Job Description

Roles & Responsibilities

Job Purpose: The General Counsel will be responsible for providing impartial, independent legal opinion and advice to the Management, Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors of ASYAD Shipping Company and subsidiaries (ASC). The General Counsel has the responsibility to: provide quality, pragmatic, timely and cost-effective legal services to ASC and its subsidiaries; identify, develop, communicate, and monitor policies which will ensure compliance with applicable law by, and minimize impacts of identified legal risks to, ASC, its shareholders and subsidiaries; be part of the decision-making process in areas of significant, company-wide impact; and be part of the formulation of company strategies, the evaluation of new ventures and major investment proposals or divestments. be part of a team of professionals working for a publicly listed company with diversified fleet. Please note that ASYAD Group has implemented an operating model where the Legal Unit is centralised. To the extent required, the General Counsel is expected to inform and seek the advice of the Group Chief Legal Officer of ASYAD Group on significant legal matters impacting ASC business, or ASYAD Group, and on matters that impact the legal function of the group.

Key Accountabilities Description

• Draft, review, and advise in relation to: Charter parties and other commercial contract. Marine insurance and claims; Ship management (technical) contracts; Marine regulatory environment, compliance and international sanctions; Class and flag requirements and practice; Ship financing; Crew employment contracts and matters generally; Protection and Indemnity (P&I) and Freight, Demurrage and Defence (FD&D) matters, where appropriate subject, to P & I club agreement; Ship building and repair contracts; and Other commercial contracts relevant to ASC and its subsidiaries.
• Ensure quality and timely review and advise in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Ensure ASC interests are properly protected.
• Evaluation of legal risks and advising mitigation steps.
• Proper Liaison with relevant department to ensure the best outcome.
• Generally, advise ASC on all matters requiring legal input such as but not limited to, corporate governance, corporate, property, leases, employment, finance and banking, procurement, chartering, shipbuilding, ship acquisition and selling, etc.
• Ensure compliance of ASC, its subsidiaries, and business with applicable laws and regulations.
• Resolve any audit findings, or non-compliances identified from a legal perspective.
• To provide the insurance team with expert knowledge in contracts as well as claim issues.
• Liaise with other departments and business units in law-related areas of significant company-wide impact (e.g. flagging, class, insurance, HSSE, ship building and repair contracts, and maritime transportation).
• Monitor performance of legal department staff advising on maritime, and shipping matters, and supervise their execution of work.
• Ensure career development for legal department staff, in particular Omanis on shipping and maritime areas of law and industry knowledge.
• Set performance KPIs to ensure development of the staff and liaise with Legal Unit of Asyad Group to ensure alignment of performance.
• Ensure utilisation of existing registers to monitor performance of the works, and time taken to deliver the work.
• Conduct internal training programs, and on the job-training for areas of development.
• Propose training programs for the legal department staff.
• Propose and implement improvements to the management of the legal department, and interface with the Legal Unit of Asyad Group.
• Maintain excellent client relationships with senior managers and stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of pragmatic and quality legal services.
• Obtain continuous feedback from stakeholders, and ensure any significant issues faced are addressed and resolved.
• Identify major legal risks facing the ASC Group and propose management and mitigation options.
• Set the legal budget for internal & external legal spend with the Group Chief Legal Officer, CEO and Board; be accountable for the legal budget of ASC and for providing management information as appropriate.
• Cost optimization of legal budget.
• Act as the primary relationship manager with all external counsel to ensure clear instructions and cost-effective, relevant work product; ensure external legal spend is efficient and appropriate .
• Ensure compliance with procurement and tendering policy, legal affairs policy on engagement of external counsel, and any other policy.
• Lead the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction.
• Identify programs, and systems that will contribute to the improvement of ASC s systems, processes, and practices.

Communication:

• Internal: Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Management, Group Chief Legal Officer of Asyad Group, Employees of the Legal Unit, All levels of staff. Asyad Group, and its business units
• External: External legal/business community, Finance/audit consultants, Government and regulatory agencies, Major suppliers, Contractors, Customers, Business partners

Desired Candidate Profile

Qualifications:

• Minimum Qualification: Bachelor s in law or equivalent from a reputable university or law school with admission to a recognised civil or common law bar. Preferably qualified in English Law.
• Minimum Experience: Minimum of 10 years experience in shipping and maritime areas of law, as relevant to ASC s business. An individual must have significant experience liaising with and advising directors, senior management and clients on complex legal matters.

Job Specific Skills:

• Excellent communication skills (oral, written, presentation). Have clear, accurate and persuasive communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills (focus on strategic and conceptual thinking).
• Strong leadership and managerial skills.
• Good people development skills (management, coaching and mentoring).
• General computer literacy (Microsoft Office e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) mandatory.
• Have a strong orientation towards the provision of quality services and products, combined with a focus on creating value.
• Possess drive and determination.
• Possess self-discipline , diplomacy and tact.
• Have strategic and commercial acumen to be able to contribute to the business beyond the confines of their pure legal training.
• Be hands-on, possess a strong work ethic and have the ability to take a helicopter view of the business whilst prioritising many projects.
• Be a relationship builder who enjoys working with others and who has a history of instilling confidence amongst multiple parties (management, colleagues, subordinates, government bodies, external general counsel etc).
• Possess strong attention to detail whilst working concurrently on multiple projects under time pressure.
• Act as an advocate of ASC and its values with all internal and external stakeholders.
• Commercial mindset.

Competencies:

• Legal Advice and Problem Solving
• Legal Expertise
• Regulatory Requirement
• Shipping, Maritime and Logistics Sector Knowledge
• Commercial Mindset
• Stakeholder Management