Head of Legal & Compliance

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) is seeking a Head of Legal & Compliance to lead its legal function from the NBK Tower in Sharq, Kuwait City. As Kuwait's largest and most creditworthy bank, NBK requires a senior legal leader who can navigate complex regulatory landscapes across 15 countries while maintaining the bank's reputation for governance excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all legal matters for NBK Group, including subsidiaries in London, Paris, New York, and across the GCC
• Advise the Board and executive management on regulatory compliance with CBK instructions and CMA requirements
• Manage litigation portfolio across multiple jurisdictions
• Lead AML/KYC compliance programs in accordance with Kuwait's Anti-Money Laundering Law
• Negotiate major credit facilities, syndicated loans, and corporate bond issuances

Requirements

• LLB + LLM from a top university; admission to Kuwait Bar or common law bar
• 12+ years in banking law, with 5+ years in a leadership role
• Experience managing cross-border legal teams
• Deep understanding of GCC banking regulations and international compliance frameworks
• Fluent Arabic and English; French an advantage

• Group-wide legal oversight
• Board advisory
• Litigation management
• AML/KYC compliance
• Major transaction negotiation

• LLB + LLM; Kuwait or common law bar
• 12+ years banking law, 5+ leadership
• Cross-border team management
• GCC regulatory expertise
• Arabic/English fluent; French a plus