Zainab Alqaidoom
Manama,Kingdom of Bahrain
Summary
In-house legal counsel with over 6 years of experience across wholesale banking, investment, and oil & gas trading. Currently serving as Legal Counsel and Board Secretary at Mena Industrial Bank, having joined as the bank's first employee during its formation phase and reported directly to the CEO, building the entire legal function from the ground up. Career spans complex transactional work including business exits, cross-border corporate matters, credit and lending documentation, and regulatory engagement with the Central Bank of Bahrain. Holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) from the University of Salford, a Legal Practice Course with Master of Law, Business and Management from the University of Law, and a trainee lawyer licence issued by the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs in Bahrain, obtained upon passing the Shari'a examination.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work history
Legal Counsel
Mena Industrial Bank B.S.C (C)
2025.05 - 2026.05
- Joined as the bank's first employee during its formation phase, establishing the legal function from the ground up with no existing team, framework, or precedent; reported directly to the CEO throughout this period, serving as the primary legal voice at the executive level.
- Built and continue to oversee the bank's entire legal infrastructure, encompassing document frameworks, regulatory compliance architecture, governance policies, and transactional support across all business lines.
- Serve as the principal legal adviser to the CEO and senior management on all legal, regulatory, and commercial matters, acting as the primary interface with external counsel, the CBB, and all counterparties.
- Collaborated with external legal counsel to develop the bank's complete library of wholesale banking documentation, covering client onboarding and KYC frameworks, account opening terms, general terms and conditions, deposit products, treasury and investment services, and trade finance instruments.
- Collaborated with external legal counsel to structure and negotiate the bank's credit and lending documentation suite, including term loan agreements, working capital facility agreements, and other bespoke facility arrangements, ensuring full alignment with CBB credit regulations and international banking standards.
- Collaborated with external legal counsel to prepare security documentation packages for lending transactions, covering corporate and personal guarantees, promissory notes, pledge of shares, assignment of receivables, enterprise mortgage agreements, and deed of assignments, ensuring enforceability under Bahraini law.
- Manage the full transactional legal cycle for live credit facilities as the bank enters active operations, advising on term sheets, facility letters, conditions precedent, security perfection, and drawdown documentation for corporate and institutional clients.
- Drafted the bank's foundational governance and compliance policies, including the Corporate Governance Framework, Code of Conduct, AML/CFT and Privacy Policy, and Delegation of Authority Matrix, in alignment with the CBB Rulebook and international best practice.
- Advise on and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements across all departments, including master agreements, vendor contracts, service level agreements, and inter-bank arrangements.
- Led the bank's registration with LMRA and GOSI; managed all regulatory correspondence with the CBB and government authorities; coordinated external counsel during regulatory inspections.
- Advise on all employment law matters and provide ongoing legal support to the finance function, including payment processing, interbank transfers, and VAT compliance.
- Monitor legislative and regulatory developments across Bahrain and relevant jurisdictions, assessing operational impact and updating internal documentation and procedures proactively.
Board Secretary
Mena Industrial Bank B.S.C (C)
2025.05 - 2026.05
- Report directly to the Board of Directors, serving as the primary governance officer responsible for all matters relating to board operations, regulatory compliance, and corporate secretarial functions.
- Manage all aspects of board and committee operations, including meeting administration, agenda preparation, board pack compilation, and the production of accurate minutes and resolutions; ensure all decisions are properly documented and actioned.
- Advise the Board and senior management on their legal and regulatory obligations, including directors' duties, conflict of interest management, and governance requirements under CBB regulations and the Bahrain Commercial Companies Law.
- Handle all corporate filings and regulatory submissions with the CBB, MOIC, and other authorities, including CR renewals, constitutional amendments, and shareholder and board resolutions.
- Oversee the full lifecycle of board membership, from onboarding and regulatory registration through to fit-and-proper compliance monitoring and processing of resignations and declarations.
- Prepare and submit 'Approved Persons' applications to the CBB; maintain proactive communication with the regulator to ensure continued alignment with licensing and governance requirements.
- Maintain the corporate governance calendar and track all post-meeting action items, ensuring timely implementation and reporting to the Board.
- Support the preparation of annual reports, corporate disclosures, and governance communications to shareholders and regulators.
Legal Counsel (promoted from Paralegal)
Mercantile & Maritime Group
2022.11 - 2025.04
- Managed the full scope of legal operations for an international oil and gas trading group, covering transactional, corporate, compliance, and cross-border matters across Bahrain, the UAE, and European jurisdictions.
- Drafted and negotiated oil and gas sale and purchase contracts, utilising Incoterms and BP Oil International Limited General Terms and Conditions, alongside a broad range of transactional documents including spot sale contracts, loan agreements, memoranda of understanding, mutual termination agreements, and board and shareholder resolutions.
- Provided legal support to investment portfolio companies, advising on corporate structuring, commercial agreements, and governance matters tailored to each entity's operational requirements.
- Conducted KYC and due diligence on counterparties, individuals, entities, and vessels using World-Check, Diligent, Refinitiv, and Lloyd's, ensuring robust compliance with applicable AML and sanctions frameworks.
- Managed and monitored litigation matters in European jurisdictions, coordinating with external counsel to ensure timely reporting, appropriate escalation, and protection of the group's legal interests.
- Assisted in establishing and structuring legal entities in Bahrain, including reviewing and amending constitutional documents and liaising with MOIC and the Directorate of Municipal Affairs.
- Assisted in cross-border share transfer transactions in the UAE, including the preparation of powers of attorney and coordination with UAE-based counsel.
- Managed all legal and administrative compliance operations in Bahrain, including CR renewals, director appointments, Sijilat updates, and coordination with MOICT, Bahrain Municipality, and the Electricity & Water Authority.
- Arranged and renewed annual Directors & Officers (D&O) insurance policies for project companies, overseeing broker coordination and timely renewal.
Legal Associate
Venture Capital Bank B.S.C (C)
2020.09 - 2022.11
- Delivered broad in-house legal support across a period of significant corporate activity for the bank, including business exits, asset disposals, and early-stage involvement in an acquisition process, gaining hands-on exposure to complex, high-stakes transactions.
- Led the legal workstream for the exit from an oil and gas project, negotiating and executing the full suite of transaction documents including the Letter of Intent, Share Purchase Agreement, and all board and shareholder resolutions, while managing regulatory filings end-to-end.
- Supported the disposal of a food and beverage business, managing transactional documentation, coordinating closing procedures, and handling all post-closing matters.
- Participated in the early stages of an acquisition process, contributing to legal due diligence, document review, and transaction structuring before departing the role.
- Managed the bank's full legal case portfolio in close collaboration with external counsel, overseeing all stages of the litigation cycle including case strategy, preparation of submissions, and court proceedings.
- Prepared legal documentation for real estate transactions and managed plot ownership transfers with the Survey and Land Registration Bureau (SLRB).
- Assisted in drafting Private Placement Memoranda (PPMs) and updating internal policies and compliance frameworks.
- Provided legal support for commercial dispute resolution, including documentation preparation, negotiation, and settlement coordination.
Legal Trainee
A. Hadi Al Qaidoom Attorneys & Legal Consultants
2019.09 - 2020.09
- Gained foundational litigation and legal practice experience, attending court hearings and client conferences alongside senior lawyers and expert witnesses.
- Conducted legal research and drafted legal opinions, notices, engagement letters, and settlement agreements.
- Translated legal documents between Arabic and English.
Education
Legal Practice Course With Master of Law, Business And Management -
The University of Law
United KingdomLLB (Hons) Bachelor of Laws -
The University of Salford
United KingdomInternational Foundation Year - Humanities
INTO Manchester
United KingdomSkills
- Contract Drafting & Negotiation
- Corporate & Banking Law
- Corporate Governance & Secretarial
- Wholesale Banking Documentation
- Regulatory Compliance (CBB Rulebook)
- Oil & Gas Transactions
LANGUAGES
Arabic, Native proficiency
English, Full professional proficiency
REFERENCES
Available upon request.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Bahrain Women's National Football Team, Player | 2009 – 2014 Bahrain Women's National Football Team, Player | 2009 – 2014
Timeline
Legal Counsel
Mena Industrial Bank B.S.C (C)
2025.05 - 2026.05
Board Secretary
Mena Industrial Bank B.S.C (C)
2025.05 - 2026.05
Legal Counsel (promoted from Paralegal)
Mercantile & Maritime Group
2022.11 - 2025.04
Legal Associate
Venture Capital Bank B.S.C (C)
2020.09 - 2022.11
Legal Trainee
A. Hadi Al Qaidoom Attorneys & Legal Consultants
2019.09 - 2020.09
International Foundation Year - Humanities
INTO Manchester
Legal Practice Course With Master of Law, Business And Management -
The University of Law
LLB (Hons) Bachelor of Laws -
The University of Salford