The role

DLA Piper Middle East LLP, winner of the UAE Technology, Media & Telecoms Law Firm of the Year award at the 2021 Chambers Legal Awards and 2021 Middle East Legal Awards, and our market-leading Tier 1 Intellectual Property & Technology (\xe2\x80\x9cIPT\xe2\x80\x9d) practice, is offering an exciting opportunity for an ambitious mid-level or senior data protection focussed lawyer to help grow and lead our Middle East regional data protection practice.

While Middle East regional experience and a following would be advantageous, it is not a pre-requisite. However, the candidate must be prepared to invest in their knowledge of this complex and evolving environment, work with the firm\'s existing international data protection teams, the firm\'s existing clients, and work to grow the practice with new clients and opportunities throughout the region.

The successful candidate will work with and be supported by the award-winning Dubai based IPT team, as well as by a recognised, leading international data protection team that spans the globe. You will be a vital part of this international team.

This opportunity provides the right candidate with a unique opportunity carve out a critical role within this international firm.

Experience in other technology related areas will be advantageous, for example, telecommunications, outsourcing, fintech and competition law.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are known for our ability to handle large-scale complex outsourcing transactions, as well as working with the clients to understand the evolving regulatory environment around technology, data and cyber activity. We take a sector approach to our work, with TMT sector teams that includes lawyers from all of our practice groups. It is this approach that distinguishes DLA Piper, ensuring that the advice we provide to our clients is not provided in a legal vacuum but rather considers the broader picture.

A significant amount of the work will be cross-border in nature, working with our global network of offices, so this will suit candidates with a similar mind-set and aspirations to work across jurisdictions. This aspect of the role also means that the successful candidate may be required to travel, mostly to other GCC countries, but possibly further afield.

Candidates should have a flexible approach and be passionate about building on their experience across the spectrum of work undertaken by the team but with an emphasis on data protection compliance programs for both private and public organisations, as well as assisting on large-scale IT outsourcing / digital transformation programmes and advising on new and evolving data protection regimes, in the context of the full range of sectors, including finance, health, transport, entertainment, consumer goods, media, sports, etc.

This will also be a client facing role, so as well as strong technical skills, candidates should have a natural ability to build and maintain strong relationships and network, both internally and externally.

ABOUT YOU

We pride ourselves on having a collegiate environment and we are looking for down-to-earth but confident lawyers with solid core-skills and strong leadership potential.

The successful candidate will have the following skills and attributes:

• An excellent academic record including 2:1 or higher (or international equivalent) in a qualifying law degree
• Experience working within a leading multi-jurisdiction law firm.
• Strong relevant technical skills, ideally experienced in the types of work described above including specific experience in large-scale data privacy and compliance mandates with deep GDPR knowledge
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to present information in a succinct way and an acute attention to detail
• Arabic language skills would be advantageous but not essential
• Be able to create and deliver sustainable, high quality client service whilst also considering the client\xe2\x80\x99s wider business objectives
• Use of initiative and being well organised, with the ability to juggle numerous tasks at once
• Capable of working on own initiative as well as within local and virtual teams, and often to demanding deadlines
• Results orientated, with a pragmatic and flexible approach to work
• Takes ownership for achieving agreed objects
• Commercially astute and stays current on key legal and business news
• Genuinely passionate about the area of TMT and data
• In-depth experience drafting and creating legal documents in English
• Exhibits behaviour consistent with the firm\xe2\x80\x99s values and builds relationships based on respect, trust and integrity

ABOUT US

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES

In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive - we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative \xe2\x80\x93 we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold \xe2\x80\x93 we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional \xe2\x80\x93 we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone\'s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that\'s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people - however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

HYBRID WORKING

We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That\xe2\x80\x99s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.

749 | United Arab Emirates | Dubai

DLA Piper