Legal Advisor - Banking

AD Ports Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent logistics and port operator in the UAE is seeking a Legal Advisor to provide expert legal support on international banking and financial transactions. Responsibilities include advising on M&A, project finance, and compliance with global regulations. The ideal candidate will hold a law degree, have expertise in capital structure financing, and possess 5-8 years of relevant experience. This position offers the opportunity to work on significant deals across multiple jurisdictions, contributing to the company's global growth story.

Qualifications

• Expertise in capital structure financing: senior, subordinated, and shareholder/sponsor-level debt.
• Qualify to practice in at least one major jurisdiction (e.g., UK, US, EU, UAE).
• Minimum 5-8 years of experience in a similar role.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely, practical legal advice on financial transactions.
• Review, draft, and negotiate documentation for financial transactions.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel.
• Support bond and equity issuances.

Skills

Multilateral institutions

Cross-border transactions

Islamic finance

Digital banking

Fintech legal frameworks

Problem-solving

Critical thinking

Negotiation

Relationship management

Cross-cultural communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

MS Office

Job description

About the International Office

Delivering global ambitions of the UAE’s leadership, the ADPG senior management envisioned the creation of international offices. The International Office is a business unit of AD Ports Group (ADPG) to accelerate its expansion globally, supporting the growth synergy and focuses on developing projects that support the five pillars of ADPG, the 5 business clusters namely Ports, Maritime, Logistics, Digital and ECFZ. Beginning with exploring growth opportunities, ensuring due diligence, and developing project opportunities that triggers growth patterns for all clusters and thus ensuring a balanced growth structure for the whole company and the wider economy of this country. International Office is currently spreads in 3 main geographical regions – Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia. ADPG now has presence in almost 40 plus countries. Some well-established operations, some developing projects and some markets are just opening. International Office (IO) acts as the Central bolt connecting these 5 clusters, bringing them together for projects that benefit the overall growth of trade and industry in these regions.

Job Purpose

To provide expert legal support on international banking and financial transactions—including M&A, project finance, capital market issuances, and cross-border regulatory compliance—for AD Ports Group and its global entities. The role ensures legal integrity, strategic alignment, and risk mitigation across jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities

• Provide timely, practical legal advice on financial transactions including corporate finance, project finance, DCM issuances, and M&A financing.
• Review, draft, and negotiate documentation for bilateral, syndicated, and club loan transactions, including:
  • Credit and facility agreements
  • Intercreditor and security documents
  • Guarantees and pledge agreements
• Draft shareholder loan agreements for internal funding.
• Prepare and review documentation for bond and sukuk issuances, such as:
  • Offering Memorandums, Prospectuses, Trust Deeds
  • Agency, Subscription, and Underwriting Agreements
• Support the corporate finance team on:
  • Debt and equity capital market issuances
  • Asset monetisation initiatives (e.g., divestments, internal funding)
• Advise internal teams on legal agreements related to financial transactions.
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel to ensure cost‑effective, high‑quality legal support.
• Liaise across departments to finalize commercial and legal terms for financial transactions.
• Advise Legal Advisory & Transactional Support on multi‑jurisdictional banking laws, including structured finance, syndicated loans, and sovereign lending.
• Draft and negotiate facility agreements, intercreditor agreements, and security documentation across diverse legal systems.
• Support bond and equity issuances, including compliance with international capital market regulations (e.g., SEC, FCA, ESMA).
• Provide legal input on cross‑border M&A, asset monetisation, and divestments.
• Ensure alignment with Basel Accords, ISDA standards, and other global financial frameworks.
• Monitor and interpret global regulatory changes (AML, KYC, ESG, sanctions).
• Liaise with international regulators and legal counsel to ensure compliance in emerging and developed markets.
• Advise on data privacy, digital finance, and tokenized transactions where applicable.

People Management Responsibilities

• Collaborate with internal teams across legal, finance, and investment functions.
• Provide legal guidance to stakeholders on financial transactions.
• Coordinate cross‑functional input to align legal and commercial terms.
• Manage external legal counsel to ensure efficient, high‑quality support.

Strategic Responsibilities

• Integrate legal risk assessments into financial strategy using business intelligence and data analytics tools.
• Collaborate with finance, investment, and legal teams across global offices to ensure seamless execution of complex financial transactions.
• Align legal frameworks with commercial objectives to support strategic growth and international expansion.
• Contribute to the development of legal standards and best practices for cross‑border financial operations.

Knowledge & Skills

Educational and Technical Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Law or equivalent LLM/PHD. Master’s degree preferred.
• Qualified to practice in at least one major jurisdiction (e.g., UK, US, EU, UAE); multi‑jurisdictional qualifications are a plus.
• Legal due diligence experience on port concession agreements and EPC contracts.
• Advises on a wide range of finance documents, including:
  • Loan agreements, common terms agreements, security agreements
  • Intercreditor agreements, trust deeds, direct agreements
• Equity contribution, retention agreements, guarantees, fee letters.
• Expertise in capital structure financing:
  • Senior, subordinated, and shareholder/sponsor‑level debt
  • Debt‑hedging interface and lender insurance requirements
• Familiar with floating/fixed rate debt, Islamic finance, and subordinated debt instruments.
• English law qualified with experience in:
  • Structured project/infrastructure financing
  • Debt and equity capital market issuances
  • Asset monetization and refinancing
  • Financing covenants and credit guarantees
  • Due diligence and lender checklist reviews
• Project finance experience across emerging markets (Africa, Asia, CIS, Middle East).
• Worked with multilateral institutions (IFC, EBRD, ADB, AIIB, OPEC Fund) under syndicated lending structures.
• High level of proficiency in English.
• Additional languages (Arabic, French, Mandarin) are a strong asset.
• Cross‑cultural communication and stakeholder engagement.
• A minimum of 5‑8 years of experience in a similar role.

Required Skills

• Technical Expertise: Multilateral institutions, cross‑border transactions, Islamic finance, digital banking, fintech legal frameworks.
• Analytical Skills: Problem‑solving, critical thinking, strategic planning.
• Interpersonal Skills: Negotiation, relationship management, cross‑cultural communication.
• Professional Attributes: Proactive, organized, ethical, adaptable.
• Technology Skills: MS Office proficiency, accurate documentation and record‑keeping.

Ready to make an impact on international banking and financial transactions?

Join AD Ports Group as a Legal Advisor and work on high‑profile deals across multiple jurisdictions, including M&A, project finance, and capital market issuances.

Apply now and be part of our global growth story!

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