Role overview
Our client is an international energy group with affiliates across Africa and a legal team that handles most of its work in-house. The group is growing, and its legal function is led from Dubai. They are seeking a Senior Legal Counsel with extensive OHADA experience to join the Dubai team as second in command to the Head of Legal, managing the West Africa legal team of around ten lawyers and running the day-to-day legal affairs of the affiliates in the region. The successful candidate will cover general corporate and commercial work, including supply and distribution, and will be involved in the group's acquisitions as they arise. This is an excellent opportunity for a French-speaking corporate and commercial lawyer from private practice, or a lawyer who has combined private practice with an in-house role, to take a senior position in a growing business.
Key responsibilities
- Manage and develop the West Africa legal team of around ten lawyers
- Act as second in command to the Head of Legal, deputising where needed
- Oversee the day-to-day legal affairs of the group's affiliates across West Africa
- Advise the business on general corporate and commercial matters, including supply and distribution agreements
- Support acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures
- Handle the majority of work in-house, instructing external counsel only where needed
- Work closely with the business as the group grows in the region
Candidate profile
- 8+ years' PQE in corporate and commercial law
- Fluent French, essential
- Extensive OHADA experience, essential
- Private practice background, ideally combined with some in-house experience
- Experience of managing or supervising a team of lawyers
- Arabic beneficial but not required
- Oil and gas experience not required
- Based in Dubai or willing to relocate
About Meyssa Legal
Meyssa Legal places lawyers across private practice and in-house roles in the UAE, with deep experience in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We work consultatively with leading firms, in-house teams, and senior counsel across banking and finance, disputes, corporate, regulatory, and TMT.
Our approach prioritises judgment over targets and discretion over volume. We brief every role in confidence, submit only candidates we genuinely believe fit, and treat every conversation as the start of a long-term relationship.
