Legal Counsel UAE And Middle East UAE Nationals Only

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Strategy

• Maintain comprehensive awareness and understanding of the Group’s overarching regional and country-specific business strategies, ensuring their seamless integration within the Legal Function throughout the Middle East markets.
• Collaborate closely with the Head of Legal Middle East and the Middle East Legal cluster team to identify, assess, and escalate legal risks and critical litigation matters, fostering a proactive approach to legal risk management.
• Develop and implement forward-looking strategies to identify emerging legal horizon risks, while strengthening partnerships with regulatory authorities across the region to support compliance and operational excellence.
• Adhere rigorously to the Group Management Responsibility Policy to assure robust risk management practices and the establishment of effective control mechanisms, with particular attention to operations within Saudi Arabia.
• Offer timely, proactive legal advice to the Africa & Middle East (AME) Regional General Counsel, AME Management Legal team, and other key committees on complex regulatory and legal challenges impacting the Bank’s Middle East operations, optimizing collaborative efforts with external legal counsel.
  
  

Business

• Vigilantly monitor and escalate any breaches of product or legal frameworks, specifically the Product and Process Governance (PPG), Customer Acceptance (CA) parameters, or the Bank’s global minimum standards.
• Partner with regional specialists in client and product legal teams based in Dubai and Singapore to deliver tailored transactional support, ensuring alignment with PPG/CA parameters and relevant Bank standards for Corporate Finance, Treasury, and Financial Markets products.
• Provide comprehensive legal advisory and transactional support for Core Banking products, including account opening, cash management, channel services, traditional trade, and trade-related lending, guiding business units on compliance and risk mitigation.
• Actively contribute to minimizing legal and contractual bottlenecks, facilitating smoother documentation execution to expedite deal closures originating within the Middle East.
• Enhance awareness of, and develop pragmatic controls around, cross-border legal issues to support business agility while safeguarding compliance standards.
• This role involves acting as a trusted legal advisor supporting the Bank’s Middle East operations, working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing clear, practical legal guidance to support business growth while effectively managing legal and regulatory risk. You will engage proactively with internal and external stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, business leaders, and external counsel, to deliver comprehensive legal solutions.
• With a focus on fostering cross-functional collaboration, you will drive innovative approaches to legal challenges, supporting Middle East-based product launches, transactional activity, and regulatory compliance programs. Operating with a strong sense of integrity and judgement, you will balance business imperatives with regulatory requirements and reputational considerations.
• Contributing to the broader AME Legal team, you will be central to maintaining the Bank’s legal health across multiple jurisdictions and growth segments, acting as a conduit for knowledge sharing and legal best practices within the region. This position offers the opportunity to influence significant strategic and operational decisions while enhancing your expertise in Middle Eastern legal frameworks.
• The Legal Counsel role offers a unique blend of strategic and operational responsibilities within an international banking environment. You will manage complex legal issues related to banking, trade finance, regulatory compliance, and contractual law, while providing pragmatic guidance tailored to the needs of diverse markets across the Middle East.
• You will play an instrumental role in supporting new product developments and business initiatives, ensuring legal risks are adequately assessed and mitigated.
• Your deep understanding of local and international legal systems, coupled with your capability to manage regulatory relationships and navigate evolving legislation, will be critical to your success in this role.
• Regular engagement across the banks’ global legal and business network will provide opportunities for professional development and influence.
• The position demands excellent communication skills and the capacity to deliver concise, business-oriented legal advice, facilitating confident decision-making by executives and stakeholders. Moreover, your adaptability and cultural awareness will enable successful collaboration across geographies and enhance the Bank’s commitment to compliance, governance, and ethical business conduct.
  
  

Qualifications

• A qualified international lawyer with a recognised law degree or postgraduate legal qualification aligned with the requirements of this role.
• Post-qualification experience, including working within an in-house legal environment, ideally within the banking or financial services sector.
• Demonstrated high levels of professional integrity, ethical conduct, independence, and resilience, paired with a proactive and positive attitude towards challenges.
• Proficiency in Arabic at a professional business level and fluency in English to facilitate effective communication across diverse stakeholders.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly and work flexibly within the Middle East region, adapting to dynamic business needs.
• Strong commercial acumen with practical experience in resolving complex legal and business challenges.
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to deliver clear and concise legal advice and collaborate effectively within teams.
• Sound judgment in balancing business strategies, regulatory requirements, legal risks, and reputational considerations.
• A positive demeanor reflected in a robust sense of humour, common sense, and perspective essential for fostering collaboration and resilience in a dynamic environment.
  
  

Skills and Experience

Candidates should demonstrate the following skills and experience to excel in this role:

• Documentation Drafting: Proficient in drafting clear, thorough, and legally sound contracts and transactional documents that protect the Bank’s interests while facilitating business objectives.
• Negotiation Skills: Skilled in negotiating complex agreements and resolving disputes effectively, maintaining positive stakeholder relationships and minimizing potential conflicts.
• Analytical and Research Skills: Strong ability to analyze complex legal issues, conduct in-depth research on regulatory and commercial matters, and provide actionable recommendations tailored to business needs.
• Regulatory Compliance: Experience navigating local and international regulatory landscapes, ensuring compliance and liasing with regulators where required.
• Strategic Thinking: Capable of aligning legal advice with the broader business strategies to support sustainable growth and risk management.
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills suited to diverse audiences, fostering collaboration and clarity.
  
  

About Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered is a leading international bank with a proud heritage of over 170 years, providing financial services with a purpose. Our footprint spans many countries and markets, where we aim to drive commerce and prosperity by leveraging our unique diversity and inclusive culture.

We believe in challenging the status quo, embracing innovation, and fostering an environment where curious and driven individuals can thrive. At Standard Chartered, you will find a workplace that values integrity, respect, and collaboration.

Our culture is defined by our commitment to doing the right thing, continuous improvement, and working better together as one team. We celebrate differences and champion inclusivity, ensuring everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and realise their full potential.

Joining us means becoming part of a vibrant global community where your talents contribute to sustainable growth and positive impact across communities and economies globally.

What we offer

In alignment with our Fair Pay Charter, we provide a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits designed to support your holistic wellbeing—mental, physical, financial, and social.

• Retirement and Insurance Benefits: Core bank funding for retirement savings plans, medical coverage, and life insurance, with options for flexible and voluntary benefits tailored to local contexts.
• Generous Time Off: Including annual leave, extended parental and maternity leave (up to 20 weeks), sabbatical leave up to 12 months, and volunteering leave to support work-life balance and community engagement.
• Flexible Working: Opportunities for flexible work arrangements that accommodate diverse home and office settings, promoting work-life integration.
• Wellbeing Support: Access to Unmind, a leading digital wellbeing platform, resilience development courses, a global Employee Assistance Programme, and mental health first aid resources.
• Learning and Development: A culture committed to continuous learning with opportunities to reskill and upskill via physical, virtual, and digital platforms fostering career growth and agility.
• Inclusive and Values-Driven Environment: Join an organisation proud of its diverse workforce and inclusive culture where all individuals are respected and empowered.
  
  

Profile Description

Standard Chartered Bank

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