Senior Commercial Legal Advisor

Oman Air seeks a seasoned legal expert to oversee all commercial legal matters, ensuring the protection of company rights and supporting commercial objectives.

The role will engage with stakeholders across the organization to resolve issues pragmatically and assist with decision-making and contract execution. This includes commercial contracting, projects, fleet transactions, leasing agreements, maintenance contracts, strategic alliances/code-share agreements, digital and IT matters, flight ops, ground ops services, sales and commercial facilitation, cargo, marketing, ancillary, and revenue contracts, and catering services.

The Commercial Counsel will advise all functions, senior management, and staff on relevant legislation, policy, guidelines, and practice standards to ensure consistent quality services are delivered and outcomes improved for Oman Air's business.

1. Provide legal advice on commercial, corporate, fleet, finance, and third-party contracts, agreements, and transactions.
2. Draft, review, and maintain commercial and contractual agreements, including aircraft and engine lease/purchase contracts, restructuring arrangements, sale and purchase agreements, engine exchange agreements, aircraft maintenance agreements, procurement, service contracts, and other contractual agreements required by the airline.
3. Ensure compliance with regulatory and corporate governance requirements.
4. Draft and review legal documentation safeguarding the company's interests.
5. Assess legal risk and provide mitigation strategies.
6. Collaborate with internal departments and carry out due diligence to develop commercial recommendations and provide proactive legal solutions.
7. Stay updated on legal trends and changes relevant to the sector.
8. Provide training and guidance to internal teams on legal and compliance matters.
9. Develops and maintains effective legal & regulatory risk control frameworks and processes in accordance with the company's standards and business objectives.
10. Initiate, review, and edit contracts according to agreed terms and conditions.
11. Represent the company in relationships with business partners and external parties to facilitate workflow and operations pertaining to legal and contracting day-to-day activities.
12. Supervise the relevant in-house workflow and manage junior staff accordingly.
13. Collaborate with external legal counsel when necessary and manage relationships with law firms.
14. Conduct research into legal issues, provide recommendations, and advice as needed.
15. Advise the General Counsel or leadership team on any legal matters as required.
16. Collaborate with external legal counsel when necessary and manage relationships with law firms.
17. Assist in legal disputes at all levels as directed by the General Counsel.
18. Represent the company before authorities and courts in Oman and overseas as directed by the General Counsel.
19. Support colleagues as needed and take on tasks assigned by the Management.

• Must be a qualified lawyer.
• 10-12 years of experience in a corporate legal role, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior management position, preferably in the airline industry.
• Bachelor or post-graduate certification from a top accredited Law School with relevant bar association.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, in English.
• Strong ethical conduct with dedication to maintaining ethical standards across all legal matters and adhering to aviation industry codes of conduct.
• Demonstrates outstanding organizational and leadership abilities.
• Experienced in initiating, drafting, and managing contracts of various nature.
• Proven skills in analyzing legal advice and risks and recommending effective solutions.
• Cost-oriented, possesses effective persuasive, negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Fluent in English (spoken and written).
• Proficiency in MS Office.
• Deep expertise in relevant regulations, laws, international agreements, and other relevant practices.
• Prior experience as a Legal executive managing and leading a legal team for an airline.
• Familiarity with fleet or asset financing transactions is advantageous.
• Experience with multijurisdictional, cross-border transactions is advantageous.
• Stakeholder management with proven experience managing external legal support to support business objectives internationally across multiple countries, including coordinating and handling legal litigations and disputes.
• Expertise in detecting laws and regulations violations through comprehensive internal investigations.