Legal Counsel - Middle East (Further Relocation to Dammam, KSA): Dubai

As legal counsel for NOV, a US-based manufacturer and services provider in the upstream oil and gas industry, your role will be to assist the members of NOV’s regional and global legal departments in providing guidance to stakeholders in its corporate teams and businesses primarily in the Middle East and North Africa region. You will be trained with the Dubai, UAE legal team and be placed long-term in Dammam, KSA at NOV’s Regional Headquarters. Important: Please only apply if you are willing to relocate to Dammam, KSA (NOV Regional HQ) after initial training in Dubai (12-18 months). RESPONSIBILITIES:  The candidate would be responsible for: 

• Providing legal and strategic advice to the corporate and business teams in the Middle East and North Africa region;
• Providing legal counsel in all aspects of local and international laws and regulations, with a focus on commercial law in the upstream oil and gas industry as it relates to the sale of goods and provision of services; 
• Providing support in structuring, drafting and negotiating commercial transactions and projects, including but not limited to sales, purchasing, licensing, commercial agency, provision of services, leasing/rental; 
• Assessing risk profiles and developing the appropriate measures to address and mitigate the identified risks; 
• Supporting and providing advice to the regional stakeholders in connection with commercial transactions and applicable legislation, company policies, and best practices; 
• Identifying those matters which may require external legal counsel’s advice, assigning the matters to and coordinating with external counsel, providing updates on the status of the matters, where necessary; 
• Ensuring legal compliance with the laws of the region and the country of incorporation of the ultimate parent, including but not limited to US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, UK Bribery Act, the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, and US anti-boycott laws;
• Providing guidance on and ensuring compliance with the company’s policies, procedures and industry best practices;
• Adding value to the team and identifying opportunities to improve the legal department’s systems and processes to increase productivity and reduce costs.

• You are fluent in French and English, and fluency in Arabic is preferred;
• You are team-oriented, but with a strong sense of independence;
• You have an analytical and strategic mind;
• You take initiatives, provide solutions, and enable others; 
• You have a demonstrated willingness to take on challenges, but awareness of your own limits; and
• You have excellent communication and negotiation skills. 

• Graduate degree in law.
• Admitted to practice law in a jurisdiction.
• Minimum 2-5 years of legal work experience in an international law firm or corporate legal department.
• Experience structuring, drafting and negotiating commercial transactions.
• Experience in the upstream oil and gas industry, energy industry, or equipment manufacturing sector is preferred.
• Fluency in English is required; fluency in French is required, and Arabic is preferred.