Legal &
Regulatory
Leadership.
From General Counsel to Managing Partner — we place the legal minds shaping governance, risk, and institutional law at the highest levels, across the US and GCC.
Legal
Where counsel meets conviction.
Our Legal practice occupies a distinctive position in the market: we place senior lawyers and legal leaders in both in-house roles and private practice partnerships — across the US and across the GCC’s two most important international financial centres, the Business Bay and ADGM.
We are the firm of choice for institutions seeking General Counsel, Head of Legal, Chief Compliance Officer, MLRO, and Director-level legal roles. Our partners understand the difference between a lawyer who is technically excellent and a legal leader who can operate at board level — and we only present the latter.
In the GCC, our Legal practice is particularly differentiated. We have placed Heads of Regulatory Affairs, General Counsel, and Senior Associates at leading regional law firms, international firms with Business Bay/ADGM offices, and sovereign institutions — at a speed and quality that the generalist market cannot match.
GCC Coverage
Business Bay · ADGM · KSA
US Coverage
LA · NYC · Washington D.C.
Typical Level
Partner / GC / Director
GCC Avg. GC Comp
$420k — Up 18% YoY
Where we specialise.
01
General Counsel & CLO
- General Counsel
- Chief Legal Officer
- Deputy General Counsel
- Head of Legal – Regional
02
Regulatory & Compliance
- Chief Compliance Officer
- Head of Regulatory Affairs
- MLRO / Deputy MLRO
- Head of AML & Financial Crime
03
Private Practice
- Partner – FS / M&A / Regulatory
- Counsel & Senior Associate
- Practice Group Head
- Managing Partner
04
Transactional & M&A
- Head of M&A – Legal
- Director of Corporate Affairs
- Senior Legal Counsel – Deals
- Head of Capital Markets – Legal
05
Disputes & Arbitration
- Head of Litigation
- Lead Disputes Counsel
- International Arbitration Partner
- Head of Enforcement
06
Islamic Finance & FS Law
- Head of Islamic Finance – Legal
- Sharia Advisory Counsel
- Sukuk & Structured Finance
- Head of Regulatory – Islamic Banks
Active Legal Roles.
Our search methodology.
01 — Brief
Mandate & Jurisdiction Mapping
02 — Search
Confidential Network Access
03 — Qualify
Practice & Leadership Assessment
04 — Place
Notice & Transition Management
Legal Talent Pulse.
GC Demand – GCC
↑ Demand rising sharply
Average GC Comp – GCC
↑ Up 18% YoY
Compliance Leadership
↑ Regulatory pressure
Islamic Finance Legal
Scarce
⚡ Severe supply shortage
What legal clients say.
"
Gilbert Lennard found us a General Counsel who transformed how we manage legal risk. They didn’t just fill the role — they understood exactly what kind of leader we needed before we did.
R
Richard Ashford
CEO, Meridian Capital · Los Angeles
"
Finding senior legal talent in the Business Bay ecosystem is notoriously difficult. Gilbert Lennard placed our Head of Regulatory Affairs in under three weeks. Exceptional network in the GCC.
K
Khalid Al-Rashidi
Managing Partner, Gulf Law Partners · Dubai
"
We needed a Partner for our FS regulatory practice group in the Business Bay. The shortlist Gilbert Lennard presented would have been impossible to assemble through any other channel. Outstanding.
F
Francesca Moretti
Senior Partner, Hartwell LLP · Dubai Business Bay
"
Our MLRO search was highly sensitive given the profile of the role. Gilbert Lennard handled the entire process with complete discretion and placed someone who exceeded our expectations on every dimension.
T
Thomas Burke
CEO, Crescent Asset Management · Abu Dhabi
Ready to find your
next legal leader?
Whether you require a General Counsel, a compliance leader, or a Partner for your Business Bay practice group — our legal search partners are available for a discreet, confidential conversation.
Your next chapter
starts here.
We work with a select group of senior legal professionals across in-house, private practice, and regulatory roles. If you are open to exceptional opportunities, we would like to hear from you.