Responsibilities
- Own cross‑functional product counseling across the build cycle (discovery → design → launch → iteration), delivering crisp, actionable guidance and risk‑based options to product, engineering, compliance, and leadership.
- Translate complex regulatory frameworks (with a focus on MiFID, EMIR, derivatives, and market structure) into pragmatic controls and go‑to‑market guardrails.
- Draft and negotiate client terms and conditions with clear, business‑aligned positions.
- Lead licensing/registration workstreams: scope requirements, map pathways, coordinate outside counsel, compile application materials, and manage regulator interactions.
- Support incident and supervisory responses with well‑reasoned written submissions and evidence packages.
- Foster a culture of clarity, favoring plain‑English communication, measurable risk tradeoffs, and decision‑ready recommendations.
Requirements
- Qualified lawyer (Solicitor/Barrister of England & Wales, Irish Solicitor/Barrister, or equivalent admitted in an EU Member State).
- 10+ years’ PQE in financial services law within a regulated financial services institution (e.g., an exchange, central clearing counterparty, broker-dealer/asset manager, trading firm, bank, brokerage, or crypto services provider) or in a law firm/private practice supporting such clients (ideally with some in-house or direct product counseling experience).
- Experience with advising on regulated MiFID investment services and familiarity with relevant crypto-asset regimes, including MiCA, AMLD5, UK financial promotions, and/or e-money regulations.
- Demonstrated experience leading licensing or registration efforts, including planning, applications, regulator engagement, and operationalization.
- Outstanding analytical, drafting, and organisational skills with crisp, plain-English writing.
- Ability to efficiently and confidently distill complex legal and regulatory issues into clear, actionable guidance for non-lawyers and product stakeholders.
- Pragmatic, commercially accountable approach to legal and regulatory risk that prioritises providing stakeholders with a useful range of options and delivers clear recommendations to decision-makers.
- Demonstrates an authentic passion for crypto and familiarity with the features of both Kraken and its competitors’ apps and products.
Nice to Have
- Expertise in MiCA framework applicable to CASPs including brokerage, custody and the operation of trading platforms.
- Expertise in EMIR including the clearing obligation, regulatory margin for non-centrally cleared derivatives and transaction reporting, desirable.
- Familiarity with using AI tools such as Enterprise GPTs to increase efficient provision of legal services, create custom GPTs allowing stakeholders to self-serve on commoditised legal and regulatory queries.
Work Arrangement
Remote (Worldwide) — UK, EU
Additional Information
- Fully remote role
- Applications accepted on an ongoing basis unless otherwise stated
- Applicants may redact age, date of birth, and educational dates from resumes
- Criminal histories are considered in a manner consistent with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
- Candidates may be asked to complete job-related skills or work-style assessments
- Equal opportunity employer: does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, citizenship, religion, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, or other protected characteristics