Anwar Khan | Senior Legal Counsel, SThree

Anwar Khan was always fascinated by the law and its application across all aspects of life. Now Senior Legal Counsel for SThree in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Anwar discusses his legal career journey, his current role and the advice he would give others looking to enter the legal profession.

I witnessed a political strike in my teens when I visited family in Bangladesh. I watched shops being looted and cars and buses being stoned and broken into simply because the rule of law had no implication in a state of government emergency. I realised education is so important and I should never assess people’s actions without truly understanding their individual circumstances. I saw people steal to feed their family and witnessed poor people being taken advantage of for political agendas. This experience made me feel even stronger about a career in Law.

I wanted to be in a position where I could truly apply the famous quote: “the pen is mightier than the sword”. The law does not allow status, money or influence to impact its application and I wanted to study it and see where it would take me.

My ambition now is to “pay it forward” and support others struggling. A few kind souls gave me time, helped elevate my career and believed in my ability. I want to do the same for others now.

My current role is Senior Legal Counsel for a STEM specialist recruitment company called SThree Plc who are listed on the London Stock Exchange. I am Senior Counsel, responsible for the UAE and Saudi Arabian operations of the business.

I’m responsible for the legal compliance, disputes and operations of the region within my remit. I can cover everything from a dispute relating to an assignment where a contractor has been placed, to managing payment and employment disputes in compliance with the region’s specific legislation and codes, as well as representing the business in contention and litigious disputes.

The opportunity to work in the UAE came without expecting it. While working as Senior Legal Counsel for SThree in the UK I was blessed with a very empathetic and kind manager who supported my professional development and career progression.

My manager recognised I was growing closer to my faith of Islam. I was even able to setup an ablution facility in our prayer/reflections room at our London HQ so fellow Muslim colleagues would be able to pray comfortably. My manager put my name forward for the opportunity to work in the UAE as she knew this was a region which was a little more facilitating to my daily prayers, food preferences and a great opportunity to develop my experience. I was even more motivated knowing I had the full support and encouragement of SThree to make the transition as smooth as possible.

The proudest moment of my career so far was being awarded “Legal Counsel of the Year” in 2023 at the British Asian Professional Awards. I still can’t believe I won this award, but I’m forever grateful for it. I watched my father work seven days a week in our family restaurant without complaint. I watched my mother attend evening college classes to learn English, computing and beauty therapy when she came to England (a foreign land where she knew no-one except my father). Seeing my parents work so hard and for them to be proud of me is priceless. The pride on their faces and hearing them speak about my achievements to friends and relatives makes me appreciate all the hardships and hurdles.

My parents and family are the ones who inspired me the most. Their sacrifices were the reason I was able to pursue higher education. I was the first in my family to go into higher education and I didn’t want to waste the opportunity given to me. They taught me to never give up.

Advice for my 18-year-old self? It’s going to be tough and it’s going to be unconventional, but stay patient, because It’s going to be so rewarding.

Patience was not a virtue in my teens and twenties. I wanted to qualify as a solicitor so badly, but I faced rejection after rejection. Hurdles came and opportunities would never come to fruition. However, when I stopped focusing on tomorrow and making the most of today, my life changed. I would also tell my 18-year-old self to re-think his fashion choices. I found some old photos. I don’t think white Timberland boots will ever make a comeback in the fashion scene.

I chose The University of Law as the organisation was flexible and allowed me to study my Legal Practice Course (LPC) on an evening. I worked nine to five as a legal administrator and then attended Law school two evenings a week. The schedule was tough. I was juggling full-time work, revision, class preparation, coursework and exams. But The University of Law was understanding and was, and has always been, supportive.

Courses at The University of Law are setup so you’re learning in a professional environment from the beginning. This is one of the main factors which set me up for success, as it taught me how to speak to different stakeholders, delegate tasks, work independently while researching the law and have confidence in my ability to draft and advise.

Work/life balance in the UAE region is very different to working in London. For example, there have been days when I’ve finished work, hired a bike, rode to the beach and had dinner while watching the waves. There are also times when I’m required to attend calls or respond to legal matters at the weekend as working days differ between jurisdictions and some regions work on a Sunday. There is much economic activity within the region, therefore time is of the essence and there are occasions when I’m required to work late to ensure the preparation, research or drafting is ready.

I work three days in the office and two days from home. There’s also a policy for employees to work from their home country (for a set amount of time per year) which is a great initiative. It allows me to head home to England, see my family and work from there, rather than having to use annual leave allowance.

SThree is a great organisation to work for, and professional development is paramount to their goals for their employees. When the legal team is recruiting, they look for people with a can-do attitude. The recruitment business is a fast-paced environment, and the candidates need to adapt and work with change, whether it’s changes in the law, drafting a policy or responding to contentious matters. They look for those who aren’t afraid to take on new challenges and are honest if they don’t understand something.

I think the skills needed to be successful at SThree are:

Empathy

Issues arise which may impact people personally. There needs to be consideration and sensitivity when dealing with the matter. Feelings must be considered when assessing the impact of an internal decision.

Confidence

Internal stakeholders must be confident you can represent them, protect them and discuss/research issues at short notice as and when required. Externally, opposition counsel must recognise that you know what you’re talking about in negotiations. The business deals with multi-million pound agreements on a multinational basis. Therefore your decision may impact the business globally. Preparation is key.

Being reactive

Laws, regulations and codes change quickly. Recruitment is not just business-to-business contracts. Employment laws change, recruitment laws change, licensing and commercial entity requirements change. You must be ready to change policies, terms and communications at short notice and with confidence.

My top three networking tips for breaking into the industry are:

Network everywhere, not just at networking events

Networking events can be daunting if you’re not comfortable speaking with strangers. Never forget your network of friends and peers. Sit with your manager and colleagues. Ask them how they qualified and what advice they can give. Your friend from university may have got a job and will know before anyone else if their organisation is hiring. It was a friend from university who helped me get my first legal role. Their referral got me an interview at short notice.

Ask questions, no question is a silly one

I only qualified because I took the courage to ask my manager. I was working in an organisation which had no training contract accreditation and no prospects of qualifying. However, my manager supported me, discussed it internally and found a way to connect me with a qualified solicitor within the company who in turn helped me qualify.

Rejection is part of the process

Don’t give up. Not every role you apply for will accept you. Be prepared to take the role that might not have been top of your list. Once you’re working in an organisation make sure to network and see what opportunities arise.

Originally published in 2026.