The role
Gateley is expanding its offering in the Middle East and is entering the Tax advisory market as part of its broader legal and professional services platform.
We are building a new, high-quality Tax practice in the UAE, complementing our Corporate, Private Client and Advisory capabilities. This is a unique opportunity to join at an early stage and play a key role in shaping a premium, client-focused Tax offering in the region.
We are recruiting Tax specialists across all specialisms, and levels, from Associates through to (mid-) senior leadership roles.
The team
Our Dubai office, based in DIFC and led by Darren Harris, is home to a well-established and high-performing Corporate and Advisory platform, advising clients across sectors including real estate, infrastructure, private wealth, retail and consumer.
As part of our next phase of growth, our firm has recently appointed a senior Tax leader to establish and scale our Middle East Tax practice. You will work closely with leadership and the wider Gateley platform across the UK and internationally to help build out a fully integrated Tax offering across the region.
This is a rare opportunity to join a new practice with strong institutional backing, existing client relationships, and immediate cross-sell opportunities.
The person
We’re looking for confident and proactive individuals who thrive in a fast-paced professional services environment.
Successful candidates will have an entrepreneurial mindset, experience in one or more tax regimes across the GCC (e.g. CT, TP, VAT etc.), and the ability to solve complex tax issues in a pragmatic, client-focused manner.
Particularly, we’re looking for someone who can demonstrate:
Client-Facing Delivery (Core Focus)
- Advise clients on UAE and international tax matters including corporate tax, structuring, VAT and cross-border issues.
- Support M&A transactions, restructurings and ongoing advisory mandates.
- Work closely with legal and corporate teams to deliver integrated, commercially driven advice.
- Build trusted relationships with clients ranging from start-ups to large corporates and private clients.
Build a Premium Tax Offering
- Contribute to building a scalable, product-led Tax practice in the Middle East.
- Support business development, pitches and client engagement initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to enhance service delivery, efficiency and client experience.
- Collaborate across the tax, legal and corporate finance ecosystem.
Entrepreneurial Growth & Leadership
- Take an active role in shaping the direction of the Tax practice.
- Support and mentor junior team members (for more senior roles).
- Contribute to thought leadership and market positioning in the UAE.
- Operate with a hands-on, build mindset, not just delivery.
Who This Role Suits
We are looking for individuals who are:
- Entrepreneurial and commercially minded, excited by building something new.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Strong communicators with a client-first mindset.
You will typically have:
- Experience in UAE and other Middle East Tax regimes (e.g. Corporate Tax, Transfer Pricing, VAT, or international tax).
- Background from a Big 4, law firm, or international advisory firm.
- Strong understanding of UAE regulatory environment, and preferably experience in Tax Controversy work.
- A legal background or qualification as a Tax Lawyer is preferred, but not essential.