Junior Legal Counsel Wholesale Banking

Job Title: Junior Legal Counsel

Department: Group Legal

Direct Supervisor: Head of Legal Wholesale Banking

Job Purpose:

• Provide prompt and effective legal assistance to the Legal team with specific focus on Wholesale Banking Legal.
• Provide sound legal advice on a wide range of wholesale banking financial products and services, transactions, and matters, under supervision of senior legal counsel.
• Identify legal risks, ensure compliance with applicable banking and financial regulations, and support implementation of risk mitigation strategies.
• To work independently, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• To address multiple assignments, work well under pressure, be agile in responding to shifting priorities, and assist an advise on diverse legal matters.
• Interact with internal clients and stakeholders as required.

Responsibilities:

• Draft and review various financing documentation, including LMA-based agreements and security packages, in line with UAE and international banking laws and best practice, under supervision of senior legal counsel.
• Assist and support senior lawyers in various banking and finance transactions, advice and research.
• Assist in negotiations with counterparties, obligors, and third parties.
• Provide sound legal advice on a wide range of wholesale banking financial products and services, transactions, and matters, under supervision of senior legal counsel.
• Contribute to Bank-wide initiatives and wholesale banking legal projects, including digital transformation, innovation, banking and financial products and services, initiatives with active engagement across the Bank’s international offices.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of legal policies, procedures, and templates.
• Collaborate with colleagues, business teams, and stakeholders, to contribute to innovative, commercially sound, and legally robust solutions.
• Undertake legal research on banking and finance laws and financial services regulations, cases, and topics.
• Identify legal risks, ensure compliance with applicable banking and financial regulations, and support implementation of risk mitigation strategies.
• Proactively update legal knowledge and technical skills through training, seminars, and other resources
• Ensure legal advice complies with internal Bank policies, applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
• Review documents to establish customer’s capacity and due authority (i.e. POA, articles and by-laws, board and shareholders resolutions, commercial license, certificate of incumbency and related documents).
• Provide legal input on new products, services, operational strategies, and governance.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues in a team-oriented environment.
• Manage own matters and deliverables, maintaining accurate records of advice and documentation through practice management tools.

Qualifications, Experience, and Competencies

• Emirati national with a Law Degree
• Minimum 3 years’ post-qualification experience in banking and finance law, preferably with a top-tier law firm.
• Knowledge / Experience in: Banking & Finance, Corporate Finance, Corporate and Commercial, Financial Services & Financial Services Regulation, Cross border financial transactions, and LMA documentation (is desirable).
• A strong academic record and a law degree from a reputable university.
• Admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction.
• Languages: Fluent in English and Arabic.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in drafting legal documents and interacting with clients, stakeholders, and colleagues.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong accuracy and attention to detail in legal research and document review.
• Effective team player with strong collaboration skills.
• Proactive, adaptable, and eager to learn new skills.
• Able to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Skilled at managing multiple assignments, working under pressure, and providing advice on diverse legal matters.
• Proficient in a range of computer applications.