Legal Counsel (Derivatives)
Senior Legal Counsel
Location: Singapore
My client is a next-generation financial technology company building the infrastructure that powers digital asset markets. As a leading market maker and liquidity provider, they operate at the intersection of crypto innovation and institutional-grade financial services.
The Opportunity
They are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Legal Counsel / Head of Legal, APAC to establish and lead legal operations across the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Singapore and reporting to the senior management, this senior leadership role will work closely with the Head of Derivatives and Markets team to support their market-making and trading operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Strategy: Build and lead the legal function across APAC, including hiring, developing, and managing a high-performing legal team in the region.
- Derivatives & Product Structuring: Draft, review, and negotiate complex derivative product contracts (options, futures, structured products), ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and internal standards.
- Regulatory Compliance: Monitor, analyze, and interpret regulatory developments across APAC jurisdictions related to crypto and derivatives markets. Develop legal strategies to address evolving requirements and ensure the company's ongoing compliance.
- Risk Management: Collaborate with the risk and compliance teams to assess legal risk associated with new product launches and implement effective controls.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with trading, product, and business development teams to provide legal insights that support innovation and responsible growth.
- Dispute Resolution & Advisory: Provide clear, commercially-oriented legal advice to internal teams and assist in managing regulatory inquiries, client negotiations, and dispute resolution when needed.
- Cross-Functional Support: Advise on a range of legal matters including commercial agreements, licensing, partnerships, and vendor contracts.
About You
- Qualified lawyer with at least 8+ years of post-qualification experience, ideally with a mix of top-tier law firm and in-house experience in fintech, crypto, or financial services.
- Deep understanding of derivatives markets, financial instruments, and the APAC regulatory landscape, particularly relating to crypto assets.
- Proven track record of independently leading legal strategy and operations in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Excellent drafting and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage complex legal issues and communicate effectively with non-legal stakeholders.
- Strong leadership, organizational, and strategic thinking skills.
- Fluent in English; proficiency in an Asian language is a plus.
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