Legal Counsel
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
CMC Markets is hiring a Legal Counsel to support regulated operations within the DIFC, ensuring compliance with DFSA and UAE legal requirements.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Provide legal advice on all matters relating to the firm's operations within the DIFC and under DFSA rules
- Advise the business on UAE specific legal considerations, including contractual, regulatory, market, employment, and other legal obligations
- Coordinate with the Dubai and global Compliance function to ensure continued compliance with applicable laws and regulations
- Act as the primary liaison between CMC and regional external counsel for the Dubai based business
- Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements relevant to the UAE and wider Middle East region
- Support the Finance and Treasury teams on loans, engagement letters and other financing arrangements
- Assist the Tax team with engagement letters and related documentation
- Draft and amend Terms of Business for the Middle East, ensuring consistency with DFSA rules and alignment with global standards
- Work alongside Operations and Product teams on regional initiatives, client onboarding projects and corporate account arrangements
- Support Compliance on complaints handling, regulatory changes and financial promotions reviews
- Work closely with legal colleagues across geographies to ensure smooth cross border coordination and knowledge sharing
- Assist with monthly board reporting and contribute to regional updates for senior leadership
Requirements
- Practising solicitor qualified in England & Wales, with a minimum of 6 years' post qualification experience, or equivalent
- Strong knowledge of the DFSA regulatory framework and the legal environment of the DIFC
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organisational, analytical and negotiation capabilities
- Confidence working autonomously as the sole legal presence in the region
- Thorough understanding of legal and regulatory issues within the financial services industry
Full Job Posting
Role Overview
- We are looking to hire a Legal Counsel to join us here at CMC Markets.
- This is a pivotal role as our sole Legal Counsel based in Dubai, supporting the firm’s regulated operations within the DIFC and ensuring the business remains compliant with all applicable DFSA and UAE legal requirements.
- You will act as the primary legal point of contact for the Middle East business, while working closely with the Head of Legal EMEA and the wider global Legal, Compliance, Finance and Senior Leadership teams.
- Your remit spans commercial, regulatory, corporate, employment, and product related legal matters, as well as contributing to global legal initiatives and helping to shape CMC’s growth in the region.
Key Responsibilities
- Regional Legal & Regulatory Support (Middle East Focus): Provide legal advice on all matters relating to the firm’s operations within the DIFC and under DFSA rules, ensuring compliance with regional regulatory requirements.
- Advise the business on UAE specific legal considerations, including contractual, regulatory, market, employment, and other legal obligations.
- Coordinate with the Dubai and global Compliance function to ensure continued compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Act as the primary liaison between CMC and regional external counsel for the Dubai based business.
- Commercial & Corporate: Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements relevant to the UAE and wider Middle East region, including market data licences, vendor agreements, prime brokerage documentation (including ISDAs), and institutional/partner arrangements.
- Support the Finance and Treasury teams on loans, engagement letters and other financing arrangements.
- Assist the Tax team with engagement letters and related documentation.
- Product & Operational Support: Draft and amend Terms of Business for the Middle East, ensuring consistency with DFSA rules and alignment with global standards.
- Work alongside Operations and Product teams on regional initiatives, client onboarding projects and corporate account arrangements.
- Support Compliance on complaints handling (where required), regulatory changes and financial promotions reviews.
- Global Collaboration: Work closely with legal colleagues across geographies to ensure smooth cross border coordination and knowledge sharing.
- Assist with monthly board reporting and contribute to regional updates for senior leadership.
Key Skills & Experience
- Practising solicitor qualified in England & Wales, with a minimum of 6 years’ post qualification experience, or possessing equivalent professional education and experience from another relevant jurisdiction.
- Strong knowledge of the DFSA regulatory framework and the legal environment of the DIFC; experience in UAE onshore matters is beneficial.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex legal issues succinctly.
- Strong organisational, analytical and negotiation capabilities.
- Confidence working autonomously as the sole legal presence in the region, while integrating effectively with a global team.
- Thorough understanding of legal and regulatory issues within the financial services industry.
- Desirable: Derivatives experience, including ISDA and prime brokerage documentation.
- Desirable: Previous experience within a regulated online trading or derivatives environment in the Middle East.
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