Legal Counsel
Job Description
Required Qualifications & Skills
Legal Degree: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is mandatory; a Master’s (LLM) is often preferred.
Specialization: Minimum 5–8 years of specific experience in Real Estate law, ideally within a developer or a Tier 1 law firm’s real estate practice.
Drafting Excellence: Ability to draft airtight, complex contracts in English (and often Arabic, depending on the jurisdiction).
Responsibilities Duties:
Core Responsibilities
1. Land Acquisition & Due Diligence
Title Verification: Conducting thorough "due diligence" on land plots to ensure they are free of encumbrances, liens, or legal disputes.
SPAs (Sales & Purchase Agreements): Drafting and negotiating high-value agreements for the purchase of new development sites.
2. Regulatory Compliance & Licensing
RERA/Government Liaison: Ensuring all projects are registered with the appropriate authorities and that escrow account requirements are strictly followed.
Permitting: Advising on the legal requirements for zoning, building permits, and environmental impact assessments.
3. Project Development & Construction
Construction Contracts: Drafting and reviewing FIDIC-based contracts for consultants, main contractors, and sub-contractors.
Joint Ventures: Structuring legal frameworks for partnerships with other developers or landowners.
4. Sales, Leasing & Asset Management
Unit Sales: Standardizing "Off-Plan" Sale and Purchase Agreements for individual buyers.
Leasing: Drafting commercial and retail lease agreements for the developer’s malls or office towers.
Owners Association (OA): Setting up the legal structure for the management of common areas and service charge collections.
5. Dispute Resolution
Litigation Management: Managing disputes with contractors (delay claims) or defaulted buyers, often coordinating with external law firms for representation in local courts or arbitration centers (DIAC/DIFC).