Senior Legal Advisor / Assistant Company Secretary at FSDH Merchant Bank Limited

The Senior Legal Advisor will support the Company Secretary/Head of Legal in managing the legal, governance, and compliance responsibilities of FSDH Holding Company. The role ensures legal and regulatory compliance across the Group, provides legal advisory on business transactions, and supports contract management, litigation oversight, and corporate governance. The role also involves working collaboratively with stakeholders across subsidiaries to uphold the Group’s legal integrity.

Job Details

Legal Advisory and Documentation

• Draft, review, and interpret legal documents, including contracts, service-level agreements, and transaction documents.
• Provide timely and practical legal advice to business units and leadership on day-to-day matters and strategic initiatives.
• Conduct legal research and prepare legal opinions on commercial, operational, and regulatory matters.

Regulatory and Corporate Compliance

• Monitor applicable laws and regulations, ensuring the company operates in compliance.
• Support regulatory filings, license renewals, and regulatory correspondence.
• Assist in implementing compliance frameworks across the group.

Governance Support

• Assist in coordinating Board and committee meetings, preparing minutes and resolutions.
• Support the Company Secretary in maintaining statutory records and ensuring timely regulatory submissions.

Litigation and Dispute Management

• Support litigation case management, liaising with external counsel, and ensuring timely updates and filings.
• Maintain a litigation tracker and assist in monitoring ongoing cases to protect the company’s interests.

Risk Management

• Identify and assess legal risks, recommending appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Participate in risk reviews and contribute to audit processes where legal input is required.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with internal departments, external counsel, and regulators to resolve legal and compliance issues.
• Assist with responding to legal and regulatory inquiries across the group.

Team Contribution

• Support the development of junior legal staff through mentoring and oversight.
• Contribute to building a strong legal and compliance culture across the organization.

Requirements

Executive level of intellect with:

• Bachelor of Law Degree
• Barrister of Law degree from an accredited law school and active membership in a relevant bar association.
• A master’s degree or other relevant professional qualification is a plus

EXPERIENCE

• Proven experience in a senior legal role within the financial services sector, including experience with financial holding companies and their subsidiaries.
• 8 years post-call experience in legal within the financial services sector or related areas
• Strong knowledge of financial services regulations, corporate governance, and legal compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic legal counsel to senior executives.

SKILLS

• Legal Expertise: Strong understanding of financial services laws and regulations, corporate governance, contract law, and compliance requirements specific to the financial industry.
• Corporate Law: Expertise in corporate law, including company formations, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance best practices.
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution: Proficiency in handling legal disputes, litigation, and arbitration proceedings, and the ability to protect the organization's interests.
• Leadership and Communication: Strong leadership skills, effective communication (both written and verbal), and the ability to lead and manage a legal team.
• Risk Management: Skill in identifying, assessing, and mitigating legal and regulatory risks that could impact the organization.