About the Role
We have advised clients in the MENA region for over 30 years and established ourselves as a leader in the legal market, acting on many high-profile deals and winning over key regional clients. Following another strong year, our MENA Global M&A and Capital (Finance) practice has a solid pipeline of work for sophisticated clients in the region. Thus, we are looking to recruit an Associate to join the Global M&A and Capital (Finance) practice in Dubai. Quality of candidate is paramount, with a focus on talent over PQE level or seniority. Our finance team in MENA covers a wide range of finance work.
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Core areas of work include:
- Project finance
- Leveraged and acquisition finance
- Private debt / direct lending
- General corporate finance
- Fund finance and derivatives
- Restructuring and insolvency work, with Islamic finance features across all areas
The majority of our finance team clients include commercial banks, sovereign wealth funds, financial investors, and corporates. The ideal candidate will have 2 years PQE in England & Wales (or equivalent) and will work across all areas of the finance practice, bringing a solid foundation in the team's core areas. Experience in Islamic finance is advantageous due to the types of transactions common in the MENA region. Most of the work will also have a significant international component, offering real visibility across our network.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables
- Engage in a diverse range of transactions for various clients
- Handle full-scale matters across general finance, fund finance, syndicated/corporate lending, Islamic finance, project finance, and derivatives
- Negotiate and draft transaction documents
- Liaise with foreign counsel
- Participate in high-profile transactions both regionally and globally
- Contribute to developing and enhancing relationships with existing key clients
- Actively participate in business development and client events
- Provide general support and assistance to the MENA GMAC team as required
Key Requirements
- 2 years PQE in England & Wales (or equivalent)
- Commitment to a legal career in the UAE
- Strong technical skills and grasp of finance concepts, with at least one substantial banking & finance seat during training
- Transactional management experience, including exposure to LMA-style documentation
- Experience working on transactions involving facility agreements, security documents, conditions precedent, guarantees, legal opinions, and ancillary finance documents from initial instructions through signing/closing
- Strong foundational understanding of general finance, fund finance, and syndicated/corporate lending
- Exposure to, or experience in, Islamic finance, project finance, and derivatives
- Strong academic record and qualifications
- Strong technical and commercial awareness
- Highly effective verbal and written communicator
- Ability to work well as part of a team
- Self-motivated and committed to delivering excellent client service
- Capability to manage a high degree of responsibility with work demands
- Enthusiastic engagement in business development activities including networking, organizing seminars, attending conferences, and knowledge management
Travel Requirements
- Willingness and ability to travel across the MENA region and further afield as required.
