Legal Counsel

Confidential; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential, a dynamic financial services institution operating in Riyadh, seeks a Legal Counsel to join its in-house team. The role focuses on drafting and negotiating complex financial and commercial contracts, advising on Saudi regulatory requirements, and mitigating legal risks across the organization.

The candidate should have 4+ years of legal experience, be bilingual in Arabic and English, and be qualified to practice law in Saudi Arabia or another major jurisdiction.

Qualifications

• 4+ years' legal work experience.
• Bilingual fluency (Arabic and English)
• Qualified to practice law in Saudi Arabia or international jurisdiction
• Strong commercial acumen translating legal concepts into business advice
• Exceptional negotiation, analytical, and stakeholder management skills
• High ethical standards, discretion and accountability

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate commercial and financial agreements including SLAs, vendor contracts, partnerships, loan/facility and fintech/digital integration contracts.
• Monitor and advise on Saudi laws and regulations (SAMA and Companies Law).
• Maintain corporate records and internal policies ensuring governance alignment with local mandates and best practices.
• Identify and manage legal/regulatory exposures across operations; propose risk-weighted solutions.
• Manage external counsel for disputes, pre-litigation and regulatory inquiries; coordinate responses.
• Collaborate on cross-border transactions, joint ventures, and regional initiatives as the business expands.
• Provide legal support to internal departments and coordinate with in-house and outside counsels.

Skills

Legal experience

Negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Contract drafting

Cross-border

Education

Law qualification (Saudi MOJ or international)

Job description

We are a dynamic and forward-thinking financial services institution operating in Riyadh. We deliver innovative financial solutions while maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance, transparency, and regulatory compliance. We are seeking a sharp, driven, and culturally attuned Legal Counsel to join our growing in-house legal team and support our strategic business objectives across the Kingdom. The Legal Counsel will provide robust, day-to-day legal advice and transactional support across various business units. This role focuses on drafting and negotiating complex financial and commercial contracts, navigating local regulatory landscapes, and mitigating legal and operational risks for the company in Saudi Arabia.

Responsibilities

• Contractual Drafting & Negotiation: Draft, review, and negotiate a wide array of commercial and financial agreements, including service-level agreements, vendor contracts, partnership deals, loan/facility agreements, and fintech/digital integration contracts.
• Regulatory Compliance & Advisory: Monitor, interpret, and advise internal stakeholders on evolving Saudi Arabian laws and regulations—specifically those governed by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) alongside the Saudi Companies Law.
• Corporate Governance: Assist in maintaining corporate records, updating internal policies, and ensuring corporate governance frameworks align with local statutory mandates and best international practices.
• Risk Management: Identify, assess, and manage legal and regulatory exposures across business operations, proposing practical, risk-weighted solutions to management.
• Dispute Resolution & Litigation Support: Manage external counsel in handling local disputes, pre-litigation claims, and regulatory inquiries. Review court papers and coordinate strategic responses.
• Cross-Border Support: Collaborate on regional or cross-border commercial transactions, joint ventures, and strategic corporate initiatives as the business expands.
• Provide legal support to the various internal departments
• Work with other in-house counsels and outside counsels, as required
• Negotiate and draft complex transactional agreements
• Taking preemptive measures to avoid legal risks and conflicts

Qualifications

• Qualified to practice law (either in Saudi Arabia via the Ministry of Justice, or a recognized international jurisdiction with substantial cross-border experience).
• 4+ years' legal work experience
• Bilingual fluency (Arabic and English)—both written and spoken is essential for drafting bilingual contracts and communicating with local regulatory authorities.
• Strong commercial acumen with an ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical business advice.
• Exceptional negotiation, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
• High ethical standards, discretion, and accountability.