Legal Counsel - Intra-African Trade & Structured Financing

About the role

A pan-African trading, supply chain and distribution platform, backed by multilateral financial institutions and industrial infrastructure sponsors, is recruiting an experienced Legal Counsel in Dubai. The role covers end-to-end legal architecture and advisory for complex physical trading flows, pre-export and receivables financings, and cross-border expansion.

Key responsibilities

• Structure, draft and negotiate trading, supply, distribution, logistics and agency agreements, and bespoke commodity transactions across metals, manufactured goods and agricultural commodities.
• Lead legal structuring of prepayments, receivables discounting, trade risk distribution, syndicated facilities, bilateral lines and credit enhancement structures with international banks and development finance institutions.
• Advise on joint ventures, corporate reorganizations, project investments and cross-border market entry across African and global jurisdictions.
• Support governance frameworks, statutory documentation, board resolutions and delegated authority controls.
• Ensure compliance with international sanctions, AML/CFT frameworks, anti-bribery statutes and multi-jurisdictional trade regulations.
• Oversee cross-border disputes, litigation strategy and claims resolution, and coordinate panel law firms.

Required profile

• Postgraduate law degree and a Diploma in Legal Practice or equivalent bar qualification.
• 10+ years after qualification, preferably in a law firm or in-house function within a premier bank, commodities-focused financial institution or similar multinational platform.
• Track record in cross-border corporate, banking, structured trade finance and commercial trading transactions.
• Experience in multi-jurisdictional regulatory environments across Africa and emerging markets, in institutionally governed or board-supervised settings.
• Ability to represent the organization confidently before external financiers, DFIs, regulators and third parties.
• Excellent written and oral English; strong communication with senior management and the Board.

Required skills

• Strong command of Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Proficiency in legal risk management systems.
• Technical acumen to identify transaction risks and design mitigation strategies.