Senior Compliance Counsel

Meraki Talent; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Meraki Talent in Abu Dhabi seeks a Senior Compliance Counsel – Compliance Advisory to lead strategic regulatory guidance across a diverse international investment portfolio. You will advise on sanctions, AML, anti-bribery, data privacy, and third-party risk, translating complex risks into clear, commercially focused guidance for senior stakeholders.

Based in Abu Dhabi, you will support deal execution, due diligence and post-close integration, coordinating input from internal teams and external

Qualifications

• 10+ years' experience in legal, compliance or regulatory advisory roles.
• Experience supporting cross-border transactions, investments, acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic partnerships.
• Strong commercial, business-facing advisory skills.
• Experience across multiple jurisdictions and regulatory environments.
• Knowledge of areas such as sanctions, AML, anti-bribery, data privacy and competition/merger control.
• Ability to communicate complex regulatory risks clearly to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide compliance and regulatory advice across investments, M&A, joint ventures and strategic projects.
• Support due diligence, approvals and post-close integration.
• Coordinate cross-border regulatory input and remediation efforts.
• Act as trusted adviser translating regulatory issues into actionable guidance.

Skills

10+ years' relevant experience

Job description

Senior Compliance Counsel – Compliance Advisory

A leading international investment organisation is looking to appoint a Senior Compliance Counsel to join its Legal, Governance & Compliance function in Abu Dhabi.

This is a senior, business-facing role providing strategic and practical compliance and regulatory advice across a diverse international investment portfolio. The position will work closely with senior stakeholders and play an important role in identifying, assessing and mitigating regulatory and compliance risks across the transaction lifecycle.

The Role

The successful candidate will provide compliance and regulatory advice across a broad range of strategic activity, including:

• Investments, M&A and joint ventures
• New-market entry and strategic projects
• Compliance due diligence and transaction approvals
• Deal execution and post-close integration
• Cross-border and market-entry regulatory risk
• Development and enhancement of the organisation's Ethics & Compliance framework

You will act as a trusted, commercially focused adviser to the business, translating complex regulatory and compliance issues into clear and actionable guidance.

The role will cover a broad range of areas, including sanctions and trade controls, anti-bribery and corruption, AML, fraud risk, third-party risk, compliance due diligence, competition and merger control, foreign direct investment, market abuse, data privacy and regulatory change.

There will also be significant interaction with internal stakeholders, external advisers and legal counsel, coordinating specialist input and supporting remediation, regulatory commitments, monitoring and assurance.

About You

We are looking for a senior legal, compliance or regulatory professional with:

• 10+ years' relevant experience in legal, compliance or regulatory advisory roles
• Experience supporting cross-border transactions, investments, acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic partnerships
• Strong commercial and business-facing advisory skills
• Experience across multiple jurisdictions and regulatory environments
• A strong understanding of areas such as ABC, sanctions, AML, fraud, third-party risk and compliance due diligence
• The ability to communicate complex regulatory risks clearly to senior stakeholders and provide practical, commercially focused advice
• The confidence to challenge constructively, exercise sound judgement and operate independently

Experience within private equity, infrastructure, sovereign investment, asset management or the energy sector would be advantageous.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a high-profile international investment organisation in a senior advisory capacity, with exposure to complex transactions, strategic investments and a wide range of international regulatory issues.

Based in Abu Dhabi, the role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of legal, compliance, investment and strategy, partnering with senior stakeholders across a sophisticated and internationally focused business.

Position: Senior Compliance Counsel – Compliance Advisory