Head of Legal

Overview

Senior, hands-on legal role owning the organization’s UK regulatory build for cryptoasset and e-money authorisations. The position is remote and based in the United Kingdom.

A key timing point: the UK’s new cryptoasset regime takes effect in October 2027. From that date, regulated cryptoasset activity in the UK requires FCA authorisation. This role is responsible for delivering first-wave authorisation under the new regime end to end, alongside a UK e-money application.

The role reports directly to the CEO and is the most senior legal voice in the business on UK matters. There are no direct reports at hire. Work will be closely coordinated with the organization’s EU legal function.

Employment or B2B engagement.

Responsibilities

FCA cryptoasset authorisation

• Perimeter analysis of B2C and B2B activities against the new regime
• Application strategy and drafting
• Input into the regulatory business plan
• RFI handling
• FCA dialogue through to decision

UK e-money (EMI) application

• Own the UK e-money application in the same end-to-end manner
• Manage sequencing between the two applications (cryptoasset authorisation and EMI application)

FCA relationship

• Act as the senior in-house legal counterpart to the regulator

UK conduct perimeter

• Cryptoasset financial promotions regime
• Consumer Duty
• The UK Travel Rule
• Safeguarding and prudential requirements

Post-authorisation readiness

• Governance
• Senior manager and certification considerations
• Reporting and disclosures

External counsel management

• Brief, direct, and quality-control UK external counsel
• Manage associated legal spend

International expansion (legal lead)

• Lead on additional licence applications in other jurisdictions
• Provide advice where the UK and EU regulatory perimeters meet

Commercial legal

Draft and negotiate English-law B2B fintech agreements, including:

• MSAs
• API and white-label terms
• Referral and agent agreements
• Banking, payment, and card scheme counterparty agreements

UK consumer-facing legal

• Consumer terms
• Financial promotions review
• UK-specific disclosures

UK employment

• UK employment law and contractor arrangements, in partnership with HR

Requirements

• Qualified solicitor or barrister in England & Wales (typically 8+ years PQE)
• Hands-on UK financial services regulatory experience, including at least one FCA authorisation or variation of permission personally owned or materially led—covering perimeter analysis through to decision
• Direct, personal interaction with the FCA, including correspondence, meetings, and representation led by you
• Crypto or digital-asset legal experience at licensed or established firms (e.g., registered/authorised exchanges, regulated on/off-ramps, licensed custodians, or infrastructure providers)
• Cryptoasset, e-money, or payments perimeter experience
• Engagement with the 2025–26 FCA cryptoasset consultations is highly relevant
• Ability to independently draft and negotiate English-law B2B fintech agreements
• Track record of owning regulatory outcomes (not only advising on them); law-firm backgrounds are welcome where this is evident
• Ability to take clear positions under pressure from senior stakeholders and counterparties, and translate legal risk into business options with recommendations
• Comfort operating as a remote senior with no legal support structure beneath you, working with a leadership team based outside the UK
• Practical use of AI tools in legal drafting, research, or review
• Fluent legal English suitable for regulator-facing work
• Existing right to work in the UK
• Ability to attend FCA meetings in London as required
• Team management experience not required; strong senior counsel ready to step into a Head of Legal role welcomed

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous Head of Legal, GC, or senior counsel role at a UK-authorised EMI, PI, or FCA-registered cryptoasset firm
• Experience of moving from AML registration to full FSMA authorisation
• Involvement in industry working groups or trade association engagement on the new UK crypto regime
• SM&CR experience
• Knowledge of UK safeguarding and prudential requirements for e-money and payments
• Crown Dependency (Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man) or Australian regulatory exposure
• Card scheme legal experience (e.g., Visa/Mastercard rules and principal membership)
• Experience building a legal or regulatory function in a jurisdiction from scratch

Compensation & Benefits

• Employment or B2B contract
• Performance bonus linked to UK authorisation milestones

Location

• Remote (United Kingdom)
• Ability to attend regulator meetings in London as required