Position: Director – Legal Affairs
Location: Dubai, UAE
Employment Type: Full-Time

About Chalhoub Group:
For over 70 years, Chalhoub Group has been the leading luxury partner in the Middle East, curating exceptional experiences across fashion, beauty, jewelry, and lifestyle brands. With over 950 retail stores and a diverse portfolio of 400+ global brands, Chalhoub blends innovation with heritage. Our culture is driven by excellence, sustainability, and a strong commitment to people, technology, and inclusion.

About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director – Legal Affairs to lead the legal function supporting our Joint Venture (JV) Management vertical. With oversight of 25+ joint ventures across the GCC, this role will be responsible for driving corporate governance, legal compliance, and commercial deal structuring while acting as a key advisor to the Group Chief Legal Officer (CLO).

You will work closely with executive stakeholders and legal teams across the UAE and KSA, managing complex commercial transactions, governance, and operational agreements while mentoring a high-performing legal team.

Key Responsibilities:

Legal Strategy & Oversight:

• Lead legal operations for 25+ JVs, focusing on commercial, corporate, and regulatory matters across the UAE and GCC.

• Develop and execute legal frameworks, policies, and governance aligned with the Group’s growth strategy.

• Ensure compliance with regional laws and regulatory frameworks; manage legal risk effectively.

• Oversee entity formation, M&A structuring, and subsidiary governance.

Stakeholder & External Relations:

• Negotiate and maintain relationships with regulators, suppliers, and external legal counsel.

• Collaborate with brand GCs, partners, and regional stakeholders to support commercial objectives and compliance.

• Act as a strategic advisor to the CLO and key executive leadership.

Project & Process Management:

• Drive timely delivery of complex legal workstreams for store openings, brand onboarding, and operational agreements.

• Champion knowledge management, legal process improvement, and compliance reporting.

• Co-lead cross-functional initiatives with finance, real estate, and operations.

Leadership & Team Development:

• Manage a legal team of 6–8 professionals across UAE and KSA, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.

• Set KPIs, develop internal capabilities, and oversee department budget and planning in collaboration with the CLO.

• Represent the legal department in corporate governance committees and internal strategy forums.

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Qualified lawyer with 12+ years of post-qualification experience, including 5+ years in a leadership role.

• In-house and law firm background preferred.

• GCC experience essential; background in luxury retail or consumer goods is an advantage.

Technical & Legal Skills:

• Strong command of corporate law, commercial agreements, joint venture structuring, and governance.

• Familiar with retail operations, regulatory risk, and compliance frameworks.

• Proficient in MS Office and legal management tools (e.g., CLM, EMS).

Leadership & Communication:

• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.

• Proven success in leading legal teams, project management, and budget handling.

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and prioritize in high-stakes environments.

Language Skills:

• Fluent in English; Arabic and/or French is an asset.

What We Offer:

• Flexible work policies and hybrid options

• Exclusive employee discounts

• Competitive compensation package

• Career mobility and internal development opportunities

• A values-driven, inclusive culture recognized by Great Place to Work®