Job Summary

The incumbent will be responsible for assisting in protecting the Group’s interests in all litigations. The incumbent will assume responsibility for assisting in providing sound legal advice across the Group in respect of all litigations. The incumbent will adopt a pro-active role to highlight and mitigate potential problems, being prepared for all eventualities.

Main Responsibilities

A. Shareholder & Financial:

• Contribute to the creation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for performance monitoring and quality measurement purposes for the Litigation unit and monitor unit’s achievement on periodic basis.

• Assist in the development of the Legal Department’s annual budget.

• Continuously contribute to the reporting of the high-risk legal concerns relating to local and international issues confronted by the Group in its litigation cases and take adequate and timely mitigating actions to safeguard the Group’s interest.

• Implements KPI’s and best practices for Litigation.

• Promote cost consciousness and efficiency and enhance productivity, to minimise cost, avoid waste, and optimise benefits for the bank.

• Act within the limits of the powers delegated to the incumbent.

B. Customer (Internal & External):

• Maintain relationships with local and international court and arbitration authorities such as Qatar Public Prosecution,

• Qatar Police, Qatar Courts, QFC Courts, Qatar Central Bank and related entities of other countries where the Group

• operates and also liaise with external legal professionals as and when required.

• Preparation of draft memoranda for external lawyers summarizing key aspects of new cases for and against the

• Group for review by more senior members of the Legal Department.

• Contribute to the diary system to ensure that no key dates in the conduct of any litigation are missed.

• Assist the Vice President, Litigation to ensure as far as possible (given the requirements for a high standard of work product) the lowest possible cost for external lawyers used for litigations.

• Inform the Vice President, Litigation of any major developments in any litigations.

• Assist the Vice President, Litigation of Litigation to ensure that the “know-how” from litigation cases is passed on to the Legal Advisory section for use in future transactions.

• Build and maintain strong/effective relationships with related departments/units to achieve the Group’s objectives.

• Provide timely/accurate data to external/internal Auditors, Compliance, Financial Control and Risk when required.

C. Internal (Processes, Products, Regulatory):

• Be primarily responsible for the management of QCB requests relating to Court and General Authority Orders

• Deputise as the Secretary of the Group Investigation Committee as required.

• Contribute to the review and revision of the existing policies and procedures for the local and international litigations to ensure these reflect changes in relevant laws/ regulations and previous judgments.

• Contribute to the review of the Group's positions with regard to local and international laws and regulations as impact on litigation.

• Prepare well-researched legal advice for review by more senior members of the Legal Department on matters relating to Group's litigations where applicable laws, regulations or facts are unclear and conflicting to ensure the Group’s legal position is protected.

• Provide draft legal opinion and advice on new activities and products and complex litigations. Provide support on business lines so that they can exercise their activities while maintaining risks and legal costs.

• Contribute to the preparation of the weekly, quarterly and annual returns for executive management on the activities of the Legal Department.

• Handle and follow up the documents translation when needed

• Prepare and maintain an accurate and updated cases register, cases report and invoices report as per the agreed format.

• Follow up all cases with external lawyers, get updates and add the same to the relevant reports.

• Carry out a quick review of the Cases Report twice a month, highlight hearing dates in past and follow up with the external lawyers to get update

• Update the cases report with case summary for all cases filed against the bank.

• Update the cases report with any new update/action advised to us by the external lawyer or internal departments (e.g. hearing sessions, actions taken, if settlement agreement is requested/registered at the court, request for closing a case, etc...)

D. Learning & Knowledge:

• Possess superior knowledge of all related laws and regulations such as Court Procedures, Arbitration Procedures (LCIA/ICC), Company Laws, Civil Laws, banking templates (including LMA documentation) etc. as well as the related best practices.

• Provide inputs to the Department’s training plan and thereby develop/ enhance the skill sets of Group Legal personnel and provide them with opportunities for career development.

• Proactively identify areas for professional development of self and undertake development activities.

• Seek out opportunities to remain current with all developments in professional field.

E. Legal, Regulatory, and Risk Framework Responsibilities:

• Comply with all applicable legal, regulatory and internal compliance requirements including, but not limited to, Group Compliance Policies and Procedures (AML & CTF, Sanctions Policy, Data Protection Policy, Fraud Control Policy, Whistle Blowing Policy, Conflict of Interest and Insider Dealing Policy).

• Understand and effectively perform your role under the Three Lines of Defense principle to identify measure, monitor, manage and report risks.

• Ensure systematic good outcomes for clients in accordance with Conduct Risk policy.

• Support the framework of RCSA, KRI, Incident reporting and remediation, as appropriate, in accordance with the Operational Risk Management requirements.

• Maintain appropriate knowledge to ensure full qualification to undertake the role.

• Complete all mandatory training provided by the Bank, attain, and maintain the required levels of competence.

• Attend mandatory (internal and external) seminars as instructed by the Bank.

F. Other:

• Ensure high standards of data protection and confidentiality to safeguard commercially sensitive information.

• Maintaining utmost confidentiality concerning customer and internal bank information obtained during the course of business and provide such information on a need-to-know basis only to Senior Management of QNB, Audit and Compliance functions, and relevant Regulators.

• Maintain high professional standards to uphold QNB's reputation and to strengthen its market leadership position.

• All other ad hoc duties/activities related to QNB that management might request from time to time.

Education and Experience Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree Law is required. - At least 8 years legal experience in the legal profession with at least 1 year experience either (a) in the litigation

• section of a major bank / FSI or (b) as a practicing lawyer in the litigation practice of a recognized international law firm/local law firm.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills (including report writing) in English and Arabic is preferred.

• Good interpersonal and presentation skills.

• Understanding of the relevant laws, regulations, and practices.

• Ability to make decisions and follow through with initiatives.

• Personal integrity and self-management.

• Planning, organizing, and analytical ability.

• Results oriented.

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate both verbally and in writing with all levels of management.

• Knowledge of international and local commercial litigation practice in the financial sector.

• Competence in several legal areas of concentration, with maturity and sound judgement.

• Flexible team player and able to work and deliver under pressure.

• Ability to manage teams from diverse cultural backgrounds.