Senior Corporate Legal Counsel (FZ & Banking Compliance)

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Department: Legal & Compliance Experience Required: Minimum 5 years of relevant corporate legal experience within the UAE/Dubai market Employment Type: Full-Time About the Role We are seeking a dynamic, results-driven Corporate Legal Professional to manage and oversee our corporate legal matters, banking compliance, and Free Zone (FZ) company formations and regulatory frameworks. The ideal candidate will have a strong grounding in UAE corporate laws, extensive experience liaising with UAE banks and regulatory authorities, and a proactive approach to handling complex cross-border and local legal structures. Key Responsibilities1. Corporate Legal & Advisory • Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial contracts, agreements, and corporate documents, including shareholders' agreements, share purchase agreements, vendor contracts, NDAs, and other legal documents. • Provide strategic legal advice to management on operational risks, corporate governance, and local statutory requirements. • Maintain corporate records, board minutes, and resolutions in compliance with UAE Federal Decree-Laws and applicable Free Zone regulations. • Maintain digital records for all companies by systematically filing and updating important corporate documents. 2. Banking Compliance & Relations • Lead legal and regulatory compliance processes required by UAE and international banking institutions. • Coordinate corporate account openings, account updates, KYC/AML (Anti-Money Laundering) requirements, and facility documentation with partner banks. • Ensure ongoing alignment with Central Bank guidelines, Economic Substance Regulations (ESR), and Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) filing requirements. 3. Free Zone & Mainland Company Matters • Manage end-to-end Mainland and Free Zone operations, including entity setup, license renewals, amendments, corporate restructuring, and deregistration across major UAE Free Zones, including DMCC, DIFC, JAFZA, DAFZA, and SAIF Zone. • Manage visa renewals for various UAE entities and provide necessary documentation and administrative support for companies. • Upload renewed trade licenses to relevant portals, including FTA-CT, and support VAT compliance requirements. • Liaise directly with Mainland and Free Zone authorities, government bodies, banks, and external legal counsel to resolve regulatory queries and expedite compliance procedures. Key Requirements & QualificationsEducation • Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent. • Master of Laws (LLM) or relevant legal certifications, including qualified lawyer status in the home jurisdiction, will be an advantage. Experience • Minimum 5 years of post-qualification experience. • Proven track record working within a reputable law firm or an in-house legal department strictly within the Dubai/UAE market. Domain Expertise • Deep, hands-on knowledge of UAE Corporate Law. • Strong understanding of UAE Free Zone regulations and Mainland company requirements. • Practical knowledge of banking compliance, KYC/AML, UBO, ESR, and related regulatory requirements. • Strong expertise in commercial contract drafting, review, negotiation, and legal advisory. Core Competencies • Exceptional analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. • Arabic language proficiency will be a strong advantage. • High level of professional autonomy, discretion, confidentiality, and ethical standards. • Strong ability to manage multiple entities, regulatory requirements, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously. • Proactive, detail-oriented, and results-driven approach to legal and compliance matters. Show more Show less

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent. Master of Laws (LLM) or relevant legal certifications, including qualified lawyer status in the home jurisdiction, will be an advantage. Minimum 5 years of post-qualification experience. Proven track record within the Dubai/UAE market, either in a reputable law firm or in-house legal department.

Corporate Legal & Advisory: Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts and corporate documents (shareholders' agreements, share purchase agreements, vendor contracts, NDAs); provide strategic legal advice on operational risks, corporate governance, and local statutory requirements; maintain corporate records, board minutes, and resolutions per UAE law and Free Zone regulations; manage digital records for all companies. Banking Compliance & Relations: Lead legal/regulatory compliance for UAE and international banks; coordinate account openings, updates, KYC/AML requirements, and facility documentation with partner banks; ensure alignment with Central Bank guidelines, ESR, and UBO filing requirements. Free Zone & Mainland Company Matters: Manage end-to-end Mainland and Free Zone operations (entity setup, license renewals, amendments, restructuring, deregistration) across major UAE Free Zones (DMCC, DIFC, JAFZA, DAFZA, SAIF Zone); manage visa renewals and provide documentation; upload renewed trade licenses to portals (FTA-CT) and support VAT compliance; liaise with authorities, banks, and external counsel to resolve regulatory queries and expedite compliance.