Regulatory Lawyer

This client is a one of the best in practice Dubai-based Financial Services team which provides a wide range of corporate, commercial and regulatory work focusing on the financial services market in the United Arab Emirates and the wider GCC region. The team acts for: • Insurance and reinsurance: acting for (re)insurers, brokers, third party administrators and insurance consultants); • Wealth management: acting for investment platforms, asset managers, funds, issuers of financial products, financial advisors and FinTech companies; and • Regulators: advising on the development and implementation of new regulations for the insurance and financial services sectors. The team is recognised as the market leader for its work in the insurance and reinsurance sector. As one of the few teams specialising on this rapidly developing sector in the region, they are at the forefront of the developments in the market. They have: • Acted for more insurance sector players establishing in the DIFC than any other firm; • Advised on the largest and most complex M&A transactions for insurers in the region; • Advised on the largest bank assurance transactions in the region. • As an emerging market, the scope and breadth of the work available is vast, fast-moving and provides a wide variety of interesting and challenging work.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: • The establishment and licensing of new entities across the GCC (including in the DIFC, ADGM and QFC); • Registration of financial and insurance products for distribution in the UAE; • M&A transactions, including assisting with obtaining the relevant regulatory permissions for such transactions; • The establishment and licensing of distribution arrangements, including drafting bank assurance agreements and terms of business agreements with insurance brokers and financial advisors; • The development of new insurance and wealth management products; • Providing regulatory advice in relation to the day-to-day operations of our clients covering issues such as anti-money laundering, anti-bribery & corruption, conduct of business, change of control, authorisation of individuals to conduct regulated functions etc. • Assisting clients in responding to queries and investigations by regulators and in relation to internal investigations.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: • The applicant must have a strong academic background, including a minimum of a 2:1 at a reputable university; • Legal training and post qualification experience gained at a reputable law firm with a strong reputation in the field of corporate insurance; • 1 – 3 years post-qualification experience working on a range of financial services and regulatory matters with elements of Corporate and Commercial law with a focus on the the insurance and reinsurance sector or the wider financial services sector; • Experience of (or an understanding of) working with the specialist financial free zones – e.g. QFC, DIFC; and ADGM or with similar regulators outside of the region (e.g. the UK FCA and PRA); • Proven and strong drafting skills; • Arabic language skills (not essential); • A genuine interest in developing their long term career with a leading financial services practice in the Middle East; drive, enthusiasm and flexibility; • The ability to work well as part of a team as well as working well autonomously; and broad commercial awareness and an entrepreneurial nature. Fantastic opportunity!