FINANCIAL CRIME & SANCTIONS LAWYER / PROFESSIONAL

LEVEL OF ROLE Lawyer/Professional

DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL (OGC)

REPORTING LINE To Head of Financial Crime & Sanctions Team, part of the firm\'s OGC

LOCATION Dubai or another AG office in the GCC

International expansion is central to AG\'s growth strategy and as we continue to grow as a global practice, we are excited to create, for the first time, a senior level Financial Crime and Sanctions role to be based in our Dubai Office.

This role is in the Financial Crime & Sanctions Team (the FCS Team) and involves advising the Firm globally (but with a specific focus on the Firm\'s offices in the GCC) on a variety of financial crime and sanctions compliance issues, with a particular focus on supporting the relationships with regulators across the GCC (including responding to requests for information and arranging scheduled audits by regulators across the different jurisdictions).

We expect the ideal person for this role to either be a qualified lawyer, or a senior level professional with financial crime, risk and compliance experience gained with a professional services environment within the GCC.

THE TEAM

The OGC comprises over 50 lawyers and other team members and acts as the internal legal function of the Firm. It oversees regulatory compliance and provides strategic risk management advice across the Firm. This includes advising the Firm on regulatory and professional practice issues, drafting and agreeing firm-wide policies and procedures, and assisting the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, Conflicts Partner, Global MLRO and AML Committee and Anti-Bribery & Corruption (ABC) Officer. The team, along with the rest of the Firm, has embedded a flexible and agile culture. Our working flexibly policy makes agile working accessible to all, whilst always balancing individual needs with the requirements of the team, the firm, and its clients.

WHAT THE ROLE INVOLVES

You will:

(a) have a significant role in ensuring that the Firm\'s policies, procedures and controls around client and matter onboarding are robust and fit for purpose in the GCC and

(b) will play a key role in assessing client and matter risk around new work being won and undertaken in the Firm\'s offices in the GCC as well as being involved in supporting wider client and matter risk assessment across the Firm.

The role will also involve working closely with the Partners and other Fee earners located in the GCC, and you will have the opportunity to provide training both within the FCS Team and to Partners and Fee earners located in the GCC.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The role involves undertaking technical, judgment and decision-based work to ensure a robust FCS environment is maintained and relevant FCS controls are effective, including:

• Responding to various regulatory requests/audits in the GCC, such as annual regulatory returns, MLRO Reports, sanctions returns, audits and thematic reviews and contributing to the Firm\'s Practice-Wide Risk Assessment, as it relates to the Firm\'s business in the GCC;
• Providing expert advice and support to the Firm on a broad range of FCS compliance issues in the GCC, including the application of legislation, regulations and policy in the context of client / matter risk assessment, reporting, third party payments/receipts, and complex/high risk queries and approvals;
• Overseeing complex / high risk clients / matters and making referrals involving clients and matters in the GCC to the Firm\'s AML Committee (and the GC on reputational issues) and giving recommendations on approach / approval;
• Being a point of escalation for the BAU and FCS Teams on any complex queries relating to the regulatory regime in the GCC and providing oversight in relation to FCS compliance in the GCC across the FCS team;
• Engaging and influencing Partners, Fee Earners and other stakeholders in the GCC on FCS compliance and strategy including all elements of the Firm\'s file opening/CDD policies, procedures and controls (including Source of Funds and Wealth) and the review of FCS risk issues;
• Maintaining an excellent understanding of the FCS regulations and legislation in relation to the Firm\'s operational jurisdictions (with particular emphasis on the GCC) and "horizon scanning" to anticipate change in the same;
• Assessing potential reporting obligations (for example, suspicious activity reporting) under relevant legislation in the GCC and providing support and input to the Firm\'s MLROs in relation to same;
• Conducting detailed analysis of UN, EU, UK, and US sanctions regimes and escalating potential issues to the Firm\'s Global Investigations Team, General Counsel and MLRO, as appropriate;
• Advising on bribery and corruption queries, including supplier due diligence, reviewing client terms and policy statements, and escalating to the Firm\'s Anti-Bribery and Corruption Officer, as appropriate; and
• Keeping abreast of emerging financial crime threats and ensuring the Firm receives timely, updated guidance to manage the risks.

YOUR AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE

The role requires the following skills and competencies:

• A minimum of five years\' experience working in an FCS advisory role in a legal or compliance team of an International Law Firm, a listed/regulated financial institution or a non-legal professional services business
• Extensive knowledge and technical experience of relevant financial crime and sanctions regulation and legislation in the GCC and a deep understanding of risk and the regulatory framework in the GCC
• Ability to use own initiative and apply appropriate judgement, escalating issues as required, with a proven ability to respond quickly to urgent queries, meet deadlines and deliver results
• Commercial focus, with an ability to see the opportunity and not just the risks and also adopt a proactive approach, seeking ways to add value and drive quality within risk appetite.
• Ability to influence Partners and senior stakeholders, build rapport but challenge where necessary and to communicate persuasively in person, by telephone and in writing
• Dynamism - willing to engage with and champion change. Ability to assess, draft, and update policies and procedures
• A relevant, industry-recognised qualification relating to financial crime would be beneficial
• An eye for detail but with an ability to see \'the big picture\' and get things done

OUR FIRM

Addleshaw Goddard is a place where you are valued, encouraged, and challenged to fulfil your potential in a supportive and collegiate environment. Our culture of improvement, growth and collaboration delivers results, drives innovation, and rewards ambition.

We not only provide technical excellence and experience but, crucially, demonstrate real insight into our clients and what really matters to them and as such we are natural choice for FTSE100 clients and their equivalents in other markets.

Our success has been built by people from the widest range of backgrounds, locations, and perspectives. We have a number of employee networks that provide space to discuss the differences that make us who we are and celebrate this at AG.

OUR APPROACH: IMAGINE THE BEST YOU CAN BE

Everything we\'ve accomplished can be traced back to our people and the way we work. Our reputation is something we are proud of, and constantly invest in.

Here, you\'ll do high calibre work, with high-character colleagues who care for one another and our clients.

Are you up for the challenge? We look forward to hearing from you.

Addleshaw Goddard