Legal Counsel

JOB PURPOSE:

Assists Senior Legal Counsel in providing professional consultation and advisory services to Senior and Line Management on all matters that have legal ramifications. Ensure compliance by the company in conducting its business with all applicable UAE and Abu Dhabi laws and regulations and Shareholders’ agreements. Provides professional and expert legal advice and perform other legal support services aimed at safeguarding the interests of the Company by ensuring the legality of all its transactions.  This includes rendering professional legal advice, reviewing legal terms of contracts, procedures and internal regulations and handling court cases and claims.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Job Specific Accountabilities

• Providing legal consultation and advice on all legal matters.
• Initiates and coordinates development of internal procedures and regulations necessary to implement Government legislation and Shareholders’ directives.
• Assists concerned parties in drafting contract legal terms and resolving bidders’ qualifications during the tendering period.
• Assists Senior Legal Counsel in managing the Ethics Helpline and filtering and following up on the submitted complaints.
• Renders professional and expert advices to senior and line managements on all matters having legal ramifications.  Provides advice on the interpretation of laws and regulations.  Monitors amendments to laws and regulations and advises on their implications on Company’s operations, liabilities and employees.  Ensures that company Drilling’s operations and activities are at all times in conformity with the applicable Federal and Local legislation and advises Management on any new laws or regulations which company Drilling should comply with.
• Represents and/or coordinates the Company’s representation in all judicial, conciliation and arbitration proceedings of local federal and international legal bodies.  Researches the legal merits of contractual, labour, insurance and other claims and disputes involving company Drilling.  Submits recommendations and participates in settlement negotiations. Follows up on all cases and claims and keeps appropriate authorities advised on progress.
• Represent the Company before public prosecutor, police stations & law firms and follow with them all related legal works.
• Prepares/ reviews and endorses for legal sufficiency all Company’s documents and submits the same to management to obtain approval.
• Assists contract proponents to ensure the inclusion of general legal provisions.  Reviews the scope of work with end users to determine extent of risk involved, based on which, proposes necessary additions, deletions or modifications to the contract legal clauses Discusses and/or prepares responses to tenderers’ queries of legal nature.  Reviews qualifications submitted by bidders and advises on their acceptability from a legal standpoint.
• Spread awareness and highlights important points of all related terms and conditions to end users and contract proponents who involve in certain tender & contracts in order to enable them safeguard Company’s interest.
• Reviews correspondence, forms and other documents relating to legal clauses of contracts, agreements and other matters of legal nature prior to approval by competent authorities.  In so doing, the incumbent ensures that same are legally sound and do not expose the Company’s interests to any risk.
• While reviewing the tenders, identifies any potential risk and advises the concerned accordingly. Conducts thorough review to any Company’s business and ensures that exposure to legal risks are eliminated or minimized.
• Reviews and monitors the Board of Directors Resolutions and ensures their legality and compliance with the applicable laws and bylaws.
• Provides all the necessary support and assistant to tender board
• Reviews all Company’s policies and manuals and ensure that they are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
• Reviews and advises management about company’s memorandum & articles of association and make any necessary amendments thereof.
• Follows-up with the concerned divisions and departments the status of their unsigned contracts under which work has already commenced and proposes remedial action to eliminate liability exposure.
• Participates and joins investigation teams/committees constituted by management to conduct investigations in any infringement or breach of company’s policy or any regulations and provides legal input and advises as and when necessary.
• Knows the Company’s health safety and environment policy, procedures, regulations and objectives as related to his area of responsibility and ensure that they are effectively implemented in his domain.  Ensures by appropriate monitoring and review, the work under his control is performed in a safe and environmentally sound manner.  Ensures effective accident investigation and follow up.
• Comply with all UAE, company, company Drilling and client Asset Integrity Management codes of practice.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor Degree in Law from a recognized University.

Minimum Experience & Knowledge & Skills

• 6 years of experience in petroleum or major industrial concern with broad legal background, preferably in the UAE.
• Proficiency in Arabic and English.
• Must be a computer literate.