Assistant General Counsel

Job Description

Our client, an international law firm, is currently looking for Assistant General Counsel (UK & ME) which will be based in Dubai, UAE. In this role, your will provide direct assistance and report to the General Counsel. Additionally, you will be responsible for internal regulatory duties as well as external client work and compliance innovation.Key responsibilities:Directly responsible to the (UKME) General Counsel (GC) for:Taking the lead on client matters in the ME under the supervision of the GC, focusing on regulatory compliance advice (anti-money laundering, anti-bribery and corruption, local penal code violations, cyber laws and international financial sanctions), risk assessments and financial crime investigations;Independently managing Middle East claims, day-to-day compliance issues and sensitive investigations;Leading the enterprise risk management process across the ME with the GC, linking back into London, including developing and implementing risk control systems, developing innovative new risk software with GD&D, selling that risk system and consultancy to clients and designing and rolling out a risk and compliance culture programme in the UK;Understanding, evaluating and driving compliance, risk and operational culture improvements across the ME region, including regular travel between offices;Working with the GC to prepare management and board compliance and risk reports quarterly;Identifying, reviewing and co-developing innovative new software in the risk and compliance space from the risk systems described above, to integrated project management, to CARM (Compliance and Risk Management Unit);Overseeing at least one significant risk and compliance project for a client each year and advising on an ongoing basis on international financial sanctions and/or anti-bribery and corruption;Co-ordinating and overseeing ME practice audits and assisting the GC and Risk Partner to launch and maintain a revamped 2017 practice protection programme across UKMEA practices; andFirm contract review and managing the firms legal procurement for the UKMEA RegionInternal Regulatory Responsibilities:Designing, implementing, maintaining and monitoring effective compliance programmes for the UKME region.Leading improvements and changes to our standard terms of business to improve commercial and regulatory protection for the firm in response to risks across all parts of the UKME Region.Managing the effective compliance of the all ME offices, reporting directly to the Managing Partners of those offices and designing with the GC effective compliance programmes for those offices.Supervising the review of client terms.Assessing and managing ISO compliance programmes for the firm, particularly the legal quality and risk management ISO standards.Responding to regulatory audits and assisting the GC with regulatory and internal investigations arising across the ME.Promoting a positive compliance and risk culture across all offices in the UK.Identifying regulatory risks to the business, reporting those to the GC and formulating an effective response to those risks, including operating the firms risk register and department risk log.Monitoring the ME regulatory environment and planning and implementing responses to change when needed (both in terms of internal compliance precedent updates and firm wide policy revisions).Providing complex legal advice to the firm, its partners and business support departments, on behalf of the GC.Designing, implementing and managing projects directly or through the officers and analysts of the Global Risk Department together with the GC.Developing and setting and annual compliance and risk strategy for the firm together with the GC.Providing regulatory compliance advice to the business including advice on sanctions, AML, ABC, SRA, DPA and FSMA advice and design, implement and manage related compliance programmes.Represent the firm before and build and maintain close working relationships with its regulators and within the legal risk profession.External Client Work and Compliance Innovation:Providing fee earning support for clients on compliance issues ranging from international financial sanctions, to anti-bribery and corruption, to anti-money laundering, to the modern slavery act and more.Leading client investigation matters on matters of financial crime AML, ABC and Fraud Representing and developing the Compliance and Risk Management Unit both with clients and within the firm.Representing the firm on seminars, lecture and thought leadership initiatives to promote CARM and our risk management expertise.Identify new opportunities for risk software, develop that software and deploy it internally and with our clients. REQUIREMENTS: To be considered for this role, you must meet the following requirements,Minimum of 5 years experience in a similar position in the Middle EastMust be a qualified solicitor with at least 10 years PQEMust be fluent in Arabic (Written and spoken)Must have previous experience working in a top-tier international law firm or international in-house teamMust have extensive experience with the responsibilities of this role, mentioned aboveExcellent interpersonal and communicative skillsHigh academic achievement (GPA/grades)Must be a key influencer with an understanding of how to implement change and drive risk culture in professional service firms.Candidates who are interested must mention their academic scores in their application.

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About Company

Black Pearl is a progressive, dynamic and well structured HR solution provider
that offers permanent recruitment services, HR consultancy, psychometric assessments, coaching and also professional training services for clients from different corporate sectors in the Middle East.

Like a rare and unique black pearl, we consider our partnership with our clients and job seekers as a fine, precious and valuable encounter that needs to be affirmed, developed and supported with a strong commitment to deliver not only the right services but the best in the industry.

Our aim is to meet and exceed the expectations of our clients, strategically offering Black Pearl services that are customized to the unique requirements of our clients and job seekers alike, resulting in effectively achieving goals and all that is required in this ever evolving and competitive market.