With the sector expected to grow significantly over the next decade, GEMS Education is extremely well positioned to capitalise on this growth – it is supported by an eminent advisory board and the premier private equity house, Abraaj Capital, has recently acquired a minority stake in the company. Over the next few years it plans significant and rapid growth across the MENASA region (including UAE, Qatar, KSA, Oman, Egypt, India, Pakistan and South Africa). Growth will be through both owned and managed schools and will be both organic and through strategic acquisitions.
An experienced General Counsel is now required to establish a dynamic, business focused legal function thereby facilitating GEMS Education’s growth plans and on-going success. The remit of this role will be broad and key responsibilities will include:
• Reviewing and putting the necessary legal and compliance structures and framework in place within the company.
• Negotiating financing agreements from traditional debt to sukuks in both debt and capital markets to fund GEMS Education’s expansion plans in conjunction with the shareholders and external counsel.
• Supporting GEMS Education’s international growth and development across multiple jurisdictions including drafting, reviewing and negotiating MOU’s; MOI’s; joint venture agreements; land sales agreements; high value, complex land lease agreements; agency agreements; agreements relating to the structuring of the offshore companies; and, advising the business on more day to day company/commercial, HR and Employment issues.
• Understanding regulatory compliance environments across multiple jurisdictions and ensuring business awareness of the same.
• Advising on ad hoc matters pertaining to and arising out of individual schools, parents and students.
To succeed in this position you will be an experienced, international corporate lawyer with very strong commercial acumen and a desire to work in a fast growing, often frenetic environment. You will be willing and able to build solid working relationships with multiple customers and be diplomatic, responsive, inquisitive and collaborative. Management experience is strongly preferred as this role will entail managing a small but growing legal function. Whilst regional experience would be beneficial, it is not a prerequisite.
