Senior Associate (6+ PQE) - Employment

Contextual Overview

International law firm Charles Russell Speechlys is inviting applications for a full-time Senior Associate (6+ PQE) position within its Employment practice group in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) office. The role involves advising a diverse Middle East and international client base—including corporations, senior executives, and entrepreneurs—on strategic HR advisory matters, employment litigation, workplace investigations, executive exits, restrictive covenants, and transactional employment support.

Key Eligibility Criteria

• Experience Level: Senior Associate with 6+ years of Post-Qualification Experience (PQE).
• Jurisdictional Qualification: Qualified across both Middle East onshore and offshore jurisdictions. Experience in DIFC and ADGM legal frameworks is highly desirable.
• Location Requirement: Candidates must already be located in the UAE.
• Practice Expertise: Proven experience managing GCC local firm partnerships, advising on corporate transaction employment aspects (buyer/seller), worker status, non-competes, grievances, and disciplinary procedures.

Responsibilities & Scope of Work

• Provide legal and strategic employment advice on documentation, policies, grievances, redundancies, and family-friendly workplace provisions.
• Conduct employment litigation, attend Preliminary Hearings, and handle case management steps.
• Perform due diligence on corporate transactions, draft warranties/indemnities, and identify red-flag employment risks.
• Advise senior executives on executive exit terms, severance packages, and restrictive covenants.
• Engage in client marketing, business development, and thought leadership initiatives to grow the firm's Middle East practice.

Stipend, Compensation & Mode

• Salary & Benefits: Competitive salary with annual salary review, discretionary annual bonus, and fee earner time-recording bonus.
• Perks: Premium international medical, dental, and optical insurance, 30 days annual leave, DIFC Employee Workplace Savings Plan (DEWS), and Life Assurance.
• Work Mode: Hybrid working approach (subject to managerial approval).

Application Procedure & Required Documents

Interested applicants must submit their application directly via the official LinkedIn posting or institutional application portal linked below. The process redirects to the firm's ATS portal (Reach-ATS).

Official Notification & Contact Information

• Official Job Portal: View Official Job Posting on LinkedIn
• Contact Info: Not specified in the official listing.