Senior Counsel – Product, Asia-Pacific

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Singapore, +1 more country.

📋 Description

• Deliver legal support for product launches and enablement across the Payward product suite in the APAC region.

• Assist with products such as xStocks, OTC options, institutional custody and execution, and cross-regional offerings being introduced in APAC.

• Serve as the gatekeeper for new engagements with APAC outside counsel by defining work scope, estimating expenses, and approving external matters.

• Convert intricate regulatory frameworks into practical and actionable business guidance.

• Utilize AI-assisted tools for licensing analysis, regulatory submissions, and matter tracking.

• Manage the APAC regulatory workload under the guidance of the APAC regulatory lead.

• Oversee license variations, client and broker agreement documentation, licensing structure inquiries, and routine correspondence with regulators.

• Assume responsibility for geography-specific licensing in Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

• Instruct and oversee local counsel in the region while supporting additional APAC markets.

• Support Payward Group's licensing efforts in Singapore and Hong Kong, which includes the preparation of application materials and coordination with outside counsel.

• Collaborate with Compliance, Product, and senior leadership to assist licensed entities and regulators.

⛳️ Requirements

• Qualified lawyer licensed in Singapore, Hong Kong, England and Wales, or a comparable common law jurisdiction.

• A minimum of 10 years' post-qualification experience in financial services regulatory law.

• Experience acquired at a regulated financial services institution, a law firm that represents such clients, or a relevant regulatory body.

• Capability to independently manage regulatory relationships and routine regulatory workflows, including notifications, information requests, and supervisory correspondence.

• Extensive knowledge of the financial regulatory landscape in a significant Asian financial hub.

• Ability to instruct, supervise, and manage the costs associated with local counsel across various jurisdictions, including markets where not admitted.

• Familiarity with AML/CTF obligations and regulatory expectations.

• Excellent analytical, drafting, and organization skills.

• Clear and concise writing in plain English.

• Skill in translating complex legal and regulatory matters into straightforward, actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders.

• A pragmatic and commercially accountable approach to legal and regulatory risk.

• Capacity to work independently in a fast-paced, remote, multi-time-zone environment.

• Experience with virtual asset regulation in APAC jurisdictions is a plus.

• Familiarity with derivatives, equities, and tokenized financial instruments is advantageous.

• Experience with change-of-control notifications or the regulatory aspects of corporate transactions is a bonus.

• Background in payments, e-money, or card regulation is preferred.

• Proficiency in a second APAC language is a plus.

• An interest in crypto and digital assets is beneficial.

🏝️ Benefits

• Remote work opportunity based in Hong Kong or Singapore.

• Chance to collaborate with a global, diverse team.

• Experience Kraken's product firsthand after joining.

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

• Commitment to equal opportunity employment.

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