Member of Legal, Portugal Counsel
At Anchorage Digital, the focus is on creating the most advanced digital asset platform globally, specifically designed for institutional participation in the crypto market.
Anchorage Digital encompasses a suite of services including custody, staking, trading, governance, settlement, and top-tier security infrastructure to enable institutions to engage with digital assets. As the home to Anchorage Digital Bank, it is backed by major financial institutions like Andreessen Horowitz, GIC, Goldman Sachs, KKR, and Visa, signifying its Series D valuation exceeding $3 billion. Established in 2017 in San Francisco, the company has expanded with offices in New York, Porto, Singapore, and Sioux Falls.
This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the legal and compliance landscape in Portugal while being an integral part of ensuring operations run seamlessly, risks are mitigated, and strategic growth is achieved within the dynamic global crypto industry.
Key Responsibilities Regarding Technical Skills:
- Act as the primary legal contact for the Portuguese entity, facilitating negotiations or mediations as required.
- Design thorough legal process maps in collaboration with Compliance, identifying legal requirements and supporting risk assessments with the central Risk team.
- Draft, review, and implement action plans in partnership with Compliance and Risk to address identified deficiencies within specified timelines.
- Support the development of compliance strategies aligned with industry legislation for Anchorage.
Complexity and Impact of Work:
- Manage the entire spectrum of legal requirements for the Portuguese entity, handling sensitive disputes and high-stakes situations.
- Identify and address intricate legal risks across multiple domains affecting Portuguese operations, such as employment, corporate, technology, and tax.
- Offer crucial legal support for corporate matters like mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring that impact the Portuguese entity.
Organizational Knowledge:
- Develop a deep understanding of Anchorage Digital's global business strategies and products to provide tailored legal advice in Portugal.
- Navigate the relationship between local regulations in Portugal, wider EU frameworks, and international laws, aiding Compliance and Risk in ensuring comprehensive adherence.
- Collaborate across various teams including People, Product, Engineering, Compliance, Risk, and Finance to seamlessly integrate legal requirements.
Communication and Influence:
- Communicate complex legal concepts and risks effectively to non-legal stakeholders at all organizational levels.
- Influence internal stakeholders to adopt compliant practices and implement mitigation strategies in a respectful and persuasive manner.
- Foster strong relationships with external legal partners and internal teams in Legal, Compliance, and Risk.
Qualifications and Experience Highlights:
- Must hold a Portuguese legal qualification (Ordem dos Advogados registration) with substantial post-qualification experience in corporate, labor, or regulatory law, preferably within financial services or technology.
- Demonstrated proficiency in navigating complex compliance landscapes including expertise in data protection (e.g., GDPR), anti-money laundering (AML), and other financial regulations.
- Proven track record of identifying legal risks, translating legal requirements into implementable plans, and driving their execution in a dynamic setting.
- Strong contract drafting, review, and negotiation skills encompassing a variety of agreements with strict adherence to industry-specific compliance needs.
- Possess an agile problem-solving mindset, passionate about crafting robust legal frameworks, and contributing to a pioneering global crypto company.
Bonus Points:
- Takes pleasure in the musical soundtrack of "Hamilton," themed around the establishment of a new financial system.
About Anchorage Digital: Anchorage Digital, or the Anchorage Village, brings together experts in platform security, financial services, and distributed ledger technology to empower institutions in participating safely in the evolving digital asset ecosystem. With a diverse team of over 600 members, the shared objective is to revolutionize finance by laying a secure foundation for value exchange in the modern global economy.
Anchorage Digital values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace, ensuring all individuals feel respected, supported, and connected regardless of their background or identity. The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to promoting equality in employment opportunities without discrimination based on various factors like race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
Anchorage Digital is dedicated to safeguarding the privacy rights of its clients, maintaining their trust and confidence. Artificial intelligence tools may be utilized during the hiring process to analyze applications and resumes, aiding the recruitment team without substituting human judgment. Final hiring decisions remain a human-driven process, and any queries regarding data processing are welcome.




