Summary
NEOM is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel for transactions and joint ventures, based in Digital City, Riyadh. The role covers transaction structuring, legal due diligence, governance, regulatory assessment, and transaction-related dispute strategy, while coordinating with commercial, finance, strategy, contracting, IP, and cybersecurity teams. The position also includes managing team performance, departmental plans, policies, controls, and risk-management processes. Applicants need a law degree, at least 10 years of post-qualification experience in M&A, joint ventures, and corporate transactions, relevant legal admission, and fluency in Arabic and English; an LLM is preferred.
The posting
As published on neom.com. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
Guide legal due diligence processes to surface deal-breaking risks, hidden liabilities, and structural weaknesses before commitments are made. Support legal evaluations of partner capabilities and risks to prevent misalignment or operational exposure. Coordinate with contracting, IP, and cybersecurity teams to ensure integrated legal protections across combined structures. Support NEOM's vision of creating a sustainable, digitally enabled, and future-focused organization. Manage execution of departmental plans and contribute operational insights to strategic and functional planning. Manage teams, resources, performance tracking, and corrective actions to support departmental priorities and KPIs. Manage implementation and continuous improvement of policies, procedures, controls, and risk-management protocols. Manage collaboration with internal functions and external stakeholders, and support capability development and succession readiness. Transaction Structuring: Ability to structure complex transactions and joint ventures that preserve commercial and strategic interests. Legal Due Diligence: Ability to identify deal-breaking risks, hidden liabilities, and structural weaknesses before commitment. Corporate Governance: Ability to assess ownership, governance, control, and exit rights across JV structures. Regulatory Awareness: Ability to evaluate legal and market developments affecting investment and transaction models. Stakeholder Management: Ability to collaborate effectively with commercial, finance, strategy, contracting, IP, and cybersecurity teams. Dispute Strategy: Ability to advise on transaction-related disputes, defensible legal positions, and settlements. Leadership and Communication: Ability to lead teams and translate complex legal requirements into clear business guidance. Bachelor's Degree in Law (LLB) from an accredited university. Master's Degree (LLM) in Corporate, M&A, or International Business Law is preferred; an MBA is a plus. 10 years of post-qualification experience in M&A, joint ventures, and corporate transactions, including at least 4-5 years leading complex deals. Experience from international or top-tier law firms, sovereign wealth funds and PIF portfolio companies, investment banks, or giga-projects in KSA/GCC. Licensed to practice law in KSA or holds an equivalent bar admission, such as UK, US, or UAE DIFC/ADGM. Strong knowledge of the Saudi Companies Law, Investment Law (MISA), Capital Market Authority regulations, and GAC merger control. Proven track record in cross-border JV structuring, PPPs, and legal due diligence. Fluent in Arabic and English, written and spoken.