Senior Legal Counsel - Islamic Finance

Mashreq is seeking an experienced and commercially driven Vice President, Senior Legal Counsel – Islamic Banking to serve as the lead legal advisor across the Bank’s Islamic Banking franchise. This is a senior leadership position responsible for providing strategic legal guidance on Islamic banking products, transactions, treasury activities, capital markets, and regulatory matters across Corporate & Investment Banking, Retail Banking, International Banking, and Treasury & Global Markets.

The successful candidate will combine deep Islamic finance expertise with strong banking and finance law experience, ensuring that Shariah-compliant structures are legally enforceable, commercially viable, and aligned with UAE regulatory requirements. The role offers the opportunity to work on complex, high-value transactions, influence product innovation, and collaborate with senior stakeholders, regulators, Shariah governance bodies, and international business teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the principal legal advisor and single point of accountability for Islamic Banking legal matters across all business divisions.
• Structure, review, negotiate, and advise on complex Shariah-compliant financing transactions, including Murabaha, Tawarruq, Ijarah, Wakala, Mudaraba, Musharaka, Istisna’a, Salam, and Sukuk structures.
• Draft and negotiate Islamic financing documentation, including Islamic adaptations of LMA-based facility agreements and associated security packages.
• Advise on legal enforceability, security perfection, and regulatory implications of Islamic banking structures under UAE and international law.
• Provide legal support for Islamic treasury and capital markets products, including Sukuk issuances, Islamic hedging transactions, profit rate swaps, and Tahawwut Master Agreements.
• Partner with business stakeholders to develop innovative, commercially sound, and legally robust Islamic banking products and solutions.
• Liaise independently with Shariah Governance functions and Internal Shariah Supervision Committees to translate Shariah requirements into legally effective documentation.
• Lead legal projects and strategic initiatives, including digital transformation, AI-driven solutions, and new Islamic banking product development.
• Manage and oversee external legal counsel, ensuring high-quality advice, effective cost management, and alignment with business objectives.
• Mentor and develop junior legal professionals while enhancing Islamic legal templates, precedents, policies, and best-practice standards across the Bank.

Experience & Qualifications Required

• Qualified lawyer with a Law degree from a reputable university and admission to practice in a recognized jurisdiction.
• Minimum 10–12 years post-qualification experience in banking and finance law.
• At least 8–10 years of specialized Islamic finance experience, gained within a leading international law firm, financial institution, or both.
• Strong and current experience supporting UAE-based Islamic banking transactions and financial products.
• Deep expertise across Islamic financing structures including Murabaha, Tawarruq, Ijarah, Wakala, Mudaraba, Musharaka, Istisna’a, Salam, and Sukuk.
• Comprehensive understanding of UAE banking regulations, Islamic banking legislation, Central Bank requirements, and AAOIFI standards.
• Proven experience drafting and negotiating LMA-based financing documentation and Islamic finance master agreements.
• Expertise in treasury, financial markets, capital markets, and Islamic hedging documentation, including IIFM/ISDA Tahawwut Master Agreements.
• Demonstrated track record advising on complex, high-value, cross-border financing and security arrangements across multiple jurisdictions.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, negotiation, leadership, and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior executives, regulators, Shariah authorities, and external counsel.