Senior Legal Counsel (Kuwait)

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and provide comprehensive legal advice and support on transactions and commercial matters in Kuwait and the broader GCC region, including cross-border transactions, joint ventures, franchising, and licensing arrangements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents in both English and Arabic, ensuring compliance with Kuwaiti and applicable international laws.
• Advise on compliance with Kuwaiti local laws and regulations; identify and assess legal risks, and develop strategies to mitigate them.
• Assist business team, GA team in applying for and obtaining license and permit necessary for the operation of the retail, logistic, warehousing and other areas of the company.
• Work closely with senior management and business units to ensure legal requirements are met in all business operations across Kuwait.
• Support business units in communicating with relevant Kuwaiti authorities and external stakeholders, to maintain a business-friendly regulatory environment.
• Represent the company in legal proceedings, negotiations, and dispute resolution matters in Kuwaiti courts and alternative dispute resolution forums.
• Stay up-to-date with changes in the Kuwaiti legal landscape, GCC regulatory developments, and industry trends; proactively communicate updates to relevant internal stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain an adequate and high-quality resource pool of external law firms and legal advisors in Kuwait, and maintain strong relationships with external legal advisors and partners.
• Collaborate with the global legal team to ensure consistency in legal frameworks and compliance standards across jurisdictions.

Mandatory Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in law from a recognized university. An advanced degree is preferred.
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant legal work experience, among which at least 5 years in Kuwait.
• Extensive knowledge of Kuwaiti corporate law, contract law, commercial law, labor law, and regulatory frameworks applicable to foreign-invested enterprises.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills with the ability to present complex legal matters clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
• Native Arabic speaker, with fluent English proficiency (both written and spoken) as a working language.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team.
• Proven track record of managing complex legal projects, transactions, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with Kuwaiti regulatory authorities, licensing procedures, and government approval mechanisms.
• Experience in the retail, logistics, warehousing or food delivery industry, with understanding of supply chain, warehouse operations, dark store leasing, merchant contracts, and logistics service agreements.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• A challenging and rewarding work environment.
• The chance to work with a transnational team of experts.