Legal Counsel (UAE Law) - Fixed Term

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.

JOB PURPOSE:

• Provide legal and practical advice in relation to UAE laws and legal issues;
• Maintain and exercise rights of audience representing EGA and EGA Group companies in the UAE courts – both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and before any relevant Ministry or government entity in Dubai and Abu Dhabi;
• Assist with procuring EGA Group permits and licenses (of which there are a significant number) particularly in relation to new licenses or following the introduction of a different process on renewal of an existing license;
• Provide transactional and operational legal support and services across the EGA Group; and
• Carry out internal investigations on small to medium size concerns and to assist in the investigation of significant concerns, reported or referred to EGA Compliance.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Litigation and Disputes

Assumes responsibility for UAE litigation from start to finish including but not limited to criminal cases against employees (representing EGA and its UAE based subsidiaries in cases in which an employee of EGA and its UAE based subsidiaries has been killed, or seriously injured), (ii) defending labour cases brought against EGA, and (iii) bringing claims against former employees and contractors that provided services to EGA and its UAE based subsidiaries.

• • Responsibility will include all aspects of case management in order to drive a successful outcome for EGA:
  • taking receipt of the initial statement of claims;
  • assessing the legal and practical merits of the claim/ any counterclaims, and devising the best defence for the relevant EGA company (including whether it is in EGA best interests to settle the claim(s));
  • attending preliminary hearings / hearings for directions.
  • reviewing files, deposing and taking witness statements that support EGA’s stance;
  • legal research, drafting and filing memoranda that argue the defences / counterclaims of EGA; and
  • attending court and arguing EGA’s case; and
  • filing appeals to higher courts and court of Cassation.

2. Emergency Support

• Reduce risk to EGA by providing on-scene assistance to EGA and its employees in the event of any on-site incident, fatality or other emergency that has resulted in the EMT process being invoked and/or where the authorities or the police are called to site.
• Attending police interviews with employees which are conducted on site for something arising during the course of performing their duties.
• Attending public prosecutor investigations with employees which are conducted on site for something arising during the course of performing their duties.
• Liaising with Human Capital, Environmental Health & Safety and Government Relations in order to deliver a seamless emergency support service.

3. Licenses / Permits

• Assumes responsibility for procuring new permits/licenses and assists relevant areas with the renewal of existing permits and licenses.
• Liaising with relevant Departments regarding on-site inspections and materials required to be delivered to support the license or permit application.

4.Provision of General UAE Legal Advice & Transactional Work

• Provides pragmatic and strategic advice on UAE laws /legal process for Human Capital, Health and Safety and other teams, as well as advising them on how to mitigate the risk of claims from employees /former employees.
• Assume primary role in the management of day-to-day legal /regulatory risks arising from Human Capital’s and other areas’ work and processes.
• Produces all POAs required under UAE law, for EGA and UAE Subsidiaries.
• Produces detailed and accurate work and valuably contributes to relevant transactions
• Manages external counsel in relation to the any UAE law matters requiring external support with a view to minimise legal spend whilst still sourcing quality advice

5. Training

• Supervises work of Graduate Trainees and any junior team members and act as general mentor.
• Arrange regular UAE law training sessions for the Legal Team.
• Conduct training sessions and workshops for Human Capital on best practices.

6.Developing Template Documentation

• Develops working knowledge of a broad range of legal documents
• Assists in the continuous development of standard templates and formats for legal documents to increase speed and efficiency of documentation
• Assists in the rollout of standard legal documentation, together with any related policies and explanatory guidelines
• Assistance with provision of training to Human Capital and any other allocated Departments/UAE Subsidiaries in relation to standard templates for legal documents.

7.Building and Maintaining Relationships

• Acts as a point-of-contact for Human Capital and any other allocated Departments/UAE Subsidiaries on legal matters. Development of good working relationships with Human Capital and other relevant Departments
• Engages proactively with Business and allocated Departments/UAE Subsidiaries to respond to queries and manage expectations.
• Satisfactory time management of allocated workflow.
• Liaises with other members of the Legal Department in allocating and prioritising work.

8.Legal Administration

• Contributes to the management of legal matters, managing expectations by clearly communicating workload, pressure points, knowledge and resource needs
• Manages the safe-keeping of legal documentation in accordance with the document retention policy and the document management system.

9.Professional Development

• Maintain professional qualifications
• Maintains awareness of relevant UAE laws and regulations
• Satisfactory attendance at relevant internal and external training

10.Risk and Claims Analysis & Reporting

• Assume responsibility for extracting from each department quarterly confirmations of any known or anticipated claims or legal disputes in that area.
• Review quarterly confirmations and prepare punctual quarterly report for General Counsel setting out anticipated legal risk and exposure.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• UAE Law degree from a recognised law school
• Licensed by the Ministry of Justice in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi to appear in court and represent EGA (it is rare the UAE legal counsel is licensed to appear in court on behalf of the Company that employs him or her: which means contentious work is sent to external counsel, which spending EGA legal budget on the external lawyer to advise and act for EGA.)
• Accreditation with either the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, or an equivalent body.

Minimum Experience:

• 4-7 years of experience of appearing in the UAE courts to argue and defend claims across a range of work including (i) criminal cases against employees, (ii) defending labour cases brought against the company, and (iii) bringing claims against former employees and contractors that provided services to EGA.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong problem solver who employs strategic thinking to achieve desired results
• Research skills
• Fluent English-essential; Fluent Arabic-essential
• Ability to analyse complex legal issues / consult informally with UAE judges
• Demonstrates clear and concise verbal and written communication skills in both English and Arabic
• Highly motivated individual with commitment to long-term career in the legal profession
• Ability to work within a team environment under time pressure.