VP - Legal Counsel
Gulf International Bank B.S.C.
Total years of experience :17 years, 11 Months
Since January’14 with Gulf International Bank B.S.C. (GIB), Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain as AVP - Legal Counsel
□ Actively involved in the following;
Providing legal support to the corporate banking and finance business.
Preparation and finalisation of standard documentation related to corporate banking and finance (both Conventional and Islamic).
Providing legal support to the various departments within GIB as and when required.
Drafting and vetting of various non-standard financing, security and commercial documents and agreements related to the banking business of GIB within the GCC.
Reviewing the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement and Schedule for corporate customers.
Drafting and vetting documentation in relation to the treasury business of GIB (both conventional and Islamic).
Acting as a Back-up Coordinator for the Operations Risk and Business Continuity for the Legal Unit.
Significant Contributions
□ Involved in the finalization of the Policy and Procedure of the Legal Unit at GIB.
□ Responsible for developing and finalizing standard conventional and Islamic documentation in relation to the corporate banking and finance business (Bahrain and Saudi Arabia).
□ Responsible for developing and finalizing standard documentation for new Islamic products in relation to corporate financing (Ijara Sale and Lease Back, Istisnaa with Forward Ijara, Ijara with Customer owned Musharaka assets, Murabaha LC, Musharaka LC, Islamic Overdraft, etc.)
□ Involved in setting-up of the Dubai Representative Office and Abu Dhabi Branch for GIB.
□ Closed a one of a kind receivables purchase transaction with a leading credit card company on behalf of GIB in association with external counsel in record time in order to meet the needs of GIB and the customer.
□ Involved in streamlining the work flow for retail liability products thus enhancing the online customer experience.
□ Responsible for documentation relating to a club loan to be availed by GIB.
□ Developing documentation for Islamic Murabaha based Deposits for corporate customers in KSA.
□ Involved in developing the standard Letter of Authority and Indemnity form Electronic Communication from the customers.
Since January’11 with Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates as Counsel
□ Actively involved in the following;
Providing legal support to the Wholesale Banking Group (Corporate Banking, Global Transaction Services, etc.), Business Banking Division, Retail Banking Division and ADIB Securities.
Advising ADIB on asset recovery cases.
Preparation and finalisation of standard documentation related to corporate finance.
Providing legal support to Trade Finance Division, reviewing Guarantees, documentary credits, standby letters of credit, etc.
Drafting and vetting of various non-standard financing, security and commercial documents and agreements related to the banking business of ADIB.
Significant Contributions
□ Drafted, vetted and negotiated various Islamic financing, security and commercial documents (Master Murabaha Agreement, Forward Lease contracts, Lease contracts, Facility Offer Letters, Corporate Guarantees, Financial Guarantees, Agency Agreements, Collateral Management Agreement, NDA, etc.).
□ Responsible for developing standard documentation for Margin Trading Facilities proposed to be launched by ADIB Securities (the brokerage arm of ADIB).
□ Played a key role in preparing new standard documents (financing and security) used by the Corporate and Retail Banking Departments of ADIB.
□ Solely responsible for developing standard documentation in relation to new products (Murabaha Agreement for Open Account with Agency Arrangement and documentation for Export financing product).
□ Acting as a Coordinator for the Business Continuity Plan for the Legal Division.
□ Acting as Board Secretary and Legal Advisor for a subsidiary of ADIB.
Working as a Legal Assistant to the Head of Legal for Gulf Countries, handling all legal issues for the Bank's branches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.
* Drafting and vetting various agreements including agreements related to Islamic Banking.
* Preparation of standard document formats for TradeFinance, Capital Markets, Operations, etc.
* Advising on corporate issues.
*Drafting of the internal policies and procedures of the Bank, including the Legal Procedure, Disciplinary Procedures, Procedure and Policy for Authorised Signatories of the Bank and Procedure and Policy for Corporate Secretaries.
With BDO Jawad Habib & Co., I have gained substantial experience in registration and incorporation of companies and business entities and knowledge of business environments in the Kingdom of Bahrain. I have been involved in the incorporation of various kinds of entities in the Kingdom of Bahrain as also drafting of various MoU’s, JV Agreements and various other kinds of Agreements. At BDO, I have gained rich experience in drafting various kinds of agreements and other documents.
Opted for the Laws of Banking and Insurance as optional subjects un the final year.
Secured highest marks in the University in Financial Management and Auditing Paper 3 - Management Accounting.