Senior Legal Counsel

Gulftainer is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel – Shipping & Maritime to provide strategic, commercially focused legal advice and support across the Group’s shipping, maritime, port, terminal, and logistics operations. The role will advise on a broad range of maritime and shipping-related legal matters, including vessel operations, charterparties, ship agency, cargo claims, marine liabilities, commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution. Working closely with business leaders and operational teams, the Senior Legal Counsel will help identify, assess, and mitigate legal and commercial risks while supporting the Group’s operational performance and strategic objectives.

Looking for a Senior Legal Counsel at Gulftainer in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates? This role focuses on the day-to-day work of a Senior Legal Counsel.

About the Role SENIOR LEGAL COUNSEL – SHIPPING & MARITIME Job Summary Gulftainer is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel – Shipping & Maritime to provide strategic, commercially focused legal advice and support across the Group’s shipping, maritime, port, terminal, and log

Company Overview

Gulftainer is a leading trade infrastructure and logistics company enabling the movement of goods across key global markets. Founded in Sharjah, UAE in 1976, for over nearly five decades, the company has evolved from a pioneering port operator into an integrated provider of maritime, logistics, and supply chain solutions serving governments, infrastructure partners, cargo owners, manufacturers, and businesses seeking efficient access to regional and international markets. Today, Gulftainer connects major trade corridors across the UAE, GCC, Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America through an integrated ecosystem spanning ports, shipping, logistics, and industrial development.

Quick Details

• Salary Range: Not Specified
• Job Type: Full-time
• Qualifications: Bachelors Degree
• Experience: 5 Year+

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, practical, and commercially focused legal advice on shipping, maritime, vessel operations, and related port and logistics activities.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on shipping and maritime agreements, including charterparties, vessel hire agreements, ship management agreements, ship agency agreements, contracts of affreightment, bills of lading, and other carriage of goods contracts.
• Advise on vessel operations, cargo handling, marine services, port calls, vessel berthing, and other operational matters involving shipping and maritime activities.
• Manage maritime litigation, arbitration, contractual disputes, cargo claims, and other shipping-related disputes in coordination with external legal counsel, insurers, and relevant stakeholders.
• Monitor and advise on applicable UAE maritime laws and regulations, international maritime conventions, flag-state and port-state requirements, and other relevant regulatory frameworks.

Requirements

• Qualified lawyer with a minimum of 6–8 years’ post-qualification experience (PQE) in shipping, maritime, or related commercial legal matters.
• Significant experience in shipping and maritime law, gained in-house within a shipping company, shipowner, vessel operator, ship management business, maritime services provider, port operator, or through a reputable maritime law firm.
• Strong knowledge of maritime contracts, including charterparties, bills of lading, carriage of goods, vessel operations, marine liabilities, and shipping-related commercial agreements.
• Good knowledge of UAE maritime laws and regulations, together with familiarity with relevant international maritime conventions and cross-border legal frameworks.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, and dispute management skills.
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken.

Benefits

• Support the development of standard contractual terms, legal procedures, risk management frameworks, and best practices across the Legal function.
• Work closely with operational, commercial, finance, insurance, compliance, and senior management teams to provide practical legal solutions aligned with business objectives.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and commercial risks arising from maritime operations, contractual arrangements, regulatory developments, and disputes.
• Appoint, instruct, and manage external legal counsel and maritime specialists, ensuring high-quality, timely, and cost-effective legal support.
• Support compliance with applicable maritime safety, environmental, sanctions, trade restrictions, and other regulatory requirements relevant to the Group’s shipping and maritime activities.