Financial Services Regulatory Senior Associate - Abu Dhabi or Dubai

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Associate to join our Financial Services Regulatory team in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

Department purpose

Our lawyers offer clients extensive regulatory experience, leading thinking on regulatory developments, helping clients in advocacy efforts, planning for and implementing changes as they occur. We advise on areas including bank structuring, securities and derivatives regulation, capital and liquidity requirements, marketing and selling restrictions, clearing and settlement, custody and prime brokerage, and recovery and resolution planning. As an international team, we provide comparative advice on regulatory matters that help clients decide where to conduct their business, giving them a competitive edge. Currently, we are advising on the global reform agenda around derivatives and bank resolution.

Our Financial Services Regulatory team comprises lawyers across our global office network, covering major financial markets. We offer expertise in key regions—from full-service coverage of European jurisdictions like London and Frankfurt, to our U.S. practice led from New York and Washington D.C., and established offices in the Middle East and Asia Pacific involved in setting up regional regulatory systems.

Role purpose

The Middle East Financial Services Regulatory team is recognized as a market leader, acting as a strategic partner to prominent financial institutions, market entrants, fintech start-ups, government entities, and regulators. We advise across the full spectrum of financial regulation in the region, including the UAE (and its freezones, ADGM and DIFC), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the QFC, drawing on UK, EU, and international frameworks.

We seek an ambitious and enthusiastic senior associate with an excellent work record. You will deliver innovative, practical, and commercial advice on regulatory matters, including drafting legislative frameworks, supporting licensing and compliance, and guiding institutions through complex regulatory landscapes. You will work on confidential, strategically significant mandates at sovereign and industry levels.

You will lead client matters, manage projects, contribute to practice development, support business growth, mentor junior team members, and collaborate across our global network. This role offers the chance to work with top-tier clients, including financial institutions, sovereign funds, regulators, and fintechs, contributing to the growth of our region’s leading regulatory practice.

We offer a compelling benefits package, first-rate training, and a dynamic, supportive environment.

Role and responsibilities

• Advising on the Full Regulatory Spectrum : Provide strategic, technical, and commercial advice to diverse clients across the Middle East and on international frameworks.
• Legislative and Regulatory Drafting : Lead and support drafting of new legislative and regulatory frameworks.
• Regulatory Licensing and Market Entry : Advise on licensing and authorization processes for market entrants and existing institutions.
• Compliance, Governance, and Risk Management : Develop compliance programs, risk frameworks, and governance structures.
• Securities Law and Regulation : Advise on securities structuring, offerings, listings, and cross-border restrictions.
• Asset Management Regulation : Guide asset managers, sovereign funds, and investors on regulation, licensing, and fund structuring.
• Fintech, Payments, and Virtual Assets : Provide advice on emerging issues in fintech, digital assets, and AI, interpreting evolving regulations.
• Client Relationship Management : Build and maintain strong client relationships, representing clients in regulatory discussions.
• Project and Matter Leadership : Manage complex, confidential mandates, coordinating multi-jurisdictional teams.
• Business Development and Thought Leadership : Support growth initiatives, industry events, and produce thought leadership.
• Mentoring and Team Development : Supervise junior members, fostering a collaborative environment.
• Training and Knowledge Sharing : Deliver training, share insights, and develop know-how.
• Innovation and Technology : Engage with legal tech and AI tools to enhance service delivery.

Key requirements

We are a global industry-leading law firm with nearly 50 offices in 28 countries. Our expertise in English law, US law, and other international laws enables us to deliver seamless, impactful solutions. We offer exceptional opportunities, training, and an inclusive environment that supports your wellbeing. We seek the best talent and aim to redefine success together.

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