Overview
A leading digital asset platform for institutional participation in crypto is seeking a Regulatory Licensing Attorney to join their Legal team. This role focuses on CFTC and NFA firm-level licensing, guiding the organization through the registration lifecycle and regulatory compliance under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). The position involves providing legal counsel on OTC and cleared derivatives, margin lending, and privacy considerations for new business lines within a fast-paced crypto environment.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary legal expert on the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and NFA Rules, advising on licensing obligations.
- Lead strategy for obtaining and maintaining regulatory licenses, managing registration lifecycles and exemption frameworks.
- Draft, review, and negotiate complex margin lending agreements with institutional counterparties.
- Prepare and negotiate specialized regulatory agreements, including ISDA/CSA documentation and required disclosure documents.
- Collaborate with Trading, Operations, Risk, and Engineering teams to integrate CFTC/NFA compliance into trading workflows and platform architecture.
- Monitor and interpret changes in CFTC mandates and NFA notices, advising executive leadership on business strategy adjustments.
- Lead legal responses to regulatory inquiries and NFA examinations, managing document production and communications.
- Develop internal "Rules-to-Workflow" frameworks to mitigate regulatory risks and ensure compliance.
- Share regulatory licensing knowledge across teams and prioritize work aligned with organizational goals.
- Build strong cross-functional relationships to support product development, legal issue resolution, and operational efficiency.
Requirements
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree with a focus on financial services, commodities, or corporate law.
- Minimum 4 years of legal practice experience, with at least 3 years focused on CFTC and NFA regulatory matters.
- Deep knowledge of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and the Dodd-Frank Act (Title VII).
- Technical proficiency in derivatives, including OTC products, margin lending, and futures/swaps legal lifecycle.
- Strong communication, drafting, and negotiation skills, including experience with ISDA/CSA or clearing agreements.
- Experience collaborating with business and cross-functional teams (Trading, Engineering, Risk) on financial product development and regulatory strategy.
- Foundational understanding of crypto and how digital assets intersect with CFTC/NFA jurisdiction and global regulations.
- Ability to manage complex licensing applications and regulatory audits with attention to detail.
- Capacity to work with moderate supervision, balancing commercial growth with legal and regulatory compliance.
- Prior in-house legal experience at a fintech firm, hedge fund, major financial institution, or top-tier law firm regulatory practice.
- Familiarity with market infrastructure such as electronic trading platforms, central clearing, and margin/collateral management.
Preferred Qualifications
- Enthusiasm for crypto and digital asset ecosystems.
- Experience handling high-stakes projects like launching new derivative asset classes or navigating cross-border regulatory issues.
- Ability to lead audit and examination processes.
- Bonus: Appreciation for the "Hamilton" soundtrack.
Compensation & Benefits
Details on compensation and benefits are not specified in the description.
Location & Work Environment
- The organization requires all new hires to complete an in-person onboarding process to ensure physical identity verification and secure IT setup due to the sensitive nature of the business and security priorities.
- Offices are located in San Francisco, New York, Porto (Portugal), Singapore, and Sioux Falls (South Dakota).
Equal Opportunity
The employer is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or veteran status. Qualified applicants are considered regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.