Counsel – Regulatory, UK

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United Kingdom.

📋 Description

• Provide legal support regarding regulatory requirements for cryptoassets, e-money, and payment services.

• Offer advice on account-access obligations and associated operational compliance inquiries.

• Assist with active licensing applications and workstreams related to UK licensing or registration.

• Compile application materials and coordinate efforts with external legal counsel.

• Deliver regulatory support for corporate transactions and structural changes affecting UK entities.

• Manage change-of-control notifications and corporate client transitions.

• Support day-to-day relationships with regulators for licensed entities.

• Interpret the UK Cryptoasset Regime, FCA rulebooks, AML/CTF, operational resilience, outsourcing, e-money, and payment services regulations into practical business advice.

• Provide guidance on Payward's UK products, which include Kraken Card, payments, and staking.

• Collaborate with Compliance, Product, and senior leadership teams.

• Oversee ongoing business-as-usual regulatory tasks and maintain regulatory relationships.

• Report to the EU/UK Regulatory Legal team.

⛳️ Requirements

• Qualified lawyer: Solicitor or Barrister of England & Wales, or equivalent legal qualification.

• Minimum of 6 years post-qualification experience in financial services regulatory law.

• Experience acquired at a regulated financial services institution or in a law firm/private practice supporting such clients.

• Proven capability to independently manage business-as-usual regulatory workstreams.

• Direct experience in supporting engagement with the FCA or equivalent regulatory bodies, including notifications, information requests, and supervisory correspondence.

• Substantial experience providing advice on the UK Cryptoasset Regime.

• Extensive experience with UK e-money and payment services regulations, including account-access and open banking obligations.

• Experience in AML/CTF, including related policies, controls, and regulatory expectations.

• Experience in advising on outsourcing arrangements and compliance with operational resilience, including the FCA/PRA regime.

• Exceptional analytical, drafting, and organizational skills.

• Clear and concise writing in plain English.

• Ability to simplify complex legal and regulatory issues into straightforward, actionable guidance for non-lawyer stakeholders.

• A pragmatic and commercially responsible approach to legal and regulatory risks.

• Ability to work independently and manage a diverse, fast-paced business-as-usual workload.

• Familiarity with the UK's onshored MiFID regime is a plus.

• Experience in supporting change-of-control notifications or other regulatory facets of corporate transactions is a plus.

• Genuine interest in crypto and digital assets is a plus.

🏝️ Benefits

• Fully remote work arrangement.

• Ongoing applications accepted unless a specific deadline is indicated.

• Consideration of qualified applicants with criminal histories in line with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

• Commitment to equal opportunity employment.

• Consistent application of job-related skills or work-style assessments across similar candidates.

• Participation in Kraken product testing after joining.

• A diverse and inclusive workplace.