Member of Legal, Corporate & Commercial Counsel

At Anchorage Digital, we are creating a cutting-edge digital asset platform tailored for institutional involvement in the realm of cryptocurrency.

Anchorage Digital offers institutions the ability to engage with digital assets through various services like custody, staking, trading, governance, settlement, and top-tier security infrastructure. Additionally, Anchorage Digital Bank N.A., the first federally chartered crypto bank in the U.S., operates within the larger framework. Trusted by well-established investment entities like Andreessen Horowitz, GIC, Goldman Sachs, KKR, and Visa, Anchorage Digital holds a Series D valuation surpassing $3 billion. Formed in 2017 in San Francisco, California, Anchorage Digital also houses offices in New York, NY; Porto, Portugal; Singapore; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Due to the rise in digital threats and hostile attacks, a security policy mandates that all incoming employees undergo an in-person onboarding process without exceptions. Obsessed with security and IT integrity, we emphasize physical identity verification and secure IT setup. This move isn't just fueled by security reasons but also to foster our cohesive Village culture, as we strongly believe that our culture is rooted in personal interactions that cannot be transferred through remote setup provisions.

We are currently searching for a skilled Regulatory Licensing Attorney to join our dynamic Legal team. In this vital role, you will function as the firm’s primary expert in CFTC and NFA firm-level licensing matters, directing the organization through the regulatory framework of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). Straddling legal strategies and commercial practicalities within the dynamic crypto sector, your responsibilities entail offering essential legal advice on OTC and cleared derivatives, margin lending, and privacy issues for new business ventures, all while balancing regulatory compliance with the firm’s strategic objectives.

We have devised the Factors of Growth & Impact to aid Villagers in quantifying their impact and articulating coaching, feedback, and learning opportunities as they navigate and master their capabilities within and beyond the Member of Legal role.

• Technical Skills:

• Regulatory Advisory: Act as the key legal authority on the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and NFA Rules, advising on the obligations tied to being a licensed entity.

• Licensing & Registration Management: Oversee the comprehensive strategy for securing and retaining regulatory licenses, inclusive of managing the registration process and navigating intricate exemption structures.

• Margin Lending Arrangements: Create, assess, and negotiate complex margin lending agreements with sophisticated institutional counterparts.

• Contract Drafting & Negotiation: Draft, evaluate, and negotiate specialized regulatory agreements, such as ISDA/CSA documentation and requisite disclosure papers for regulatory compliance.

• Complexity and Impact of Work:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Collaborate with Trading, Operations, Risk, and Engineering teams to integrate CFTC/NFA compliance criteria directly into trading operations and platform architecture.

• Regulatory Horizon Scanning: Proactively track and interpret changes in CFTC mandates and NFA directives, advising the executive team on necessary business strategy adjustments.

• Audit & Examination Leadership: Lead the legal response to regulatory inquiries and NFA examinations, overseeing preparation, document submission, and regulatory authorities' strategic communication.

• High-Stakes Problem Solving: Serve as a prominent individual contributor on intricate projects like introducing new derivative asset classes and navigating cross-border regulatory transformations.

• Risk Mitigation: Drive the production of internal "Rules-to-Workflow" structures to avert regulatory breaches, ensuring the firm's "right to operate" remains unscathed.

• Organizational Knowledge:

• Thorough knowledge of Anchorage Digital's strategy to effectively lead regulatory licensing projects while considering the respective team’s objectives.

• Facilitating transference of knowledge as advancements are made in the licensing applications across the relevant teams.

• Aptitude in prioritizing work as per the company's objectives and providing the rationale behind allocated tasks.

• Communication and Influence:

• Forge influential cross-functional relationships with product, engineering, operations, and other teams to innovate new products, enhance existing businesses, tackle legal challenges, structure complex agreements, and boost efficacy.

• Possess robust communication skills for internal and external interactions.

• Ability to be client-facing while collaborating with cross-functional teams on various internal projects.

If you possess a J.D. degree with a focus on financial services, commodities, or corporate law, along with at least 4+ years of legal practice experience, including 3+ years concentrating on CFTC and NFA regulatory affairs, you may be suitable for this role. A deep understanding and practical exposure to the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and the Dodd-Frank Act (Title VII), coupled with technical proficiency in derivatives, impeccable communication and negotiation skills, and the ability to function with moderate supervision, would all be advantageous. Additionally, prior in-house legal experience at a fintech firm, hedge fund, leading financial institution, or reputable regulatory practice part of a prominent law firm, as well as familiarity with market infrastructure nuances, will be viewed favorably.

Although not mandatory, a profound appreciation for crypto and a keen comprehension of the intersection between digital assets and CFTC/NFA jurisdiction and global regulatory changes would be advantageous.

Joining the Anchorage Village, a coalition of top minds specializing in platform security, financial services, and distributed ledger technology, you will contribute to offering institutions the vital tools to safely take part in the evolving digital asset landscape. Embracing diversity with a team exceeding 600 members, our common objective is clear: crafting a robust foundation for capital to flow securely in the emerging global financial system. Committed to fostering an inclusive workplace for all, Anchorage Digital ensures that everyone feels valued, supported, and integrated, irrespective of background. We extol differences and believe that fostering an open, true self at work uplifts our collective output.

Protecting privacy rights is crucial, and we constantly strive to maintain trust and respect of our clients while handling personal or financial data diligently. For more information on data processing, feel free to contact us.