Banking and Finance Associate

Vasto Legal Recruitment; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 587,000 - 808,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in Dubai is seeking a Banking & Finance Associate with 1-3 years of post-qualification experience. You will work on high-profile cross-border financings and engage with various financial institutions and sponsors. Ideal candidates will have strong drafting and negotiation skills, as well as the ability to manage competing deadlines. This role offers a competitive salary of $160,000-220,000 USD, along with a supportive team culture emphasizing training and development.

Benefits

High levels of partner access and mentoring

Close collaboration with international offices

Strong emphasis on training and development

Qualifications

• Post-qualification experience in banking and finance following a training contract.
• Experience in Loan Market Association (LMA) documentation.
• Interest in developing a Middle East-focused practice.

Responsibilities

• Advise on cross-border, conventional, and Sharia-compliant finance matters.
• Manage bilateral and syndicated lending transactions.
• Collaborate closely with international offices.

Skills

Strong drafting, negotiation and communication skills

Proactive and organised approach

Fluency in English

Education

1-3 years’ post-qualification experience

Experience at a leading international or City law firm

Job description

Banking & Finance Associate (1–3 PQE) – Middle East (Dubai)

We are working with a leading international law firm on an opportunity within their highly regarded Middle East Banking and Finance team, based in Dubai. This is an excellent chance to join a top-tier practice advising on high-profile, cross-border financings across the Gulf region, within a team that is fully integrated with the firm’s global banking platform.

The team advises banks, financial institutions, funds, corporates and sponsors on the full spectrum of conventional and Sharia-compliant finance matters. The work is broad, with significant exposure to multi-jurisdictional transactions and international counterparties.

The team are open to relocators in London

The practice covers:

• Bilateral and syndicated lending transactions
• Secured and unsecured financings
• Conventional and Sharia-compliant structures
• Cross-border and regional Gulf financings
• Portfolio, acquisition and corporate lending

This role is ideally suited to an individual with:

• 1-3 years’ post-qualification experience in banking and finance, following completion of a training contract
• Experience gained at a leading international or City law firm.
• A strong grounding in Loan Market Association (LMA) documentationand end-to-end transaction management
• Experience working on cross-border mattersand an interest in developing a Middle East-focused practice
• Strong drafting, negotiation and communication skills
• A proactive, organised approach with the ability to manage competing deadlines
• Fluency in English (Arabic and/or prior Gulf experience is advantageous but not essential)

You will benefit from:

• High levels of partner access and mentoring
• Exposure to English, UAE and Saudi law
• Close collaboration with international offices
• A supportive and inclusive team culture with a strong emphasis on training and development
• The opportunity to build a well-rounded, internationally focused banking practice
• Salary: $160,000-220,000 USD (+bonus and benefits)

Knowing the firm and team well, we would welcome a confidential discussion to explore this opportunity in more detail.

Please apply or contact Tom Young via email [e-mail] or LinkedIn.