Legal Advisor – UAE, Kuwait & LGI

Job Location: Dubai

Company description

Ferrero is a family-owned company with a truly progressive and global outlook and iconic brands such as Nutella®, Tic Tac®, Ferrero Rocher®, Raffaello®, Kinder Bueno® and Kinder Surprise®. As the love for our brands continues to grow, so too does our global reach. Represented in more than 50 countries, with products sold in more than 170, the Ferrero Group is loved by generations around the world. The secret to our global success? 40,000 dedicated employees who celebrate care and quality to craft a business, careers and brands we are proud of. Join us, and you could be one of them.

Diversity Statement

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all of our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative and highly rewarding.

About the Role:

The Legal Advisor plays a critical and influential role as a trusted business partner and senior legal expert, providing comprehensive legal support to the Ferrero entities operating in the Gulf & Arab Countries region. Reporting directly to the Region General Counsel, this senior-level position holds significant responsibilities in ensuring legal compliance, managing risk, and driving the achievement of business objectives.

Main Responsibilities:

Legal Counsel and Advisory

You will provide accurate and timely guidance on complex legal matters including company, labor, commercial, food, and media laws, and regulatory compliance across the GAC region. This role requires thorough research to evaluate legal risks and implications on business decisions, ensuring all strategies align with legal requirements. By proactively identifying potential issues, you will offer effective mitigation strategies and work closely with internal teams and senior executives to ensure seamless legal compliance and support business objectives. Staying updated with the latest laws and regulations is crucial for ongoing compliance.

Contract Drafting, Negotiation, & Compliance

You will lead the drafting, reviewing, and negotiation of complex commercial agreements and legal documents, ensuring accuracy and protecting the company’s interests. Provide informed advice on contract terms and conditions and ensure compliance with obligations throughout the contract lifecycle. This role also involves conducting due diligence and risk assessments for new business ventures while developing efficient contract management processes and policies to optimize operations and minimize risk exposure.

Risk Management & Mitigation

You will identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across multiple jurisdictions in the GAC region. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop effective risk management strategies, policies, and solutions for legal challenges. Including providing expert advice on compliance initiatives and conducting internal investigations, while implementing remediation plans to resolve issues. You will develop training programs to enhance legal awareness and foster a culture of compliance and accountability within the organization.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Protection

You will safeguard the company’s intellectual property rights in the GAC region, collaborating closely with the headquarters’ IP team to enforce trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property assets. You will monitor for IPR infringements, counterfeiting, or unauthorized use of the company’s IP, taking swift action as necessary. Coordination with external legal counsel, regulatory authorities, and law enforcement will be essential to uphold the company’s intellectual property rights.

Food Law Compliance

You will provide strategic oversight to ensure strict compliance with relevant food laws and regulations throughout product development and production processes. You will advise on areas such as food labeling, advertising, and product claims, ensuring compliance and consumer safety. Staying updated on evolving food regulations and industry standards and implementing necessary changes to align with legal requirements and best practices is crucial.

Stakeholder Engagement & Education

You will collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure cross-functional teams are well-informed about legal, compliance, and data protection requirements. You will develop and deliver training programs and communication initiatives to foster a culture of compliance, ethics, and legal excellence within the organization. Additionally, you will provide expert legal guidance on complex legal matters and contractual obligations while building and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders, including regulators, public authorities, and legal partners.

Who we are looking for:

Graduate from an accredited university with a Law degree.

Possess a minimum of 10-12 years of extensive experience in a corporate legal department or reputable law firm, with a proven track record of successfully handling complex legal matters.

Exhibit exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including exemplary legal drafting abilities and the ability to articulate complex legal concepts clearly and effectively.

Combine strong negotiation skills with a commercial, pragmatic, and solutions-focused approach, consistently aligning legal strategies with broader business objectives.

Demonstrate the utmost professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality in handling sensitive information and matters.

Showcase expertise in risk mitigation and the ability to provide innovative legal solutions that align with business objectives while ensuring legal compliance.

Exhibit credibility, adaptability, and strong initiative, consistently taking ownership of responsibilities and driving positive outcomes.

Possess excellent written and interpersonal skills, with fluency in Arabic as a prerequisite.

Demonstrate willingness and availability to travel as required to support business needs.

How to be successful in the role and at Ferrero:

Consumers, quality and care are at the heart of everything we do. So, to be successful at Ferrero, you’ll need to be just as consumer and product centric as we are – dedicated to crafting brilliant results for consumers around the world. 

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