In-House Legal Counsel

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international bank in Dubai is seeking a Mid-Senior Legal professional to review and draft legal agreements, assist in negotiations, and provide legal opinions on banking products. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Law, with at least 3 years of relevant experience in banking or finance law. Fluency in English is required, and the ability to communicate in Mandarin is a plus.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of post-qualification experience in banking or finance law.
• Ability to provide legal opinions on banking products and services.
• Experience with common law jurisdictions preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review and draft legal agreements and documentation.
• Assist business teams during negotiations.
• Liaise with external law firms regarding deliverables.

Skills

Legal drafting

Negotiation

Risk assessment

Training and mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Law

Job description

Responsibilities

• Review and draft legal agreement and documentation within agreed timeline, ensuring they comply with applicable laws, regulatory requirements, and relevant Bank's policies, maintaining accurate trackers to log status, comments and approvals so that the workflow remains transparent and well-organized.
• Assist business teams during negotiations, translating legal positions into commercially workable solutions and highlighting material risks.
• Provide balanced legal opinions on the Bank's products and services, weighing legal, regulatory, and commercial considerations.
• Liaise with the Bank's appointed external law firms, coordinating instructions and reviewing their deliverables for accuracy, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop and deliver targeted legal and regulatory training to staff.
• Undertake other tasks or projects as assigned by management to support the overall legal function.
• Uphold the highest standard of confidentiality and professional ethics in all interactions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree majoring in Law.
• At least 3 years' post-qualification experience in a reputable bank, finance law firm, or regulated financial institutions, with proven exposure to core bank products such as corporate lending, trade finance and treasury services.
• Admitted to practice in, or substantial advisory experience under a common law jurisdiction (England & Wales, Hong Kong, Singapore or equivalent) is highly preferred.
• Fluent English (Drafting, negotiation, and advisory). Mandarin proficiency is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated capability to balance legal risk, bank regulatory expectations and commercial objectives when reviewing documents or advising business lines.
• A collaborative mindset towards business and compliance teams.

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Legal

Industries

Banking