Senior Manager - Legal Counsel

About the Position

Senior Manager - Legal Counsel

GMG is a global well-being company retailing, distributing, and manufacturing a portfolio of leading international and home-grown brands across sport, everyday goods, health and beauty, properties, and logistics sectors. We are seeking a Senior Manager - Legal Counsel to join our team in Dubai, MENA, AE. This role will be responsible for overseeing HR and labor-related cases within GCC jurisdictions and managing litigation matters across the Group.

Responsibilities

• Lead all labor and employment litigation and dispute resolution matters across the GCC.
• Represent the company in labor court proceedings and liaise with external counsel when required.
• Provide expert legal advice and risk assessments related to HR policies, terminations, disciplinary actions, grievances, employment contracts, and labor disputes.
• Draft legal documents, pleadings, and statements related to ongoing cases or claims.
• Develop and enforce legal strategies to defend the Group’s interests across multiple jurisdictions.
• Build strong working relationships with HR, Government Affairs, and business leaders to ensure alignment and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with local labor laws and employment regulations in each operational market.
• Maintain and update legal precedents, case databases, and litigation trackers.
• Proactively monitor regulatory changes and communicate legal implications to relevant stakeholders.
• Manage labor litigation at appellate and cassation levels, ensuring strong legal positioning for escalated cases.
• Coordinate with senior counsel on complex or high stakes matters, ensuring strategic alignment at each level of jurisdiction.
• Lead mediation and arbitration efforts to resolve labor disputes amicably and efficiently, minimizing exposure to formal litigation.
• Draft and negotiate settlement agreements in coordination with internal stakeholders and external mediators.
• Oversee legal aspects of internal investigations related to employee grievances, misconduct, or whistleblower claims to support defensible legal positions.
• Prepare litigation readiness frameworks, including evidence preservation, witness coordination, and pre-litigation documentation standards.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of GCC labor laws and legal frameworks, particularly UAE, KSA, Qatar.
• Litigation strategy and case management.
• Contract drafting and legal interpretation.
• Legal risk assessment and mitigation.
• Negotiation and dispute resolution.
• Legal research and regulatory analysis.
• Proficiency in managing and coordinating with external counsel.
• Court representation and documentation management.
• Appeals and cassation procedures (experience handling higher court matters).
• Case law monitoring and precedent tracking.
• Internal investigations related to litigation matters.
• Drafting settlement agreements and consent orders.
• Litigation budgeting and cost control.
• Crisis management and reputational risk mitigation during litigation.
• Litigation reporting dashboards for executive leadership.

We Offer

• An opportunity to become part of diverse teams with international exposure.
• Comprehensive family medical insurance.
• Family residency sponsorship and flight allowances.
• Up to 30% discount in our premium retail sports brand stores.
• Up to 20% discount in our pharmacy chain.

About the Company

At GMG, we're dedicated to nurturing a vibrant, inclusive, and engaging work environment that promotes growth, innovation, and well-being. Join us in our mission to inspire victories that make the world better – for our team, our consumers, and our communities.

If you're seeking a challenging role where you can make a significant impact, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today to become a part of our journey.