Legal Counsel (UAE National)

Job Description : Regional Legal Counsel (UAE National), HSBC Dubai. Litigation, Regulatory Enforcement and Investigations team (MENAT)

About HSBC’s Legal Function

HSBC’s Legal function plays an important role in protecting HSBC’s reputation, helping to safeguard the organisation by providing robust and comprehensive advice on legal issues and risks. Our lawyers advise senior management and the Global Businesses and Functions. They offer a range of legal skills, jurisdictional experience and practice specialisms across all the countries and territories in which HSBC operates. The purpose of HSBC’s Legal function is to lead our stakeholders through a complex and dynamic legal and regulatory environment.

About the Role

The role reports to the Regional Head of Litigation, Regulatory Enforcement and Investigations (“LREI”) and will be responsible for supporting the LREI team in conducting legal investigations, managing litigation and regulatory enforcement matters, and advising on employment matters across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT), working closely with colleagues in the Legal function and business. The role offers exposure to working on legal matters involving a number of jurisdictions including Dubai, the KSA, other GCC countries and also internationally.

Duties & Responsibilities

1. Provide proactive and expert legal advice, guidance, and support on a variety of litigation, regulatory enforcement, investigations and employment matters for the MENAT Regional Legal team.
2. Be a trusted adviser to the business by ensuring that commercially sensitive, pragmatic and practical legal support and advice is provided in a cost-effective manner.
3. Provide support and guidance to the business with regards to legal and reputational risks.
4. Be proactive in the provision of legal support and in advising the business promptly of material existing and emerging legal developments and their implications for the MENAT businesses.
5. Ensure Line Manager is fully briefed on major issues arising in relevant business areas and major legislative / procedural changes in area of expertise.
6. Prepare reporting on a regular basis, in various forms as required.
7. Share legal knowledge and best practices with legal colleagues across the MENAT region.
8. Build and maintain positive and effective relationships with panel law firms and other appropriate external parties.

Requirements

Experience & Qualifications

1. Undergraduate degree from a recognized university.
2. A qualified lawyer / bar membership in good standing in at least one jurisdiction.
3. Experience in conducting legal investigations, managing litigation and providing legal advice to corporates (whether in private practice or in-house).
4. Experience in crisis management and response.
5. Ability to prioritize, be responsive and have good time management.
6. Strong communication and inter-personal skills.
7. Good lateral thinking / problem solving skills.
8. Excellent English (written and verbal), including ability to draft documents and conduct interviews is essential.
9. Proficiency in Arabic, including the ability to review and draft pleadings in Arabic is advantageous.
10. Experience in conducting litigation in common law jurisdictions is advantageous.
11. Experience in providing legal advice on employment matters is advantageous.
12. High standards of ethics, professional integrity and discretion.
13. Ability to handle a diverse range of issues, deal with new or unexpected situations and work under pressure where necessary.

HSBC is committed to building a culture where all employees are valued, respected and opinions count. We take pride in providing a workplace that fosters continuous professional development, flexible working, and opportunities to grow within an inclusive and diverse environment.