LEGAL COUNSEL – DIFC
Location: Dubai, UAE
A leading global financial services firm is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to act as its sole legal representative in Dubai.
The role will support the firm's DIFC-regulated operations and provide commercially focused legal advice across regulatory, commercial, corporate, employment and product matters. The successful candidate will serve as the primary legal contact for the Middle East, working closely with the Head of Legal – EMEA and regional and global stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Advise on DIFC, DFSA and wider UAE legal and regulatory requirements.
- Draft, review and negotiate commercial, technology, vendor, partnership and service agreements.
- Support derivatives, prime brokerage and trading documentation, including ISDA agreements.
- Advise on regional products, client onboarding, corporate governance and regulatory change.
- Work closely with Legal, Compliance, Finance, Treasury, Product, Operations and senior leadership.
- Monitor legal and regulatory developments and manage regional external counsel.
- Identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across the Middle East business.
- Support board reporting, global legal projects and regional expansion initiatives.
Skills and Experience
- Qualified lawyer with at least six years post-qualification experience.
- Strong knowledge of the DIFC legal environment and DFSA regulatory framework.
- Experience advising a regulated financial services business.
- Strong commercial contracts, drafting, negotiation and corporate governance experience.
- Commercially minded, pragmatic and able to operate autonomously.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder-management and organisational skills.
- UAE onshore legal experience would be advantageous.
Experience within online trading, brokerage, derivatives or leveraged financial products, including ISDA documentation, would be highly desirable.
