Legal Counsel – Corporate & Commercial

Lead and autonomously manage the Corporate & Commercial function for the Company, providing sophisticated legal advice, drafting, negotiation and risk‑based decision‑making on a broad range of commercial transactions. Provide day‑to‑day legal support for the Islamic Window and liaise with the Sharia Officer to ensure legal documentation comply with Sharia requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Act as the lead for corporate and commercial matters, owning end‑to‑end legal delivery for transactions and business initiatives within scope;

2. Draft, review, negotiate and approve commercial contracts and ancillary documents (supplier/vendor agreements, MSAs, service agreements, IP, licensing, procurement, NDAs, distribution and agency arrangements);

3. Manage complex transactions: structure, legal due diligence, risk assessment and documentation for joint ventures, investments, intercompany arrangements and commercial aspects of M&A and project work;

4. Oversee contract lifecycle management: maintain standard templates, version control, and a searchable repository; drive continuous improvement and automation of templates and processes;

5. Provide legally and commercially balanced advice to business stakeholders; escalate material legal or reputational risks to the VP — Head of Legal with recommended mitigations;

6. Lead legal support for the Islamic Window, review Sharia‑sensitive documentation, coordinate with the Sharia Officer, ensure Sharia governance steps are followed and implemented as required;

7. Supervise and coordinate external counsel for complex or specialist matters; manage scope, budgets and KPIs for external providers;

8. Support intra‑group commercial arrangements and draft/review intercompany service level agreements and cost‑sharing arrangements;

9. Conduct and document legal research on emerging regulatory, corporate, commercial and Islamic finance matters relevant to the business; implement required changes to documentation and process;

10. Assisting Head of Legal in developing, reviewing and implementing procedures and policies to ensure the organization’s compliance with applicable laws;

11. Assisting Head of Legal in Department automation, digitalization and implementation of legal matter management software;

12. Acting as one of the Department Risk Champions and complying with the applicable KPIs for such role;

13. Assisting Head of Legal in setting KPIs for external counsels in respect of corporate and commercial services under the responsibilities listed herein;

14. Collaborating with cross-functional teams comprised of all or some of the internal departments to support business objectives;

15. Working with other members of the Legal Department team and other internal departments to ensure that there is a coherent and seamless delivery of legal services; and

16. Maintaining up to date and accurate records relating to all matters listed above.

Education

• LLB from a recognized international English language university.

• LLM and/or LPC preferable.

Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant work experience, either in‑house or at a reputable law firm handling corporate, commercial and financial transactions and demonstrable experience handling complex matters.

• Practical knowledge and documented experience in Islamic finance products, structuring and compliance.

Certificates and Licenses

Licensed as an attorney at law in the Kingdom of Bahrain is a plus.

Competencies and Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of contract, commercial and corporate law and regulatory frameworks applicable to the business.

• Strong commercial judgement and risk‑based decision‑making.

• Advanced analytical, project management and problem-solving skills.

• Flexibility, organization, adaptability, ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and to prioritize key areas of responsibility where deadlines may conflict.

• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to operate with limited supervision, whilst keeping leadership abreast of key matters.

• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.

• Integrity, confidentiality and professional ethics.

• Strong command of Microsoft Office Word, with working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint a plus.

• Full fluency/proficiency in English and Arabic, both written and verbal.

• Knowledge of current key trends in Legal Department operations, including automation and use of artificial intelligence, is a plus.