AVP- Legal Counsel

We are working with a leading international bank with a strong presence across the Middle East & Africa and are looking to hire an AVP – Legal Counsel, Middle East & Africa. The role will provide commercially focused legal advice across banking, finance, commercial, regulatory, governance and transactional matters, while supporting the management of legal and regulatory risk across the region. Responsibilities: • Provide proactive legal support on commercial, enterprise, product, transactional, regulatory and internal project matters across MEA. • Implement regional legal policies, procedures and standards and support the management of legal and regulatory risk. • Review and advise on commercial/vendor contracts, master service agreements, service level agreements and outsourcing matters. • Monitor legal and regulatory developments across the region and communicate relevant changes to internal stakeholders. • Advise on NDAs, trade finance instruments, account-opening documentation, powers of attorney, KYC matters and external legal opinions. • Support corporate banking, project finance, bilateral corporate facility and Islamic finance documentation. • Support the management of external counsel, including instructions, fee quotes and monitoring of external legal spend. • Provide legal research and advice on cross-border marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, employment, competition, regulatory and ESG matters. • Support implementation of new laws and regulations, legal processes, documentation, templates and guidance. • Work with regional stakeholders to manage legal, regulatory and reputational risks and support governance initiatives. • Escalate potential breaches of internal policies or applicable laws and promote strong governance, compliance and ethical standards. Experience: • Minimum four (4) years’ relevant PQE gained in a regional/international law firm or in-house with a financial institution. • Strong practical knowledge of MEA laws and regulations, particularly banking and finance, outsourcing/vendor management, data privacy, ESG and employment. • Experience with corporate banking and/or capital markets products, including conventional and Islamic finance, is desirable. • Strong ability to identify legal risks and provide practical, commercially focused guidance to business stakeholders. • Strong written and verbal English communication skills; bilingual English/Arabic preferred. • Methodical, proactive and hands-on, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines. • Self-motivated, detail-oriented and comfortable handling BAU matters with limited supervision. • Qualified solicitor with a valid practising certificate, where applicable. Show more Show less

Experience: Minimum four (4) years’ relevant PQE gained in a regional/international law firm or in-house with a financial institution. Strong practical knowledge of MEA laws and regulations, particularly banking and finance, outsourcing/vendor management, data privacy, ESG and employment. Experience with corporate banking and/or capital markets products, including conventional and Islamic finance, is desirable. Strong ability to identify legal risks and provide practical, commercially focused guidance to business stakeholders. Strong written and verbal English communication skills; bilingual English/Arabic preferred. Methodical, proactive and hands-on, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines. Self-motivated, detail-oriented and comfortable handling BAU matters with limited supervision. Qualified solicitor with a valid practising certificate, where applicable.

Provide proactive legal support on commercial, enterprise, product, transactional, regulatory and internal project matters across MEA. Implement regional legal policies, procedures and standards and support the management of legal and regulatory risk. Review and advise on commercial/vendor contracts, master service agreements, service level agreements and outsourcing matters. Monitor legal and regulatory developments across the region and communicate relevant changes to internal stakeholders. Advise on NDAs, trade finance instruments, account-opening documentation, powers of attorney, KYC matters and external legal opinions. Support corporate banking, project finance, bilateral corporate facility and Islamic finance documentation. Support the management of external counsel, including instructions, fee quotes and monitoring of external legal spend. Provide legal research and advice on cross-border marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, employment, competition, regulatory and ESG matters. Support implementation of new laws and regulations, legal processes, documentation, templates and guidance. Work with regional stakeholders to manage legal, regulatory and reputational risks and support governance initiatives. Escalate potential breaches of internal policies or applicable laws and promote strong governance, compliance and ethical standards.