Head of Dispute Resolution📣 Job Ad

About Wasf Company and the Role

Wasf Company for Advocacy and Legal Consulting (WASF) is a Saudi advocacy and legal consulting firm based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The firm delivers integrated legal and advisory services to national and multinational clients operating within the Kingdom, combining strong legal expertise with a practical understanding of business, regulatory, and commercial environments. WASF advises clients across corporate and commercial matters, regulatory affairs, governance and compliance, and dispute resolution. This full-time role for a Head of Dispute Resolution requires over 10 years of experience and is central to the firm's practice.

Practice Focus and Leadership

The Head of Dispute Resolution will lead, develop, and expand WASF's practice in litigation, arbitration, enforcement, and dispute management. This position involves leading significant disputes, formulating legal and commercial strategies, overseeing the practice team, cultivating senior client relationships, and ensuring the development of a profitable and sustainable disputes business. The practice encompasses four primary areas: Litigation, Arbitration & ADR, Enforcement & Recovery, and Dispute Management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Dispute Resolution Practice and be accountable for its overall performance, including developing and executing its annual business and growth plan.
• Establish and maintain high standards of advocacy, legal strategy, and case management, supervising significant litigation, arbitration, and enforcement matters.
• Develop and mentor lawyers within the Practice, ensuring appropriate allocation, supervision, and escalation of matters.
• Lead complex commercial, administrative, corporate, shareholder, employment-related, regulatory, and other specialized disputes.
• Develop dispute strategies based on legal, evidential, and commercial considerations, reviewing and approving significant pleadings, memoranda, and legal submissions.
• Lead domestic and international arbitration mandates, develop arbitration strategy, and oversee proceedings.
• Lead or support mediation and structured settlement processes, advise on dispute avoidance, and lead significant settlement and commercial negotiations.
• Lead enforcement proceedings, advise on enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards, and develop asset and debt recovery strategies.
• Conduct early dispute and litigation-risk assessments, develop dispute portfolio strategies for institutional clients, and oversee case reporting and risk categorization.
• Originate new dispute mandates and client relationships, develop and maintain relationships with senior decision-makers, and lead strategic pitches and proposals.
• Own the Practice's revenue and profitability targets, monitoring pricing, fees, collections, and matter profitability.

Candidate Profile and Requirements

• Saudi legal qualification and eligibility to represent clients before relevant Saudi judicial authorities.
• Significant experience handling matters before Saudi courts and judicial or quasi-judicial bodies.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex commercial disputes.
• Strong understanding of Saudi litigation, evidence, procedural, and enforcement requirements.
• Strong experience drafting and reviewing pleadings, memoranda, and formal legal submissions.
• Arbitration experience is strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to develop and execute sophisticated dispute strategies.
• Experience supervising lawyers and managing significant case portfolios.
• Demonstrated ability to originate business and develop senior client relationships.
• Strong commercial judgment and negotiation skills.

Performance Metrics

The performance of the Head of Dispute Resolution will be assessed against several key indicators, including Practice revenue and profitability, the acquisition of new clients and dispute mandates, the quality of the commercial pipeline, client retention and satisfaction, collections and matter profitability, and the achievement of approved dispute strategies. Further metrics include settlement and recovery effectiveness, procedural and filing compliance, the quality of advocacy and legal submissions, team utilization, productivity, and development, as well as cross-practice collaboration and business generation.

The Firm's Environment

WASF offers its professionals the opportunity to work on sophisticated mandates and engage directly with leading businesses and institutions. This role contributes to the continued growth of an ambitious and evolving Saudi legal practice, supporting clients on cross-border matters through strategic alliances and international relationships.