Associate (3–5 PQE) – Capital Markets

Overview
An elite international law firm is seeking a mid-level Associate (3–5 years’ PQE) to join its Abu Dhabi office, focusing on capital markets. This is a key hire into a lean and growing team, offering excellent exposure to high-profile regional and cross-border transactions. The role provides an opportunity to work on sophisticated capital markets matters within a globally integrated platform.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise on a broad range of capital markets transactions, with a focus on debt capital markets (DCM)
• Support on regional and international issuance work
• Draft and negotiate transaction documentation
• Assist with deal execution and regulatory requirements
• Collaborate with international teams across multiple jurisdictions

Candidate Profile

• 3–5 years’ PQE with strong experience in capital markets
• US Capital Markets experience required (NY or England & Wales qualified)
• Debt Capital Markets (DCM) experience strongly preferred
• Arabic language skills preferred but not essential
• Middle East experience advantageous but not required
• Background from top-tier international or US law firms preferred
• Open to candidates willing to relocate to Abu Dhabi

Working Conditions & Culture

• Lean team structure with direct partner exposure and early responsibility
• Highly collaborative environment with strong global integration
• Approximate expectation of ~1,800 billable hours annually (no formal target)

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive, tax-free salary: £191,000 – £266,500
• Bonus structure:
  • Base bonus ~10%
  • 1,800–2,000 hours: ~50% uplift on bonus
  • 2,000+ hours: ~100% uplift on bonus
• Relocation support (if applicable)
• Exposure to high-quality international capital markets work

Application Process

• Three-stage interview process:
  • Initial interview (Partner + HR)
  • Technical and partner interviews
  • Final stage with wider team

Why Apply

• Opportunity to join a growing capital markets practice in the Middle East
• Strong pipeline of DCM and broader capital markets transactions
• Lean team offering early responsibility and strong career progression
• Attractive entry point into the UAE market for strong relocators
• Backed by a top-tier global capital markets platform