Senior Legal Associate

Canaan Inc.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Canaan Inc. is seeking a Senior Legal Associate to join the legal team in Singapore. You will advise on a wide range of commercial and corporate matters, help the business grow, and ensure compliance across Singapore and Malaysia.

You will draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, support internal teams, and conduct regulatory research. This role requires collaboration with external counsel and corporate secretariat duties as needed.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years’ PQE in commercial law.
• Admitted to Bar in Singapore or Commonwealth jurisdiction.
• Fluency in English, Mandarin and Malay.

Responsibilities

• Oversee legal matters for Singapore and Malaysia entities incl. corporate transactions.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements.
• Advise internal teams on commercial legal matters.
• Conduct legal research for regulatory compliance.
• Perform KYC/AML checks and due diligence.
• Support corporate secretarial matters for group companies.
• Coordinate with external counsel as needed.
• Maintain contract templates and legal databases.
• Support ad-hoc legal projects.

Skills

Commercial law

KYC/AML

Contract drafting

Regulatory compliance

External counsel management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB)

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Legal Associate to join our legal team and support our operations. You will advise on a wide range of commercial and corporate matters and help the business grow while staying compliant.

Responsibilities

• Support the oversight of legal matters for the Singapore and Malaysia entities, including corporate transactions and operational support for departments such as logistics.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements, including sales, supply, distribution, logistics, vendor and confidentiality agreements.
• Advise sales, marketing, procurement and other internal teams on commercial legal matters.
• Conduct legal research to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Perform KYC/AML checks and enhanced due diligence on counterparties, and elevate issues where needed.
• Support corporate secretarial matters for group companies.
• Work with and manage external counsel as needed.
• Maintain contract templates, precedents and legal databases.
• Support ad-hoc legal projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB or equivalent).
• Admitted to the Bar in Singapore or another Commonwealth jurisdiction (Malaysia preferred).
• 3–6 years’ post-qualification experience in commercial law, at a law firm or in-house.
• Sound knowledge of corporate, commercial and regulatory frameworks. Exposure to KYC/AML, trade compliance or digital-asset regulation is an advantage.
• Fluency in written and spoken English, Mandarin and Malay is required, as the role handles legal matters in Malaysia and China and works closely with stakeholders in both regions.
• Strong integrity, judgment and communication skills. Able to work independently and as part of a team.