Senior Manager – Legal-Real Estate & Commercial Operations

Shamal Holding is a diversified investment firm that cultivates the extraordinary. Born in Dubai, we curate a unique portfolio of extraordinary investments, experiences and assets to generate meaningful outcomes. The investments we make are strategically chosen and thoughtfully nurtured, mirroring Dubai’s ambition, spirit and energy. As a global investor, asset owner and developer we utilise our resources, know-how and connections, to deliver long-term value, wherever we operate. Our portfolio spans Lifestyle & Entertainment, Destinations, Real Estate, Hospitality, and F&B, including Skydive Dubai, Deep Dive Dubai, XDubai, Dubai Harbour, Kite Beach and more.

As Shamal Holding continues to grow, we’re in search of a Senior Manager - Legal - Real Estate & Commercial Operations. This role sits within the Legal - Real Estate & Commercial Operations sub-function and is responsible to deliver commercially sound, risk-managed outcomes on real estate, commercial and operational matters, with a particular focus on commercial leasing and F&B services. The role is accountable for ensuring the Commercial Asset Management team within the Asset Management Department achieves its commercial objectives with legal risk identified, priced and controlled, acting as its dedicated and primary legal adviser. The role independently owns matters within its agreed portfolio end to end setting legal strategy, structuring transactions, leading negotiations and driving matters to signing, completion or resolution on terms that protect the organisation and meet business timelines. The role is accountable for improving how legal services are delivered in the sub-function – strengthening precedents, risk approach and ways of working – and for enabling the Executive Director to deliver complex, strategic, high-priority and high-value matters by taking full ownership of agreed workstreams and escalating within governance and authority requirements.

• Commercial Asset Management decisions are made with timely, practical legal input, with the role trusted as the team’s primary legal adviser.
• Business planning, asset commercialisation, leasing/licensing strategy and landlord, tenant and operator arrangements progress without avoidable legal obstruction or unmanaged risk.
• The team’s legal matters are visible, prioritised and reported accurately, with specialist LGC input coordinated and issues escalated before they become problems.

• Real estate and related commercial transaction documents (including F&B services) are drafted, negotiated and completed on commercially acceptable terms, on time.
• Transactions move from negotiation to signing and completion with conditions satisfied and post-completion obligations clearly handed over to the business.
• Legal risk on real estate, commercial and operational matters is identified early and mitigated in a way that still enables the business outcome.

• Significant matters in the portfolio land successfully, with the role retaining strategic oversight where other internal lawyers or external counsel support delivery.
• Material risks are surfaced, quantified and either mitigated, specialist-advised or escalated – with no surprises for the Executive Director or leadership.
• Agreed workstreams on complex, strategic and high-value matters are delivered to standard, releasing Executive Director capacity.

• External counsel deliver fit-for-purpose advice within agreed scope, quality and cost, with instructions and outputs actively managed.

• The LGC Department and relevant Business Units act on relevant legal developments in time to adapt.
• The sub-function’s legal strategy, priorities and risk approach are informed by portfolio insight that shapes resourcing, external counsel and service-delivery decisions.
• Cycle time and cost per matter reduce through improved precedents, guidance and appropriate use of AI and legal technology.

• Material real estate transactions and related commercial arrangements involving significant asset values and financial commitments are concluded with exposure understood and controlled.
• No departmental budget ownership; accountable for external legal spend on assigned matters being scoped, managed and kept within approved budgets and delegated authorities.

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience with at least 5 years post qualification experience.
• Significant real estate transactional experience, including real estate sales and commercial leasing. Experience advising on F&B-related contracts preferred.
• Required: Bachelor's Degree in Law or Post-Graduate Qualification in Law. Qualified lawyer in a recognised jurisdiction.
• Preferred: Qualification in a common law jurisdiction, such as England & Wales, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand.

Due to a high influx of profiles, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.