Legal Counsel - Capital Markets - European Union (EU)
The Legal Team is responsible for offering legal and regulatory guidance to ensure compliance with local regulations for all products and services while meeting customer needs. The team engages with external entities such as regulators and service providers to demonstrate adherence to relevant laws for the company.
This position will report to the Global Head of Capital Markets, Legal and collaborate closely with the Legal Team operating in the EU. The primary focus of this role involves being the Legal Team's specialist on EU Investment Firm laws and regulations as well as the products across the EU. The Legal Team provides proactive legal advice to various stakeholders to facilitate the development and launch of products and services while meeting obligations and customer requirements. The role also involves collaborating cross-functionally to identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks related to new offerings while maximizing commercial opportunities. Additionally, representing the company on diverse topics before regulators, financial partners, and other external parties.
Responsibilities
- Be a key member of the Legal Team handling legal and regulatory matters for the company's Investment Firm based in the EU.
- Demonstrate expertise in regulations such as Markets In Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR), Investment Firms Regulation and Directive (IFR/IFD), Regulation on Market Abuse (MAR), and Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) governing financial instruments and their interaction in the EU and cross-border.
- Focus on legal and regulatory aspects related to a range of financial instruments, including derivatives, encompassing access, disclosures, and trade requirements.
- Oversee the processes for maintaining the Investment Firm license and passporting under MiFID and other relevant laws.
- Contribute to the maintenance of authorization as a crypto asset service provider under MiCA regulation.
- Aid in ensuring continued compliance with MiCA, collaborating across teams to deliver projects within tight deadlines.
- Draft, review, and update policies, procedures, terms and conditions, and other rules concerning the trading of MiFID and MiCA-regulated products.
- Lead communication with National Competent Authorities (NCAs), ESMA, and other regulators on various topics related to the company.
- Review marketing materials for compliance with MiFID and MiCA laws.
- Coordinate with external counsel to ensure legal arrangements comply with applicable laws in operational jurisdictions.
Requirements
- Qualified/licensed lawyer with 5 to 10 years of experience in financial product legal and regulatory work for MiFID-regulated clients in a major law firm or as a licensed MiFID entity.
- Strong knowledge of EU financial law (MiFID, EMIR, IFR, IFD, MAR, etc.) and a proven record of maintaining licenses under these frameworks.
- Understanding of industry practices, professional standards, and implementing market and finance regulations in the EU and cross-border with the U.S.
- Familiarity with MiCA and readiness to collaborate across the legal team on this regulation.
- Exceptional English verbal and written communication skills.
- Effective organizational and project management skills to handle high volume and prioritize tasks.
- Ability to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders.
- Flexibility to accommodate calls and meetings in different time zones.
- Proficiency in problem-solving and offering solutions.
