Senior Legal Counsel

Overview

Key Responsibilities

• Regional Legal & Regulatory Support (Middle East Focus)
• Provide legal advice on all matters relating to the firm s operations within the

DIFC

• and under
• DFSA rules
• , ensuring compliance with regional regulatory requirements.
• Advise the business on UAE-specific legal considerations, including contractual, regulatory, market, employment, and other legal obligations.
• Coordinate with the Dubai and global Compliance function to ensure continued compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Act as the primary liaison between CMC and regional external counsel for the Dubai-based business..

Commercial & Corporate

• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements relevant to the UAE and wider Middle East region, including market data licences, vendor agreements, prime brokerage documentation (including ISDAs), and institutional/partner arrangements.
• Support the Finance and Treasury teams on loans, engagement letters and other financing arrangements.
• Assist the Tax team with engagement letters and related documentation.

Product & Operational Support

• Draft and amend Terms of Business for the Middle East, ensuring consistency with DFSA rules and alignment with global standards.
• Work alongside Operations and Product teams on regional initiatives, client onboarding projects and corporate account arrangements.
• Support Compliance on complaints handling (where required), regulatory changes and financial promotions reviews.

Global Collaboration

• Work closely with legal colleagues across geographies to ensure smooth cross-border coordination and knowledge sharing.
• Assist with monthly board reporting and contribute to regional updates for senior leadership.
• Support global expansion projects, including new product initiatives, cross-border offerings and new branch considerations.

Risk Mitigation & Governance

• Proactively identify, assess and mitigate legal risks across the region.
• Manage external counsel effectively to balance cost, efficiency and quality.
• Uphold and contribute to best-practice governance, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and legal oversight.

Principal Accountabilities

• Deliver high-quality legal advice across the Middle East, with a sharp focus on DFSA compliance and regional regulatory frameworks.
• Minimise legal and regulatory risk through effective oversight, documentation and proactive intervention.
• Manage external advisers for value, quality and strategic alignment.
• Maintain a deep understanding of the financial services industry, particularly regional market developments affecting CFDs, derivatives, equities, digital assets, and online trading.
• Promote an inclusive and supportive culture across the Legal function.