Senior Legal Counsel – Dubai

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to be the sole legal point of contact for our Middle East operations, based in Dubai. You will support CMC Markets’ regulated activities within the DIFC, ensuring compliance with DFSA and UAE law while working closely with the Head of Legal – EMEA and global teams.

Key responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on all matters related to the firm’s operations within the DIFC and under DFSA rules.
• Advise on UAE‑specific contractual, regulatory, market and employment obligations.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements such as market data licences, vendor contracts, ISDAs and financing documents.
• Support Finance, Treasury and Tax teams with loan agreements, engagement letters and related documentation.
• Prepare and amend Terms of Business for the Middle East, aligning with DFDA rules and global standards.
• Collaborate with Operations and Product teams on client onboarding, corporate account arrangements and regional initiatives.
• Coordinate with Compliance on complaints handling, regulatory changes and financial promotions reviews.
• Manage external counsel, balancing cost, efficiency and quality.
• Contribute to board reporting, senior leadership updates and global expansion projects.

Required profile

• Qualified lawyer with several years of experience in DFSA‑regulated environments.
• Strong knowledge of UAE commercial, corporate, employment and regulatory law.
• Proven ability to draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts.
• Experience liaising with external counsel and cross‑border legal teams.
• Excellent analytical and risk‑mitigation skills.

Required skills