periodic reviews to ensure compliance with contractual obligations and reporting requirements.

Dispute Management and Customer Relations

• Identify potential disputes early and work with the business to manage disagreements with customers and trading counterparties, seeking to protect EGA's interests while avoiding formal dispute resolution proceedings where possible and favouring beneficial commercial outcomes.
• Assist in any litigation or arbitration arising from metal sales or commodity trading matters, working with the Senior Disputes Counsel and external counsel.

Strategic Contribution

• Support the implementation of departmental and functional strategy, ensuring alignment with EGA’s vision, mission and corporate objectives as the business continues to expand its global commercial footprint.
• Provide subject matter expertise and counsel to EGA leadership on all matters relating to commercial law, commodity trading and international commercial operations.

Regulatory, Compliance and Governance

• Stay abreast of legislative and regulatory developments affecting EGA's commercial and trading activities across relevant jurisdictions, advising the business on compliance requirements and assisting with the development of appropriate policies and procedures.
• Maintain awareness of applicable sanctions, trade compliance and anti-corruption requirements, ensuring these are addressed in commercial documentation.
• Support the Ethics and Business Integrity team with compliance investigations as required.

External Counsel and Budget Management

• Procure and instruct external legal support in accordance with EGA's procurement and tendering processes, with appropriate approvals.
• Supervise and manage external law firms to ensure services are delivered in a timely, cost-effective manner to appropriate quality standards, considering alternative fee arrangements and maximising value.
• Contribute to the preparation and management of the Legal function's budget, developing forecasts based on expected workflow and approved projects, and managing expenditure against budget.
• Project manage significant transactions and matters, tracking progress against agreed assumptions, scopes and budgets, and promptly escalating material issues.

Knowledge Building and Training

• Keep the Legal function and business informed of new laws, regulations and industry trends affecting EGA's commercial and trading activities, and assist with the development of policies and training as required.
• Develop and enhance the knowledge of commercial teams with respect to legal concepts, contracting processes, negotiation strategies, contract administration and dispute management.
• Lead and conduct training sessions, workshops and guidance materials as required, including for international offices and subsidiaries.

Innovation and Technology

• Consider and implement innovative solutions, particularly in relation to managing costs and streamlining contract drafting, negotiation and execution processes, maintaining awareness of advancements in legal technology including AI-enabled legal tools.
• Support the Legal function's use of document management systems and other legal technology platforms, ensuring matters are properly recorded and accessible.

Stakeholder Management and Professional Development

• Develop strong working relationships with members of the Executive Committee and key personnel across Marketing & Sales, Supply Chain and international operations to achieve the status of trusted adviser.
• Maintain effective communication with internal and external stakeholders including customers, trading counterparties and suppliers, upholding the highest ethical standards.

Attend relevant internal training and actively engage with external consultants and experts to develop expertise and know-how

AUTHORITY AND DECISION-MAKING

• The Senior Legal Counsel is expected to operate with a high level of autonomy, exercising independent judgment on day-to-day legal matters while ensuring the General Counsel and Head of Ethics and Business Integrity is advised on all material and strategic issues in a timely manner.
• The role involves delegated financial authority in accordance with EGA’s Delegation of Authority framework

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications

• Law degree from an internationally reputable university together with a legal qualification entitling the candidate to practise in the UK, USA, Australia, Canada or another common law jurisdiction.

Minimum Experience

• Minimum 10 years’ post-qualification experience, ideally including a combination of training at a leading international law firm and subsequent in-house experience within a multinational corporate environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in commercial law with a focus on commodity sales and trading, marketing, offtake agreements or related transactional work within the metals, mining, energy or natural resources sectors.
• Experience advising on commercial matters across multiple jurisdictions, with an understanding of the legal and commercial considerations applicable to cross-border commodity flows.
• Track record of working effectively at all levels of an organisation, consulting with senior business leadership and stakeholders to deliver pragmatic legal advice.

Skills

• Legal and Commercial Acumen: Exceptional drafting and negotiation skills with the ability to analyse complex legal and commercial issues, provide clear advice on risk, and develop practical solutions. A solution-focused outlook with strong commercial instincts is essential.
• Communication: Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex legal matters clearly to senior management, business stakeholders and external counterparties. Strong influencing and persuasion abilities.
• Organisational Skills: Strategic and creative thinker who is results-oriented, detail-focused and adaptable. Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under pressure.
• Relationship Building: Proven ability to build strong relationships across diverse cultural contexts, inspiring trust and confidence. High ethical standards and a collaborative approach.
• Technology: Technologically adept with excellent computer skills, including proficiency in MS Office applications. Experience with legal AI platforms and a willingness to embrace new legal technology tools is highly valued.