Member of Legal, Corporate & Commercial Counsel

Overview

A leading digital asset platform is seeking a Regulatory Licensing Attorney to join their Legal team. This role focuses on navigating the complex regulatory environment of the Commodity Futures and Trading Commission (CFTC) and managing firm-level licensing with the CFTC and National Futures Association (NFA). The attorney will provide strategic legal advice on derivatives trading, margin lending, and over-the-counter (OTC) products.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal expert on the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and NFA rules, advising on licensing obligations.
• Lead the strategy for obtaining and maintaining regulatory licenses, managing registration lifecycles, and navigating 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 frameworks to prevent regulatory breaches and ensure compliance.
• Share regulatory licensing knowledge across teams and prioritize work aligned with organizational goals.
• Build strong relationships with product, engineering, operations, and other teams to support new product development and resolve legal issues.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree with a focus on financial services, commodities, or corporate law.
• Minimum of 4 years practicing law, with at least 3 years focused on CFTC and NFA regulatory matters.
• Deep knowledge of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and Dodd-Frank Act (Title VII).
• Technical expertise in derivatives, OTC products, margin lending, and the legal lifecycle of futures and swaps.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and communication skills, including experience with ISDA/CSA documentation.
• Proven ability to work closely with cross-functional teams (Trading, Engineering, Risk) on financial product development and regulatory strategy.
• Foundational understanding of digital assets and their intersection with CFTC/NFA jurisdiction.
• Detail-oriented with experience managing complex licensing applications and regulatory audits.
• Ability to work independently while balancing commercial growth objectives with 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

• Personal interest in financial history or culture, such as an appreciation for the "Hamilton" soundtrack.

Compensation & Benefits

Details on compensation and benefits are not specified in the job description.

Location

The organization has offices in multiple locations including San Francisco, New York, Porto (Portugal), Singapore, and Sioux Falls (South Dakota). Specific office location for this role is not specified.