Legal Associate - Emirati Talent

What You Will Do

Your responsibilities will span a wide range of legal and operational matters, including:

• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts and flow documentation, including master agreements, NDAs, service agreements, vendor contracts and financial instruments.
• Support senior lawyers in complex negotiations, preparing summaries, redlines and risk assessments.
• Conduct thorough legal research on UAE and international laws, regulations and market developments, translating findings into clear, actionable advice.
• Monitor and assess the impact of new or amended legislation and regulatory guidance on ADSS's business activities.
• Assist with all aspects of corporate governance, including board matters, subsidiary management, regulatory filings and maintenance of corporate records.
• Review and advise on technology-related agreements, including SaaS, data processing, platform licensing and fintech partnerships.
• Liaise with internal business units (trading, technology, operations, compliance, finance) to provide timely and pragmatic legal support.
• Help identify and implement process improvements within the legal function, including the development of standard templates and playbooks.
• Manage and track legal matters and deadlines across an active portfolio of projects.

Who We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate will be:

• A qualified lawyer or paralegal with 1-4 years of experience, ideally in a financial services, commercial or technology-focused legal environment (private practice or in-house).
• Educated in law at an accredited university; an LLB, LLM or equivalent qualification is required.
• Fluent in English (written and spoken); Arabic language skills are highly desirable and will be a significant advantage, though not a strict requirement.
• Experienced in handling high-volume flow documentation and standard commercial contracts, with an eye for speed and accuracy.
• Knowledgeable in UAE commercial, corporate and financial law; familiarity with FSRA/ADGM or DFSA frameworks is a strong advantage.
• Technically literate and comfortable reviewing technology, fintech and data agreements.
• A proactive self-starter with genuine intellectual curiosity and an entrepreneurial mindset - someone who spots issues before they arise and brings solutions, not just problems.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality output under time pressure.
• A collaborative team player who communicates clearly and builds trust with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.

What We Offer

• A front-row seat in the legal function of a leading regional financial institution.
• Direct mentorship from experienced senior lawyers with deep market and regulatory expertise.
• Exposure to sophisticated, multi-jurisdictional legal matters across trading, technology and corporate domains.
• A culture that rewards initiative, fresh thinking and intellectual rigour.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package, including support for continued legal education and professional development.

About ADSS

ADSS (Abu Dhabi Securities) is a leading financial institution headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, offering a broad range of financial products and services including trading, investment solutions and institutional services. With a strong presence across global markets, ADSS is committed to building world-class capabilities across all its functions - and the Legal team plays a central role in supporting that ambition.