Legal Counsel

Our client hiring a hands-on Legal Counsel to be the primary legal partner for a fast-growing, regulated fintech / digital assets platform operating across the GCC. This is a high-ownership role supporting senior leadership on commercial contracting, product advisory, licensing/regulatory frameworks, and data protection with real influence on how new products go live.

What you’ll do

• Own the contracting engine: Draft, review, negotiate and close commercial agreements (MSAs, PSP/acquirer terms, liquidity/provider terms, vendor contracts, DPAs).
• Advise on licensing & regulatory obligations: Support regional expansion and ongoing compliance across UAE and GCC frameworks (incl. relevant free zones/regulators).
• Product & go-to-market legal: Provide practical legal input on settlement flows, onboarding/KYC journeys, prefunding structures, client disclosures, and terms.
• Data protection & privacy: Ensure contract and operational alignment with applicable privacy regimes (UAE PDPL, Bahrain PDPL, DIFC DP Law, GDPR where relevant).
• Risk allocation & liability: Build pragmatic limitation-of-liability positions, indemnities, warranties, and risk-sharing structures that protect the business while enabling growth.
• Disputes & external counsel management: Handle pre-litigation matters, coordinate external counsel when needed, and keep matters moving with clarity and urgency.
• Build legal infrastructure: Maintain a clause library, document repository, playbooks, and keep ahead of legal/regulatory developments impacting fintech and digital assets.
• Partner closely with Compliance: Ensure contracts and launches align with AML/CFT, sanctions expectations, and Travel Rule considerations.

What success looks like (first 6–12 months)

• A repeatable contracting process that shortens cycle time without increasing risk.
• A strong “default positions” playbook for key clauses (liability, DP, termination, dispute resolution).
• Clear, commercial legal guidance embedded into product launches and partner onboarding .
• A trusted seat at the table with leadership, calm under pressure, decisive, and solutions-led .

Ideal background

• 6–10+ years PQE (or equivalent) in fintech, payments, cross-border settlement, or digital assets.
• Proven experience negotiating contracts with banks, PSPs, acquirers, and fintech counterparties .
• Strong familiarity with UAE regulatory environments and operating models (free zones/regulators); GCC exposure is a big plus.
• Excellent drafting in English (Arabic is a plus, not essential).
• Comfortable advising senior stakeholders with high integrity and discretion .