Senior Legal Counsel, Private & Retail Banking

Job SummaryAs a Senior Legal Counsel for Wealth, Retail Banking & Private Bank (WRB), you will play a pivotal role in providing expert legal guidance and strategic counsel across diverse financial services within the United Arab Emirates, specifically operating out of Dubai. Your expertise will ensure compliance with complex regulatory frameworks, provide risk assessments, and support business growth through effective legal risk management and transactional advice.Key aspects of this role include driving best practices across legal and regulatory adherence, crafting fit‑for‑purpose documentation to standardise processes regionally, and fostering a culture of integrity and compliance aligned with our Group Code of Conduct and “Here for Good” values. You will interface directly with business units to design and implement legal solutions that support innovative banking products and service delivery, ensuring operational excellence and legal robustness.This role requires providing timely, pragmatic advice on new laws and regulatory changes affecting the WRB space, overseeing external legal expenditures, and coordinating across regional teams to embed legal and compliance excellence. You will also spearhead legal training initiatives to enhance awareness and promote consistent standards within the bank.Through your work, you will contribute meaningfully to the bank’s vision, ensuring that our legal frameworks support sustainable business practices and uphold the highest ethical standards.Key ResponsibilitiesConduct comprehensive reviews of legal documentation including Terms and Conditions, credit arrangements, facility letters, product and ancillary contractual materials, ensuring absolute adherence to applicable laws and internal policies.Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of all relevant legal areas impacting Private Bank, Wealth Management and Retail Banking such as contract law, securities regulation, taxation, financial product regulation, derivative instruments, and cross‑border legal considerations.Provide swift, accurate, and commercially sensitive responses and advices to legal queries from business stakeholders, cultivating a reputation as a trusted legal advisor and collaborator.Critically analyse external legal opinions to ensure they align with commercial realities and legal correctness, offering alternative, pragmatic legal solutions where applicable.Implement and uphold policies that minimise legal exposure whilst enabling business agility within the UAE (including DIFC jurisdiction).Develop and refine processes to promote effective legal risk management across Private Bank, Wealth and Retail Banking, supplying training and practical tools to enhance compliance and operational effectiveness.Prepare detailed reports on legal risks for submission to Group and Business risk committees, ensuring transparency and proactive management of legal matters.Represent the Legal function in governance forums, providing thorough review and articulation of legal risk issues, mitigation strategies, and approvals for management consideration.Support dispute resolution and litigation matters, working closely with the Group Dispute Resolution team to coordinate strategy and documentation.Manage relationships with external counsel to ensure quality, cost efficiency, and alignment with the bank’s objectives, including defining scope of work and overseeing deliverables.Competencies / SkillsAction Oriented: Proactively drives initiatives, resolves issues decisively while maintaining quality.Collaboration: Works effectively across diverse teams and geographies to achieve shared outcomes.Customer Focus: Understands and anticipates client needs, delivering tailored legal solutions.Clarity & Guidance: Communicates complex legal concepts clearly to ensure understanding.Manages Ambiguity: Navigates complex and evolving regulatory landscapes with agility and sound judgment.Develops Talent: Supports the growth and learning of others, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.Decision Quality: Makes informed, timely, and effective decisions balancing risk and commercial factors.Courage & Integrity: Upholds ethical standards, addresses challenges with confidence and resilience.Technical Competencies: Demonstrates expert‑level knowledge of banking law, regulatory compliance, contract negotiation, and risk management within the financial services sector.Strategic Mindset: Aligns legal activities with broader business strategies to facilitate sustainable growth.Our Ideal CandidateThe successful candidate will possess a comprehensive legal education with a recognised degree and postgraduate qualifications in Law. Professional admission as a solicitor, attorney, barrister, or advocate is essential, demonstrating the capability to practice law effectively.Bilingual proficiency in English and Arabic is preferred to facilitate communication within the highly diverse regional market, although English proficiency is mandatory.Relevant exper