Corporate Legal Counsel

Alpheya; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A B2B WealthTech startup in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Legal Manager to establish its legal function and ensure compliance with laws. Ideal candidates will have 6-7 years of experience in corporate law, particularly in the GCC region, and possess strong negotiation and communication skills. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the company's legal landscape as it grows across the MENA region.

Qualifications

• 6-7 years of post‑qualification experience in corporate and commercial law.
• 4+ years of experience working in the GCC Region.
• Strong understanding of IP, data and technology-related legal issues.
• Experience in fintech or wealth management highly desirable.
• Proven track record of building or leading a legal function.
• In‑depth knowledge of UAE and international laws related to fintech and corporate governance.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts and agreements.
• Manage and protect the company’s intellectual property.
• Ensure compliance with data protection laws.
• Monitor relevant laws and regulations in fintech and wealth management.
• Establish corporate governance practices.
• Oversee ethics program and whistle-blowing mechanism.
• Identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks.
• Develop legal strategy aligned with business objectives.

Skills

Negotiation

Contract drafting

Legal research

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Law degree from a recognized institution

Job description

About Alpheya

We are a B2B WealthTech startup based in Abu Dhabi and backed by BNY Mellon (America’s oldest bank and first company to list on NYSE) and Lunate (a new $105B AUM alternative asset management firm based in Abu Dhabi, UAE). The company has raised $300M to build a state of the art wealth technology platform.

Our mission is to power and grow our clients’ Wealth franchises through differentiated experiences, financial solutions, and insights. Our digital wealth management platform- will enable banks and other financial institutions in the Middle East to grow and further penetrate affluent, HNW and UHNW investor segments.

While still leveraging the capabilities and knowledge of large organizations, our fintech is a startup with truly cross‑functional and agile teams.

For more information, please visit www.alpheya.com

Role description and responsibilities

This role is pivotal in establishing the legal function from the ground up, ensuring compliance, risk management, and corporate governance excellence. The successful candidate will play a vital role in shaping the company’s legal landscape and will report directly to the executive leadership team.

• Contracts and Agreements: Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts and agreements, including client agreements, partnership agreements, and vendor contracts.
• Intellectual Property: Manage and protect the company’s intellectual property, trademarks, and patents.
• Data Protection and Privacy: Ensure that the company’s data handling and privacy practices comply with relevant data protection laws.
• Regulatory Engagement: Help understand local requirements as the company expands presence across multiple MENA countries. Monitor and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, particularly in the fintech and wealth management sectors.
• Corporate Governance: Establish and maintain corporate governance practices that promote transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct across the organization.
• Ethics and Whistleblowing: Establish and oversee an ethics program and a whistle‑blowing mechanism for employees to report concerns.
• Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks, while providing guidance to the executive team on risk mitigation strategies.
• Legal Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive legal strategy aligned with the business objectives, considering the regulatory framework in Abu Dhabi and internationally.

• Law degree from a recognized institution.
• 6-7 years of post‑qualification experience, including significant experience in corporate and commercial law.
• 4+ years of experience working in the GCC Region
• Strong understanding of IP, data and technology‑related legal issues.
• Experience in fintech, wealth management, or related sectors is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of successfully building or leading a legal function.
• In‑depth knowledge of UAE and international laws and regulations related to fintech and corporate governance
• Exceptional negotiation, contract drafting, and legal research skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Fluent in English; Arabic language skills would be a plus.