Senior Associate - Corporate / M&A - Abu Dhabi

Ref FEL192 Location United Arab Emirates Sub Location Abu Dhabi Job type Lawyers Department/Practice group Corporate Position Type Permanent

Role Summary Description We are a leader among international law firms, providing business law advice of the highest quality throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US. With over 2,700 lawyers in 28 key business centres around the world, we provide a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.   Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has an extensive history working in the MENA region for a wide range of clients, including regional and state government entities, international financial institutions and international and domestic corporations, across a range of industry sectors and Middle East jurisdictions.   Our Middle East team has over 40 lawyers across the region in the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), Bahrain and Saudi Arabia (through our strategic alliance with the Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan).     Role Summary Our corporate lawyers work on a broad mix of transactions, including public and private M&A, joint ventures, private equity and securities offerings. Most of the work has an international dimension and will range from some of the largest and most complex transactions to smaller deals which provide greater responsibility. The group in the Middle East is particularly active in energy and natural resources.   We are currently looking to recruit an experienced and dynamic lawyer (of senior associate or counsel status) to join the corporate team in Abu Dhabi. The role will be to help service our growing corporate/commercial practice. Working with, and seeking to win new, bluechip clients, both based in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere, the focus will be on demanding and intellectually challenging mandates. The role has a significant business development component and will be suited to candidates ambitious to stretch themselves working within the network of a major international law firm.   The role will involve working on joint ventures, M&A transactions and commercial contracts over a variety of sectors. The successful candidate will be given a significant role in helping to develop the firm's Abu Dhabi based corporate practice while being stretched to develop his or her technical and personal skills. Key Responsibilities To lead and supervise legal team on corporate transactions To initiate specific BD activities. The candidate will need to work with existing clients and work on developing business from existing contacts Advising clients on legal and commercial issues Drafting/negotiating transaction documents Managing transactions Developing and managing client relationships Actively participating in business development/client events Training/managing trainees/junior lawyers Requirements Strong academic record and qualifications High quality lawyer with strong technical and commercial background At least four years of corporate/commercial experience ideally at a leading international law firm, with solid M&A credentials Good understanding of SPAs, joint venture agreements and other M&A agreements and commercial contracts Understanding of local UAE laws strongly preferred but not essential Arabic language skills preferred but not essential Experience of working in the Middle East, and Abu Dhabi, in particular is strongly preferred but is not essential Our lawyers in Abu Dhabi work closely with their colleagues in other offices and are responsible for transactions throughout the MENA region. The candidate must be willing and able to travel across the MENA region and further afield as and when required Strong technical and commercial abilities. The Individual Able to work effectively as part of a team and supervise more junior lawyers/trainees Highly effective communicator (both orally and in writing) Able to take on a high degree of responsibility and manage a challenging workload Committed to providing an excellent service to our clients Proactive involvement in business development and knowledge management including networking, organising seminars, attending conferences and publishing Confident and self-motivated Be self assured, imaginative, team orientated, intellectually curious and driven. Other Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing. Please note that, in line with the requirements of the UK Border Agency, non-EEA candidates may not be appointed to a post if a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled EEA candidate can fill the position.   Freshfields is the official legal services provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (appointed February 2009)

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