Counsel (Institutional Legal)

Coinbase; Exeter; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services firm in Exeter is seeking an experienced attorney to independently lead projects for launching cutting-edge financial products, particularly in digital currencies. The ideal candidate will have at least 7 years of experience, focusing on regulatory compliance in derivatives and financial instruments. This role requires strong negotiation skills and the ability to provide nuanced advice in a fast-paced environment. A collaborative approach to managing cross-functional teams is essential for success.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years of experience in a financial services institution or law firm.
• Experience working with product teams in financial services.
• Ability to independently review and negotiate complex financial agreements.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects to launch global financial products.
• Provide regulatory advice for high-profile agreements.
• Shape regulatory strategies for digital currencies.

Skills

Qualified attorney in England and Wales

Experience with financial services

Interest in digital currency and blockchain technology

Excellent judgement

Analytical skills

Strong negotiation skills

Team-oriented and collaborative

Job description

Responsibilities

• Independently lead projects to launch cutting edge products for a variety of global derivatives and financing initiatives. Provide practical and actionable advice on nuanced, novel legal issues and risks, complex agreement structures and company policies in a risk-tolerant and compliance-oriented environment.
• Lead structuring and regulatory advice in the context of bespoke, high-profile agreements with strategic partners and sophisticated counterparties in the finance, derivatives and digital currency space.
• Help shape and advise on cutting edge digital currency and blockchain technology regulatory issues, particularly with respect to derivatives, leveraged and structured transactions and complex margin lending arrangements in the UK, EU, Middle East and elsewhere.
• Effectively and independently lead complex and global cross-functional efforts, driving and ensuring cross-functional alignment with other stakeholders (Institutional Sales, Business Development, Product/Engineering, Finance/Tax, Compliance) to solve problems, build partnerships, and ship products to market.
• Apply a solutions-oriented approach to problems raised by the business as they plan and execute on an aggressive global growth plan, develop scaled strategies for addressing risk in business-centric ways and build commercial processes that allow the business flexibility and freedom to move quickly.
• Look around corners anticipating steps ahead, and creatively guide the business to plan, build, and execute transactional and product roadmaps.
• Be a key business partner, not just a lawyer.

Qualifications

• Qualified attorney in England and Wales, with at least 7 years experience working in a financial services institution or in a law firm supporting such clients (ideally with some in-house experience).
• Interest and experience with digital currency and blockchain technology.
• Experience working with product teams launching financial services, investment or similar products.
• Experience working and leading with cross-functional, globally located teams.
• Expertise with UK and EU regulatory regimes applicable to derivatives and financial instruments (including MiFID & EMIR) and familiarity with crypto asset regulations (e.g. MiCA).
• A track record of challenging the status quo and preconceived notions of what is possible.
• Confidence and nuance giving advice on novel products in areas of regulatory ambiguity.
• Excellent judgement, analytical rigour, clear and direct written and oral communication skills, and business pragmatism.
• Top-notch analytical skills with experience owning projects from concept to finish.
• Creativity, comfort and experience with solutions that help scale financial services businesses and technology solutions.
• Sound and practical business judgement.
• Intellectual curiosity and flexibility. Hunger to learn and expand skillsets.
• Team-oriented and collaborative.

Nice to haves

• Experience leading critical authorisation and license applications for derivatives or similar highly-regulated products in major jurisdictions.
• Experience analyzing the regulatory status of crypto assets and whether they may qualify as regulated financial instruments (e.g. under MiFID).
• Experience of advising on cross-border licensing requirements, safe-harbours and creating client classification procedures mapped to regulatory requirements.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to independently review and negotiate complex and novel financial agreements (e.g. prime brokerage, lending and derivatives documentation).