Legal Counsel — Dubai, UAE

finera.
Legal Counsel — Dubai, UAE

Position: Legal Counsel
Location: Dubai, UAE
Experience: 5 to 7 years PQE
Function: Legal

About Us
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The Role
Do you find your passion in payments and enjoy being in house counsel at the heart of the business? Then we have a great offer for you! This is a rare opportunity to build, not maintain. As Legal Counsel, you will be the day-to-day legal business partner for our commercial, sales, product and HR teams, at the centre of a fast-scaling payment orchestration business. Expect high pace, real ownership and meaningful impact: you will run commercial contracting end to end and shape how we approach payments regulation, marketing and our UAE operations. If you want your legal judgment to move the business forward every day, this is the seat.

What You Will Be Doing
• Commercial contracting. Draft, negotiate and close the agreements that run the business, from merchant service agreements and PSP and acquirer agreements to referral and partnership deals, NDAs and vendor terms. You will own these end to end.
• Payments and regulatory. Advise on payments regulation and card scheme rules across our operating markets, including scheme compliance, settlement and fund flows, and chargebacks.
• Licensing and market entry. Support our expansion into new markets, working directly with local counsel, corporate service providers and regulators on applications, filings and ongoing obligations.
• UAE employment. Partner with HR on UAE employment matters, including offer letters, employment contracts, MOHRE and free zone requirements, and end of service entitlements.
• UAE commercial law. Advise on UAE general corporate and commercial matters, including entity management, licences and commercial transactions.
• Process and scale. Build the contract frameworks, playbooks and templates that let this team punch above its weight as we grow.

What You Will Need
• 5 to 7 years PQE, with at least 2 years in the UAE, in-house or at a firm.
• Qualified lawyer, preferably in the UK, US, Canada or Australia.
• Law firm training strongly preferred, ideally with payments, fintech or financial services exposure.
• Practical working knowledge of UAE labour law, including MOHRE and free zone regimes, and UAE commercial and civil laws.
• Knowledge of payments law and industry practice.
• A track record of owning commercial contract negotiations end to end, not just reviewing them.
• Advice that is clear, fast, business oriented and practical.
• Genuine comfort operating in a cross-border, fast-moving environment.
• Knowledge and experience in using AI legal tools

Nice to Have
• Exposure to card scheme rules, PSD2 or the UK PSRs.
• DIFC or ADGM contracting and entity experience.
• Experience with contract lifecycle tooling or legal process automation.

What We Offer
• Competitive salary package aligned with experience and market standards.
• Medical Insurance starting from day 1.
• Access to training resources and development opportunities that support your professional growth.
• Well-stocked office with snacks, drinks, and refreshments available daily.
• A multinational organisation that promotes a strong, collaborative culture
• Regular team-building events and company activities that strengthen collaboration across teams.
• Employee Recognition Program celebrating our "Employee of the Month" with special perks.