Job Overview: In-House Funds & Investment Counsel

This is a rare, “foundational” legal role for a boutique investment manager in Dubai , facilitated by Taylor Root . As the first legal hire for this rapidly expanding firm, you will act as the “Legal Architect,” transitioning the company from external reliance to a robust in-house function. Reporting directly to the Head of Legal , you will manage the technical legal lifecycle of various investment vehicles and corporate actions. This position is ideal for a mid-level associate from a top-tier law firm or a current in-house counsel looking for a high-impact role with significant room for equity-style career growth.

Key Information

Recruiter: Taylor Root
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Seniority: 4–8 Years PQE (Post-Qualification Experience)
Qualifications: Common Law Qualified (Mandatory)
Salary: AED 120,000 – AED 200,000 per year (Tax-free)
Candidate Scope: International applications are welcome

Key Responsibilities

You will be the lead execution lawyer for the firm’s domestic and international investment activity:

Investment Documentation: Reviewing and negotiating complex investment agreements, including LPAs (Limited Partnership Agreements), PPMs, and subscription documents.
Corporate Governance: Establishing the “Legal DNA” of the firm by managing board resolutions, entity formations, and internal corporate secretarial tasks.
Transactional Support: Handling the legal aspects of M&A, private equity, or venture capital deals, ensuring all documentation aligns with common law standards.
Regulatory Compliance: Assisting the Head of Legal in navigating DFSA or ADGM regulatory frameworks (as applicable) and ensuring the boutique’s expansion remains compliant.
Service Provider Management: Acting as the primary liaison with external law firms, optimizing legal spend, and bringing critical drafting tasks in-house.

Candidate Profile

The boutique seeks a “High-Pedigree Professional” with the flexibility required for a startup-style environment:

Legal Background: A strong foundation in Finance or Corporate Law from a reputable international law firm or a respected in-house legal department.
Common Law Expertise: Must be qualified in a common law jurisdiction (eg, UK, USA, Australia, South Africa, or Ireland).
Technical Mastery: 4–8 years of experience with a proven ability to independently review and draft investment-grade documentation.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: The “organizational grit” to be the first hire, building processes from the ground up while working in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.
Communication Skills: Excellent professional English; the ability to translate complex legal risks into commercial advice for the investment team.

Salary and Benefits

This role offers a competitive “Boutique-Level” package with a long-term growth trajectory:

Annual Salary: AED 120,000 – AED 200,000 (Tax-free, approx. AED 10,000 – 16,500 per month).
Career Path: Direct mentorship from the Head of Legal with the potential to scale into a Deputy General Counsel or Senior Counsel role as the firm expands.
Relocation: Open to international candidates, offering a gateway into the thriving Middle East private equity and fund management market.
Legal: Standard UAE benefits including residency sponsorship and medical insurance.

Market Context: Legal Salaries in Dubai 2026

In 2026, Dubai remains a global hub for fund managers. Common law qualified lawyers in boutique settings typically receive a base salary plus performance-linked bonuses:

Role Category	Monthly Salary (AED)	Context
Legal Associate (Law Firm)	25,000 – 45,000	International Firm / Billable Hours
In-House Counsel (Boutique)	10,000 – 16,500	Base (Often + Significant Bonus)
Head of Legal / GC	45,000 – 85,000+	Strategic Lead / Partner Level

Unique Job Description

Position: Legal Counsel — Engineering the Foundation of Private Capital

Are you a “Legal Strategist” ready to move from the billable-hour treadmill to a role where you help build an investment powerhouse from the ground up? Taylor Root is looking for an In-House Funds & Investment Counsel for a premier boutique investment manager in Dubai. We don’t just “process papers”; we secure the structures that drive institutional growth. This isn’t a role for a “document reviewer”; it’s a mission for a “Foundational Counsel”—someone who can navigate the complexities of common law investment docs while helping us scale a rapidly expanding firm.

In this position, you are the first legal hire—the “Right Hand” to our Head of Legal. You will spend your days (armed with your 4–8 years of finance experience) reviewing high-stakes investment documentation, managing corporate actions, and ensuring our legal operations are as agile as our investment strategy. Whether you are negotiating a new fund structure or providing “risk-mitigation” advice to the investment committee, your Common Law qualification and “technical grit” will be our greatest assets. You thrive in a environment where you can take total ownership over your work while participating in a global talent pool.

We are looking for a proactive professional with a passion for corporate law and a “growth-first” approach. If you have the “resourcefulness” to act as a sole in-house support and the “interpersonal mastery” to work closely with senior leadership, this boutique offers you a world-class platform to Flourish. Join us in Dubai, and let’s engineer a more extraordinary and legally robust future for the world of private investment together.

Taylor Root, Dubai

The Company

Taylor Root is a global leader in specialist recruitment and executive search, focusing exclusively on the Legal, Risk, and Compliance sectors. Established in London in 1989, the firm pioneered specialist legal recruitment and expanded into the UAE in 2007 to meet the region’s surging demand for high-caliber legal talent. By 2026, the Dubai team has become the largest of its kind in the Middle East, acting as a critical bridge between international law firms and the legal departments of major regional entities like ADNOC , high-growth FinTech startups, and private equity platforms. They are renowned for their “Global Reach, Local Depth” approach, managing everything from newly qualified (NQ) associate placements to high-stakes General Counsel appointments.

Culture

The culture at Taylor Root is defined by the values of being “Authentic, Collaborative, Agile, and Expert.” It is a professional, high-performance environment that rejects the aggressive “sales-first” stereotypes of recruitment, prioritizing long-term partnerships and specialist credibility. The firm operates with an autonomous management style , empowering consultants to “own their desk” while providing a robust global support network. Internal life is characterized by a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and mental well-being, evidenced by their membership in the Mindful Business Charter . It is a workplace that values ”lived expertise,” where recruiters are expected to “speak the language” of the legal professionals they represent.

Location

Taylor Root is strategically headquartered in the DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre) , the region’s primary hub for legal and financial services. Their offices are located at Unit 19-30, Central Park Towers , providing immediate proximity to the world’s leading law firms, the DIFC Courts, and major regulatory bodies. This “at-the-center” positioning allows their consultants to maintain face-to-face relationships with the elite legal community. Additionally, their regional reach extends through constant coordination with their global offices, ensuring they remain the primary touchpoint for legal professionals moving into or within the Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha corridors.

Taylor Root: Core Recruitment Specialisms (2026)

Vertical	Primary Talent & Role Focus
In-House Legal	General Counsel, Legal Directors, and Senior Legal Counsel.
Private Practice	Partners, Associates (Corporate/M&A), and Practice Leads.
Compliance	Chief Compliance Officers, AML Specialists, and Regulatory Managers.
Risk & Audit	Risk Directors, Internal Auditors, and Governance Specialists.
Privacy & Data	Data Protection Officers (DPO) and Privacy Risk Experts.

To apply for this job please visit www.taylorroot.com.