About this role
Job Purpose:
• The senior legal counsel will lead and provide expert legal support on complex and high-value banking and finance transactions, including bilateral and syndicated loans, structured finance, cross-border and multi-jurisdictional matters, and specialist banking products. Operating with significant autonomy, the role involves drafting, reviewing, and negotiating financing documentation, including LMA-based agreements and security packages, and advising on regulatory and legal risk issues across the bank’s Corporate & Investment Banking, International Banking, and Treasury and Capital Markets divisions. This role requires deep expertise in UAE and international banking laws, financial services regulation, and a proven track record in navigating sophisticated financing structures and regulatory frameworks.
• As a senior member of the Legal Division, to represent the bank in high-level meetings with clients, regulators, industry bodies, and internal stakeholders. The senior legal counsel will manage external counsel, contribute to legal policy development, and support bank-wide strategic initiatives, including innovation, digital transformation, and emerging technologies. A key responsibility includes mentoring junior legal staff and promoting best practices in legal advice and documentation standards. Strong leadership, commercial acumen, and the ability to deliver under pressure in a dynamic, multicultural environment are essential. Key Result Areas:
• Lead and advise on complex banking and finance transactions, including bilateral and syndicated loans, cross-border matters, specialist banking products and services, and multi-jurisdictional projects, across wholesale corporate, institutional, and international banking. • Operate autonomously with minimal escalation, demonstrating senior-level expertise, decision-making, and direct oversight of external counsel and consultants. • Represent the Legal Division in senior-level meetings with clients, internal stakeholders, regulators, and industry bodies, aligning with the expectations of senior legal counsel. • Provide sound legal advice on a wide range of wholesale banking financial products and services, transactions, issues, regulatory matters, and strategic matters across the bank’s Corporate & Investment Banking Group and International Banking Group. • Lead legal projects, managing timelines and resources, and collaborating effectively with internal teams, external counsel, and key stakeholders. • Contribute to bank-wide initiatives, including AI, digital transformation, innovation, banking and financial products and services, initiatives with active engagement across international offices. • Identify legal risks, ensure compliance with applicable banking and financial laws and regulations, and implement risk mitigation strategies. • Draft, review, and negotiate financing documentation, including LMA-based agreements and security packages, in line with UAE and international banking laws and best practice. • Draft, review, and negotiate financing documentation, including LMA-based agreements and security packages, in line with UAE and international banking laws and best practice. Treasury/capital markets exposure i.e., ISDA, GMRA & CSAs. • Monitor legal developments and assess impact on the bank’s financing activities. • Contribute to the development and implementation of legal policies, procedures, and templates. • Collaborate with business teams and stakeholders to structure innovative, commercially sound, and legally robust solutions. • Instruct, manage, and monitor external legal counsel and third-party advisors to ensure quality, efficiency, and alignment with bank interests. • Mentor junior legal staff, support professional development, and promote best practices in banking and finance advice and documentation standards. Operating Environment, Framework and Boundaries, Working Relationships:
• Operating Environment: Provide legal advice on a wide range of wholesale banking financial products and services, transactions, issues, regulatory matters, and strategic matters across the bank’s Corporate & Investment Banking Group, International Banking Group, and Treasury and Capital Markets. Covers Wholesale Banking presence and non-presence business. • Framework: Transactional; Leadership; Senior representation, Documentation, Legislation (laws & regulations); Advisory expertise; Risk management; Regulatory compliance; Strategic initiatives; Project management; Collaboration & teamwork; Risk management; Communication; Problem Solving. • Boundaries: Scope of work /role limited to law and role of a legal adviser within the above framework. • Working Relationships: Colleagues in Legal Division, Cross-functional teams, external counsel, business units, and stakeholders (Compliance, Credit Management, Credit Administration, Tax). Problem Solving:
• Analytical Thinking
• Ability to advise on complex financial structures, a broad array of banking and finance transactions, products and services, and identify legal, regulatory, and commercial risks. • Apply logical reasoning to legal and commercial issues and conflicts and devise practical solutions.
• Regulatory & Legal Acumen
• Interpret and apply evolving banking and finance legislation across multiple jurisdictions. • Anticipate regulatory challenges and propose compliant, commercially viable solutions.
• Risk Management
• Experienced in identifying legal risks in financing structures, transactions, and banking products, with a strong understanding of risk-based approach.
• Commercial
• Provide risk-based advice aligned with legal and commercial objectives, tailored to the audience. • Navigate high-stakes negotiations to achieve balanced outcomes between parties and stakeholders. • Align legal advice with business objectives; navigate negotiations to balanced outcomes.
• Strategic
• Design bespoke solutions for unique or first-of-its-kind transactions while maintaining compliance with credit policies and legal frameworks. • Adapt strategies to meet evolving challenges and apply creative solutions to complex legal issues. • Apply critical thinking and problem-solving with a balanced approach to detail & strategic judgment.
• Stakeholders
• Engage with regulators, counterparties, and internal stakeholders, external counsel to resolve challenges. • Communicate complex legal concepts clearly to non-lawyers and senior management for informed decision-making. Decision Making Authority & Responsibility:
• Deliver timely and decisive legal solutions in complex and fast-paced deal environments. • Exercise independent judgment, escalating only in exceptional cases. • Balance competing demands while ensuring compliance and transaction integrity. Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
• Experience: Minimum 8–10 years’ post-qualification experience in Core Areas preferably with a top-tier law firm or financial institution. • Core Areas: International Banking & Finance; Corporate Finance; Corporate and Commercial; Treasury and Capital Markets; Transaction Banking (Trade Finance and Cash Solutions); Investment Banking; Asset-Based, Structured and Leverage Finance; Financial Markets; Financial Services and Financial Services Regulation. • Education: Law degree from a reputable university; admission to practice law in a recognized jurisdiction.(Covering areas: banking and finance, financial services and regulation, international finance and corporate and commercial). • Possess strong expertise in banking, finance, and financial services, including relevant legal and regulatory frameworks. • Proven track record in complex, high-value financing transactions across multiple jurisdictions. • Experience leading legal projects, managing timelines, resources, and stakeholders. • Skilled in analysing complex issues and advising with a strategic legal risk focus. • Effective collaboration with business units, support functions, external counsel, and key stakeholders. • Strong legal drafting and research skills. • Problem solving and analytical thinking. • Deep understanding of LMA documentation. • Skilled in collaborating effectively with multicultural teams. • Effective communication and people skills. • Agile and proven ability to perform under pressure with composure and focus. • Legal practice certificate or licence. Languages: Fluent in English (Arabic is a plus).
• Lead and provide expert legal support on complex banking and finance transactions, including loans, structured finance, and cross-border matters. • Draft, review, and negotiate financing documentation, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. • Advise on legal and regulatory risks across the bank's Wholesale Banking divisions. • Represent MashreqBank in high-level meetings with clients, regulators, and industry bodies. • Manage external counsel and contribute to the development of legal policies and strategies. • Support bank-wide initiatives, including innovation, digital transformation, and emerging technologies. • Mentor junior legal staff and promote best practices in legal advice and documentation standards. • Stay updated on UAE and international banking laws and financial services regulations. • Navigate sophisticated financing structures and regulatory frameworks with ease. • Demonstrate strong leadership, commercial acumen, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, multicultural environment.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in a similar legal counsel role, preferably in the banking and finance industry. • Deep expertise in UAE and international banking laws and financial services regulations. • Proven track record in managing complex financing structures and regulatory frameworks. • Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills, with the ability to represent the bank effectively. • Strong leadership and mentoring abilities, with a focus on developing junior legal talent. • Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. • Excellent commercial acumen and a results-driven approach. • Strong cultural awareness and the ability to thrive in a multicultural setting. • A relevant legal qualification, such as a law degree or equivalent. • Experience in a remote working role, preferably in a similar industry or sector.