Junior Legal Counsel

Job Description

Driven to create unique home-grown food concepts that bring people together, the Independent Food Company is a UAE-based hospitality company with multiple concepts under its umbrella – SALT, Parker's, Somewhere, Public, Soil and Kumo.

We are presently seeking to hire a highly qualified Junior Legal Counsel to oversee the legal aspects of our business. This role would be responsible for ensuring that the company abides by the prevalent legal guidelines and act as legal advisor to management about all relevant issues.

• Contract Management: Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements, including supply chain contracts, distribution agreements, NDAs, and lease agreements.
• Regulatory Compliance: Monitor and ensure compliance with UAE local laws and F&B-specific regulations (e.g., Dubai Municipality, MoIAT, and food safety standards).
• Corporate Secretarial Support: Manage corporate documentation, including board resolutions, Power of Attorneys (POAs), and trade license renewals.
• Strategic Advisory: Assist in developing legal defensive or proactive strategies to minimize risk and protect the company's commercial interests.
• Dispute Resolution: Handle day-to-day legal claims, manage basic dispute matters, and liaise with external counsel when necessary.
• Legal Tracking & Reporting: Maintain a robust tracking system for contract expirations, legal filings, and ongoing litigation or administrative matters.

• 2–5 years of Post-Qualification Experience within a business environment.
• Previous experience in the F&B, Retail or Hospitality sector is highly preferred.
• BSc in Law or a J.D. degree.
• Strong familiarity with UAE laws and regulations and the regional corporate landscape.