Legal Counsel

Commercial Bank of Dubai; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 300,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading bank in the UAE seeks an experienced legal professional to provide comprehensive legal support across various business functions. The candidate will draft and negotiate contracts, ensure compliance with regulations, and manage legal documentation. This role demands strong negotiation skills and a deep understanding of banking law. Join a progressive institution committed to excellence in the financial sector.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of legal experience, preferably in banking.
• Fluent in English (verbal, written, spoken).

Responsibilities

• Providing legal advice and support to various business stakeholders.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and legal documents.
• Participating in legal projects to enhance risk management.

Skills

Negotiation

Report Writing

Planning

Organizing

Education

High Degree or LLM in Law

Job description

Operating in the UAE for over 50 years, CBD manages the financial requirements of some of the largest corporates and businesses operating in the country, driving the UAE economy. Over the years, CBD has transformed into a progressive and modern banking institution winning multiple awards for its digital initiatives, credit cards, bank accounts, mobile app features and services.

CBD has been recognized as the number one bank in the UAE on the Forbes list of The World's Best Banks 2022.

As we continue to build upon our successes, we are looking for ambitious individuals who are passionate about the banking and finance industry and the markets in which CBD operates. Just as important to us is your ability to demonstrate a talent for dealing with people - your colleagues and our customers - and delivering service that really goes the extra mile.

Legal Advisory

• Providing legal advice and support to various business/stakeholders of CBD (e.g., WBG, DCM, TSY, Compliance, IT, Audit) while aligning with CBD's strategic and business objectives.
• Providing legal services to WBG including all subgroups (corporate banking, institutional banking, transaction banking, syndication team, FI, Credit) to support the delivery of commercial and customer priorities in compliance with CBD's legal risk appetite, internal policies, and external legal and regulatory obligations.
• Offering legal support for global market and treasury activities such as bond financing, ALM, DCM, other debt programs, derivative sales, derivative policy margin projects, and brokerage.
• Guiding CBD's compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
• Completing legal tasks, projects, and ad-hoc matters promptly as assigned by the Chief Legal Officer.
• Performing due diligence on CBD's counterparties to assess capacity and authority.
• Maintaining close relationships with stakeholders to provide legal advice, guidance, and support as needed.

Legal Documentation

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and legal documents to maximize legal protections and minimize risks (e.g., NDAs, Service Agreements, letters).
• Drafting complex agreements and bespoke documents for business lines and support functions.
• Handling legal documentation related to Corporate Law, including share subscriptions, shareholder agreements, MOUs, side letters, JVs, SPAs.
• Updating standardized legal agreements and contracts for CBD in compliance with legal requirements.
• Supporting new product launches and conducting legal and regulatory due diligence.
• Providing structuring, legal, and execution advice on transactions and new business initiatives.
• Enhancing legal policies and processes to mitigate risks and improve customer experience.
• Supporting transactional activities for WBG, DCM, and TSY.
• Leading legal aspects of debt financing transactions, project finance, and other complex lending agreements.
• Drafting and negotiating documentation for various financing facilities and securities.
• Maintaining and developing legal document templates, standards, and procedures.
• Serving as the main contact for Treasury transaction documentation and negotiations.
• Negotiating trading agreements and supporting collateral and netting management.
• Providing legal advice on derivatives, repo, securities lending, and related activities.
• Supporting CBD's transition related to IBOR documentation and transactions.
• Participating in strategic legal projects and initiatives across the department.
• Managing external counsel relationships effectively.

Projects

• Participate in legal projects to enhance risk management, efficiency, and digitalization efforts bank-wide.

Requirements:

Skills & Experience

• High Degree or LLM in Law from a recognized university.
• Admission to UK or US Bar.
• 8+ years of legal experience, preferably in banking within leading financial institutions.
• Excellent knowledge of bilateral and syndicated lending, security, treasury, and capital markets documentation.
• Fluent in English (verbal, written, spoken).
• Strong planning, organizing, report writing, and negotiation skills.

The candidate should:

• Stay updated on new laws and regulations through ongoing legal education.
• Provide updates on legislative and regulatory developments impacting CBD.
• Ensure regulatory reforms are properly assessed and managed.
• Monitor and advise on legal, regulatory, and market risks relevant to documentation and practices.