[Hiring] Legal Consultant @Al Tamimi & Company

Role Description

Al Tamimi & Company is seeking a Financial Markets Consultant to join our Banking and Finance practice remotely to support our Kuwait office primarily. This role offers the opportunity to work on sophisticated derivatives and financial markets matters for leading banks, financial institutions, corporates and other market participants across Kuwait and the wider Middle East. The successful candidate will bring at least over two years of hands-on derivatives experience, strong technical drafting skills and a commercial approach. Working closely with partners and senior lawyers, the consultant will advise on the structuring, documentation and execution of derivatives and related financial markets transactions.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Advise clients on a broad range of derivatives, repos and structured finance transactions, including interest rate, foreign exchange, commodity, equity and credit products.
• Draft, review and negotiate industry-standard documentation, including ISDA Master Agreements, Schedules, Credit Support Annexes, initial margin documents, confirmations and related ancillary documents.
• Support matters involving repurchase transactions, securities lending and other financial markets products, including documentation under GMRA and GMSLA frameworks where relevant.
• Advise on collateral, close-out netting, set-off, enforceability, regulatory and insolvency considerations affecting derivatives transactions.
• Assist with legal opinions, regulatory analysis and transaction-specific advice concerning Kuwait and cross-border financial markets activity.
• Work with clients and internal teams on benchmark reform, hedging arrangements, treasury products and risk-management solutions, as applicable.
• Manage transaction processes efficiently, coordinate conditions precedent and liaise with clients, counterparties and external counsel across multiple jurisdictions.
• Contribute to client development through training sessions, legal updates, market briefings and the preparation of proposals and thought leadership.
• Support the wider Banking and Finance team on general finance matters where required and collaborate effectively across the firm’s regional offices.

Qualifications

• A common-law qualified lawyer with a strong academic record from a recognised university and jurisdiction.
• A minimum of two years of relevant experience focused on derivatives, financial markets or closely related banking and finance work, gained at a reputable law firm, financial institution or specialist consultancy.
• Demonstrable experience with ISDA documentation and the negotiation of derivatives trading agreements.
• Sound understanding of derivatives products, transaction structures, collateral arrangements and close-out netting concepts.
• Excellent legal drafting, analytical and research skills, with close attention to detail.
• Commercial judgement and the ability to translate complex legal and regulatory issues into clear, practical advice.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work directly with clients and counterparties.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, take ownership of matters and work collaboratively in a fast-paced regional practice.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Arabic language capability and experience in Kuwait or the wider GCC would be advantageous but not a prerequisite.

Relationships

• Kuwait Partners and lawyers.
• Wider Banking & Finance team across the MENA region.
• Clients, including multinational, regional and Kuwaiti businesses.
• Relevant government departments, regulators and other authorities.
• Business Development and Marketing Team.
• Knowledge Management Team.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Essential to our success as a global law firm is our ability to attract and retain the best talent from a diverse range of backgrounds. We are committed to a work environment where everyone can reach their potential and we have an inclusive culture which respects individual differences.
• We undertake and support a number of internal and external initiatives aimed at increasing diversity within the profession and we encourage all our partners and staff to get involved.
• Al Tamimi & Company is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and support those in the workplace who have a disability.