Institutional Legal Counsel (UK)
Posted 12 days 13 hours ago by OnHires
Location: London, United Kingdom
About the Company:
Our client is a liquidity and technology provider of solutions for the crypto and foreign exchange (FX) industry. The company specializes in B2B services and products, catering to a wide range of clients, including large licensed brokers, crypto exchanges, crypto brokers, forex brokers, hedge and crypto funds, and professional managers. Our client's advanced base of ready-to-use technical solutions enables brokers to save time and money on consuming infrastructure projects and focus on enlarging their client base and increasing their revenues.
About the Role:
We are building a dedicated Institutional Liquidity Team and expanding our client's legal department into specialized streams. As part of this initiative, we are seeking a highly skilled Institutional Legal Counsel based in the UK to support our institutional business and oversee key legal and regulatory aspects. This role will play a crucial role in securing and maintaining our FCA brokerage license, structuring institutional deals, and ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities:
FCA Brokerage License Management - Lead the process of acquiring or applying for an FCA brokerage license, ensuring full regulatory compliance.
Institutional Contract Negotiation - Handle the structuring and negotiation of complex agreements with institutional clients (hedge funds, prime brokers, institutional counterparties).
Product Governance - Ensure the full regulatory compliance and legal structuring of new products, such as DMA futures, including program documentation, contract frameworks, and risk mitigation.
Collaboration with AML & MLRO Teams - Work closely with internal compliance teams to oversee regulatory obligations related to AML, risk assessment, and reporting.
FCA Communication & Regulatory Oversight - Monitor and coordinate all interactions with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), including regulatory updates and compliance submissions.
Marketing Compliance Review - Ensure all marketing materials and institutional communications align with FCA and industry regulatory standards.
PB Relationships & Institutional Deal Structuring - Support and manage legal frameworks for Prime Brokerage (PB) relationships, POP, Agency, and give-up deals.
Industry Representation & Networking - Leverage an existing network in the institutional space, ideally with exposure to ICMA (International Capital Market Association).
Requirements:
UK-qualified lawyer with extensive experience in institutional finance and prime brokerage.
Proven track record working with Prime Brokerage, POP, Agency, give-up deals.
Deep understanding of FCA regulations and experience securing/maintaining an FCA brokerage license.
Experience structuring complex institutional agreements with hedge funds, institutional brokers, and counterparties.
Prior exposure to ICMA and institutional market practices.
Established network within institutional finance and brokerage sectors in the UK.
Strong negotiation skills and ability to manage long, complex deal structuring processes.
Experience working within an institutional trading environment (exposure to liquidity providers, institutional brokers, and hedge funds preferred).
What We Offer:
A chance to shape the institutional brokerage market in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Collaboration with a highly skilled and motivated international team.
Competitive compensation and opportunities for professional growth.