The role

We are looking for an Associate to join our busy Employment practice in Dubai to focus on contentious and non-contentious matters. The ideal candidate will have a strong employment background, gained within a large-scale international or regional top tier firm.

Key responsibilities

• Advising clients on compliance with local laws and regulations. Instructing and liaising with correspondent law firms across the region;
• Advising clients on large scale restructuring exercises including employee communications and drafting documents;
• Advising clients on workforce nationalisation and structuring issues;
• Advising on workforce conduct issues and other internal issues including carrying out fact finding and internal investigations on behalf of clients including implementing recommendations;
• Providing advice and support to clients on a full range of employment issues, including recruitment and sponsorship procedures, remuneration and benefits packages, grievance and disciplinary procedures and issues arising on the termination of employment
• Supporting the corporate department with employment issues arising out of transactions, such as undertaking employment due diligence, drafting warranties and indemnities in agreements and the transfer of employees;
• Drafting and amending employment contracts, employee handbooks, policies and procedures and other employment related documentation;
• Advising clients in the healthcare, education, energy, insurance, construction and aviation sectors on employment specific issues arising in these sectors;
• Defending clients on large scale and complex employment disputes in the local courts and in the financial centres
• Advising clients on settlement of disputes and drafting settlement agreements.
• Advising clients on immigration matters.

Candidate requirements

The ideal applicant will:

• be a qualified lawyer with a 2:1 (or higher) degree classification (or equivalent) attained from a reputed academic institution;
• have a minimum of 3 years post qualification experience as an employment lawyer gained within recognised international law firms. Regional experience would be desirable
• be common law qualified or admitted as a solicitor within a commonwealth jurisdiction;
• have a mature and flexible personality;
• use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems;
• be able to work well autonomously and as part of a larger team; be driven, enthusiastic and flexible team player.
• communicate effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience;
• have a genuine interest in building a career with Clyde & Co in the Middle East; and
• have Arabic language skills.

Role Competency Requirements

Technical Excellence

• Technical legal expertise: the knowledge of the law and ability to apply it
• Research: the ability to conduct research effectively and apply it commercially
• Managing legal processes: the ability to ensure all legal processes are followed efficiently and effectively

People and Team

• Guiding individual performance and development: develops the skills of self and others
• Teamwork and collaboration: working cooperatively and effectively with others
• Leadership: creating high performing teams

Client Relationships and Business Development

• Building business relationships: establishing, maintaining and using relationships to create and develop business opportunities
• Commercial thinking: understanding the commercial drivers
• Cross-selling and business development

Finance and Practice Management

• Finance management and understanding of the business
• Project management: ensuring projects are delivered
• Knowledge sharing

Personal Effectiveness

• Communication
• Clarity of thinking
• Personal contribution

Description of the work group

Clyde & Co is one of very few firms in the region that has a dedicated team of specialist employment and incentives lawyers advising on the varied issues facing businesses on a day to day basis. The team has native Arabic speakers and provides specialist advice within the ambit of a large full service international law firm.

The firm's specialist lawyers provide advice across all areas of contentious and non-contentious employment law, with a focus on providing focused commercially orientated advice and practical solutions.

The firm advises clients across the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council ( AGCC ), in various sectors including construction, technology, hospitality, retail and insurance, on compliance with employment and sponsorship regulations. In the UAE, the firm advises on regulations in the free zones, including DIFC Employment Law, as well as compliance with the Federal Labour Law and immigration regulations.

Equally, advice is provided on applicable quotas and regulations for the employment of nationals in each of the AGCC member states, and employee arrangements, including international secondments or assignments.

Clyde & Co advises local and foreign owned companies on the implementation and structure of executive and all-employee incentive arrangements as well as related employment, regulatory and corporate governance matters.

Clyde & Co, MEA

With over 30 years' experience in the region and the largest presence of any international law firm, we pride ourselves on being able to help clients recognise and overcome the challenges of doing business in the Middle East and Africa.

In terms of our Middle East foot print, our more than 40 partners and 150 legal professionals work from four offices located in the region's major commercial hubs, enabling us to support our clients across the full spectrum of their corporate and commercial needs throughout the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and wider Levant.

In Africa, Clyde & Co is one of the largest international law firms operating on the continent, with over 120 lawyers helping clients to enter and operate in Africa.

We have been active in the region for over 20 years, advising on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions that include some of the continent's largest infrastructure and energy projects.

About the Firm

Clyde & Co is a leading global law firm, with 480 partners, 2400 lawyers, 3200 legal professionals and 5000 people in over 60 offices and associated offices worldwide.

We specialise in the sectors that underpin global trade and commercial activity, namely: energy, marine, insurance, transport, construction, trade and commodities. We are globally integrated, offering a comprehensive range of contentious and non-contentious legal services and commercially minded legal advice to businesses operating across the world.

We are committed to operating in a responsible way. This means progressing towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities and clients, using our legal skills to support our communities through pro bono work, volunteering and charitable partnerships, and minimising the impact we have on the environment.

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