Legal Counsel

Job description / Role

Our client is looking for a Legal Counsel who will be part of the Legal & Compliance Division and who will report to the Head Legal and Compliance.

The role holder works as counsel to the Global Wealth Division and drafts, reviews and negotiates all types of legal documents and agreements involving the application of general corporate and commercial, as well as specialist financial, laws and concepts and provides the Bank with all required legal support to ensure that Bank’s interests are protected.

As the Bank continues to expand in terms of assets acquired, new product and service offerings, customer and supplier agreements entered into with third parties and expansion into new territories, the Bank’s legal risks increase and need to be mitigated by the provision of direct legal advice by counsel in Group Legal and Compliance via the co-ordination and management of strategic legal issues with senior management of the Bank

This division is comprised of:
- Private Banking
- Asset Management Group;
- Securities (brokerage);
- Custody; and
- Investment Group.

The Legal Counsel will also work as advisor to the Legal & Compliance Division both in the United Arab Emirates and abroad as may be required by the Group as and when required.

The Legal Counsel will work as part of the advisory team to protect the Bank from and mitigate against, adverse risk or legal implications.

The Legal Counsel will support the Head Legal and Compliance in performing the following:
- Act as a legal counsel to the Bank, its officers and management.
- Manage a high volume of legal projects (bespoke advisory and transactional) within defined time periods.
- Review, draft and negotiate various legal documentation and advise as to the legality of such matters.
- Advise management of the Bank of the legal implications of proposed policy and management decisions and specific legal issues referred to Group Legal and Compliance after carrying out the necessary research and analysis.
- Advise or recommend from a legal perspective on actions to be taken or refrained from in respect of the issues referred to or topics raised by the business or enablement units within the Bank.
- Advise the Bank’s officers on legal risks associated with business operations, their potential impact and suggest risk mitigating strategies.
- Assist management in developing legal and commercial strategies associated with business operations.
- Manage a continual legal dialogue with the business and enablement units within the Bank in relation to various on-going projects.
- Vet major agreements, launching of new products, etc.
- Stay abreast of changes related to legal issues which may have a bearing on the Bank and advising the relevant management accordingly, both locally and internationally.
- Liaise with a variety of external entities, including external counsel, the Bank’s clients and the Bank’s service providers.
- Management and supervision of external counsel acting on the Bank’s behalf.
- Train and coach junior members of Group Legal and Compliance.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the Group General Counsel and the Head of Legal and Compliance.

Requirements

- LLB Law, and LPC or GDL (or acceptable equivalent), and qualified lawyer or in-house
- Excellent project management skills with strong control
- Strong interpersonal, people management and facilitation skills with good leadership skills
- Ability to generate ideas, think creatively, develop innovative solutions and build effective business relationships quickly
- Team player, able to meet tight deadlines and manage challenging workload
- Fluent in English with strong written and verbal skills
- Focused on driving tasks to completion with pace, whilst retaining a high level of attention to detail and accuracy
- Discrete and has sense for integrity and handles highly sensitive information with absolute confidentiality.

About the Company

Mackenzie Jones Middle East has decades of recruitment expertise in various industry sectors. Along with a deep understanding of key market sectors and regions, we never forget to treat clients, companies and candidates as individuals who have unique needs.

So we always listen, constantly learn, occasionally challenge and frequently advise. Its all part of a service renowned for its courtesy, consideration and dedication. Based in Dubai since 2006, our office covers the GCC and Levant countries and with the right regional expertise, we are the leading specialists.

Were growing rapidly because people appreciate our honesty, commitment and results.