Head of Legal – Wholesale Banking

Job Purpose

(a) To lead the Group Legal Wholesale Banking Unit.

(b) To ensure best in class legal services supporting: CIBG, TCM and IBG, wholesale, corporate TCM business units.

(c) To support the Group General Counsel in protecting Mashreqbank's interests in all legal documentation, advisory matters, and the overall management of Group Legal.

(d) To assume responsibility for providing sound strategic legal advice across the Bank in respect of all bank related matters.

(e) To be pro-active in highlighting and mitigating potential problems in all eventualities providing regular updates and reports to the Group General Counsel.

(f) To supervise senior and junior legal staff and contribute to their training and development.

(g)To mitigate transaction costs and negotiate and manage external counsel and third parties related to advisory matters.

Key Result Areas

Shareholder & Financial:

• Contribute to the creation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for performance monitoring and quality measurement purposes for the Wholesale Banking Unit and monitor unit's achievement on periodic basis.
• Assist in the development of the Legal Affairs Group's annual budget.
• Continuously contribute to the reporting of the high-risk legal concerns relating to local and international issues confronted by the Bank and take adequate and timely mitigating actions to safeguard the Bank's interest.
• Implements KPI's and best practices for Head of Legal Wholesale Banking
• Promote cost consciousness and efficiency and enhance productivity, to minimize cost, avoid waste, and optimize benefits for the Bank.
• Act within the limits of the powers delegated and delegate authority to the respective staff and monitor exercise of the same.
• Demonstrate clear understanding of the important factors behind the bank's financial & non-financial performance.

Internal (Processes, Products, Regulatory):

• Contribute to the review and revision of the existing policies and procedures for advisory and documentation matters.
• Contribute to the review of the Bank's positions with regard to local and international laws and regulations as it impacts on documentation.
• Supervise legal staff in the Advisory section in providing well-researched legal advice to all departments within the Bank on matters where applicable laws, regulations or facts are unclear and conflicting to ensure the Bank's legal position is protected.
• Provide legal opinion and advice on new activities and products and complex transactions. Provide support on business lines so that they can exercise their activities while maintaining risks and legal costs.

Legal, Regulatory, and Risk Framework Responsibilities:

• Comply with all applicable legal, regulatory and internal compliance requirements including, but not limited to, Group Compliance Policies and Procedures (AML & CTF, Sanctions Policy, Data Protection Policy, Fraud Control Policy, Whistle Blowing Policy, Conflict of Interest and Insider Dealing Policy).
• Understand and effectively perform under the Three Lines of Defense principle to identify measure, monitor, manage and report risks.
• Ensure systematic good outcomes for clients in accordance with Conduct Risk policy.
• Support the framework of operational risk, reporting and remediation, as appropriate, in accordance with the Operational Risk Management requirements.

Continuous Improvement:

• Continuously encourage and recognize the importance of thinking out-of-the-box within the team.
• Encourage, solicit and reward innovative ideas even in day-to-day issues.
• Maintain appropriate knowledge to ensure full qualification to undertake the role.
• Complete all mandatory training provided by the Bank, attain, and maintain the required levels of competence.
• Attend mandatory (internal and external) seminars as instructed by the Bank.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• University Degree in Law from a recognized university.
• Admission to the professional bar, law society or attorney association of a recognized jurisdiction is required.
• At least 12 years of legal experience in the legal profession with a major FI/ law firm.
• Strong track record in corporate, real estate, energy, contracting, trade, and Islamic finance, as well as investment banking and treasury capital markets.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (including report writing) in English, Arabic would be an advantage.
• Good interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Understanding of the relevant laws, regulations, and practices.
• Ability to make decisions and follow through with initiatives.
• Personal integrity and self-management.
• Planning, organizing, and analytical ability.
• Results oriented.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate both verbally and in writing with all levels of management.
• Knowledge of international and local commercial litigation practice in the financial sector.
• Thorough competence in several legal areas of concentration, with maturity and sound judgement.
• Self-motivated, eye for detail.
• Ability to persuade others.
• Flexible team player and able to work and deliver under pressure.
• Ability to manage teams from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to inspire and motivate others to gain commitment.