Sanctions & Compliance Lead

UNCOVER; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

UNCOVER, a leading international law firm, is seeking a Sanctions Compliance Lead to join its Risk & Compliance team in Dubai. The role requires deep technical expertise across international sanctions regimes and a strong grasp of AML, KYC, and financial crime regulation in the MENA region.

You will advise partners and senior stakeholders on sanctions-related risks and drive compliance initiatives. You will oversee the sanctions program, monitor regulatory developments and collaborate with

Qualifications

• Extensive sanctions compliance experience across OFAC, UK, EU, UN and GCC regimes.
• Strong knowledge of AML, KYC and financial crime regulatory landscape in MENA.
• Experience advising partners and senior stakeholders on sanctions risks.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the firm's sanctions compliance framework.
• Provide expert guidance on sanctions exposure across regimes (OFAC, UK, EU, UN, GCC).
• Advise partners and senior stakeholders on sanctions risks in onboarding and client matters.
• Oversee sanctions screening, investigation of potential matches and resolution of alerts.
• Manage complex sanctions investigations and risk mitigation guidance.
• Collaborate with Business Acceptance, AML, Conflicts and wider Risk & Compliance teams.
• Monitor developments in sanctions legislation and geopolitical risks affecting the firm.
• Support development and continuous improvement of sanctions policies, controls and training.
• Engage with regulators such as DFSA, ADGM, QFCRA and others as needed.

Skills

Sanctions compliance

Regulatory risk & AML

Stakeholder advisory

Education

Law degree / qualified lawyer

Job description

An international law firm is looking to appoint a Sanctions Compliance Lead to join its Risk & Compliance team in Dubai.

This successful candidate for the Sanctions Compliance Lead role will bring deep technical expertise across international sanctions regimes, alongside a strong understanding of the wider AML, KYC and financial crime regulatory landscape, particularly across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. They will be confident advising partners and senior stakeholders, managing complex sanctions-related matters and driving compliance initiatives across the business.

Key Responsibilities for the Sanctions Compliance Lead role:

• Lead and oversee the firm's sanctions compliance framework.
• Provide expert guidance and advice on sanctions exposure, including OFAC, UK, EU, UN and GCC sanctions regimes.
• Advise partners, lawyers and senior stakeholders on sanctions-related risks arising from client and matter onboarding, ongoing client relationships and business activities.
• Oversee sanctions screening processes, the investigation and escalation of potential matches, and the appropriate resolution of sanctions-related alerts.
• Manage complex sanctions investigations and provide guidance on appropriate risk mitigation measures and escalation procedures.
• Work closely with Business Acceptance, AML, Conflicts and wider Risk & Compliance teams to ensure a consistent and effective approach to financial crime risk management.
• Monitor developments in international sanctions legislation, regulatory expectations and geopolitical risks, assessing their impact on the firm.
• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of sanctions policies, procedures, controls and training programmes.
• Engage with relevant regional regulators and authorities, including the DFSA, ADGM, QFCRA and other applicable regulatory bodies.
• Provide senior-level guidance on broader AML, KYC and financial crime compliance matters across the firm's regional operations.

Candidate Requirements:

• Qualified lawyer would be desirable
• Significant experience in sanctions compliance, ideally gained within an international law firm or a professional services environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of international sanctions regimes, including OFAC, UK, EU, UN and GCC frameworks.
• MENA regional experience, with an understanding of the regulatory landscape across the UAE and wider GCC region.

If you have strong sanctions compliance experience and are looking for a senior opportunity within a leading international law firm in Dubai, we would love to hear from you.