Associate (2-4 PQE) - Corporate - Bahrain

Charles Russell Speechlys; Manama; On-site; BHD 26,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual salary review

Discretionary annual bonus

International medical, dental and life

30 days’ annual leave

DEWS plan (pension)

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance

Job summary

Charles Russell Speechlys in Bahrain is seeking an Associate to join our Corporate and Finance practice. You will support cross-border transactions across corporate, commercial and finance matters, with a focus on the GCC region and Middle East-related work.

The role involves collaboration with Bahrain and international offices, secondments to client in-house teams, and balancing secondment duties with Firm matters while meeting deadlines and client expectations.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor in a common law jurisdiction (England & Wales preferred but not essential).
• 2–4 years’ PQE.
• Experience advising GCC clients on corporate, commercial and finance matters.
• Arabic language skills preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical and commercial legal advice to clients across corporate, commercial and finance matters.
• Support senior associates and coordinate with colleagues across the Firm's offices.
• Draft and review transaction documents and due diligence reports.
• Assist in secondments to client in-house teams where required.
• Contribute to the development of the Firm’s Middle East practice and business development.

Skills

GCC experience

Islamic finance

Arabic language

Education

Qualified solicitor in a common law jurisdiction (England & Wales qualification preferred)

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate to join our highly regarded and collaborative international Corporate and Finance practice based out of our Bahrain office. The role sits within the Firm’s MENA Corporate practice and supports the team in advising a diverse and international client base on a broad range of complex, high-value corporate, commercial and finance transactions, with a particular focus on cross-border and Middle East-related work. The Associate will work closely with, and support, a Senior Associate in the Bahrain office and the broader Middle East practice.

You will work across the full spectrum of corporate matters, including, where relevant

• Corporate advisory and governance matters
• Private capital, structuring and shareholder arrangements
• Acquisitions and Disposals
• Investments, joint ventures and strategic partnerships
• Commercial contracts ancillary to transactions
• Group reorganisations and restructurings
• Banking and finance transactions
• Security, guarantee and enforceability matters, including the preparation of legal opinions
• Financial services regulatory matters, including advice on the CBB Rulebook

The work will frequently involve cross-border elements, including transactions involving the UAE, wider GCC region,the UK and other international jurisdictions. The role will involve working closely with colleagues across the Firm’s international offices and with external counsel as required.

The role is expected to involve a combination of work for Charles Russell Speechlys clients and secondment work, which may include working on-site within the in-house legal team of a key client on a part-time or ongoing basis. The successful candidate will need to balance secondment responsibilities with their role at the Firm, remaining flexible and managing deadlines and client expectations.

The Corporate and Finance team advises a wide range of clients, including Governments, Central Banks, regulators, multinational corporates, financial institutions, private capital investors, entrepreneurs, family offices and high-net-worth individuals. While the team secures its own work and client relationships, it also works closely with other practice areas - including Private Wealth, Litigation, Regulatory, Employment and Real Estate - to deliver joined-up advice on complex matters.

The team benefits from a strong knowledge‑sharing culture, supported by a comprehensive trainingprogramme, established know‑how systems and access to specialist support.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide practical and commercial legal advice to clients in a clear and succinct manner.
• Manage a substantial and varied workload efficiently and cost-effectively, with supervision appropriate to the level of expertise and the ability to work on own initiative.
• Draft documents with minimum instruction and supervision, making use of appropriate precedents and negotiating related transaction documents.
• Assist with disclosure and due diligence processes by coordinating the due diligence team across the Firm, reviewing corporate and commercial documents, compiling relevant reports and identifying key issues, including liaising with and managing international legal counsel where appropriate.
• Undertake corporate reorganisation and restructuring work.
• Draft and implement documentation to reflect a range of business ownership structures, such as shareholders’ agreements and partnership agreements.
• Assist on investment advisory mandates, negotiating share rights agreements and co-investment agreements, and drafting and negotiating constitutional documents and ancillary related documentation.
• Draft and review finance documentation, oversee conditions precedent and assist with the preparation of legal opinions on enforceability.
• Support lender and borrower clients on portfolio reviews, regulatory queries under the CBB Rulebook and cross-border transactions, liaising with foreign counsel where required.
• Build rapport with clients and develop effective working relationships, supporting the retention of allocated clients.
• Proactively work with other Group members to market the Firm’s services and support the expansion of the Corporate and Finance business.
• Provide cover for the matters of other Group fee earners during holidays or business absences, when required.
• Undertake secondments to client in‑house legal teams as required, alongside Firm matters.
• Apply a commercial approach to research and evaluate relevance and accuracy in the delivery of advice.
• Contribute to Group knowledge and know‑how initiatives.
• Play an active role in the development and growth of the Firm’s practice in the Middle East, including involvement in business development initiatives, pitches, thought leadership, and internal and external events.

Skills and Experience

• Qualified solicitor in a common law jurisdiction (England & Wales qualification preferred but not essential), with 2-4 years’ PQE.
• Experience of advising clients in the GCC region on corporate, commercial and finance matters.
• Experience of Islamic finance work is desirable.
• Arabic language skills (written and spoken) preferred but not essential.

Personal Attributes

• Demonstrate good judgement and a strong legal and commercial understanding of clients’ particular needs.
• Understand the scope of tasks, manage time effectively and perform well under time and work pressures.
• Take a hands‑on approach to managing own files and a broad caseload.
• Possess excellent team‑working skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues at all levels, including supervising, appropriately delegating to and mentoring less experienced members of the team where required.
• Have a high degree of attention to detail.
• Be highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple matters and competing deadlines.
• Have strong problem‑solving skills.Be hard‑working, flexible and willing to undertake a wide variety of tasks and go the extra mile when required, including adapting between Firm and secondment work.
• Be a proactive team player who is also highly self‑motivated, takes initiative and is able to work independently.
• Be confident in both verbal and written communication with a diverse range of clients.
• Be able to build rapport with clients and colleagues and develop effective working relationships.
• Demonstrate a collaborative mindset and a commitment to the Firm’s values and responsible business agenda.
• Live by and promote the Firm’s values and reputation, demonstrating professionalism, leadership and a client‑focused approach in all internal and external interactions.

Benefits include (but are not limited to)

• Competitive salary.
• Annual salary review
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Annual time recording (Fee Earner) bonus
• Premium international medical, dental and optical insurance
• 30 days’ annual leave
• International Employee Assistance Programme
• DIFC Employee Workplace Savings Plan (DEWS)
• Life Assurance

For a detailed specification please download the job description in the documents section of this page.