Senior Counsel – Regulatory

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United Kingdom, +4 more countries.

📋 Description

• Offer legal assistance regarding regulatory requirements related to cryptoassets, e-money, and payment services.

• Provide guidance on account-access obligations and address operational compliance inquiries.

• Assist with active licensing applications and EU/UK licensing or registration processes.

• Prepare application materials and liaise with external legal counsel.

• Deliver regulatory support for corporate transactions and structural changes impacting EU/UK entities.

• Aid in change-of-control notifications and corporate client transitions.

• Oversee daily regulator interactions for licensed entities.

• Convert MiCA, the UK Cryptoasset Regime, CBI and FCA rulebooks, AML/CTF, DORA, outsourcing, e-money, and payment-services regulations into practical business guidance.

• Manage ongoing business-as-usual regulatory workstreams.

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

• Ensure clear communication and provide decision-ready recommendations in plain English.

⛳️ Requirements

• Qualified lawyer: Solicitor or Barrister of England & Wales, Irish Solicitor or Barrister, or equivalent admitted in an EU Member State.

• Over 10 years of post-qualification experience in financial-services regulatory law.

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

• Proven track record of independently managing BAU regulatory workstreams.

• Direct experience in regulator engagement, including notifications, information requests, and supervisory correspondence.

• Significant experience with MiCA or the UK Cryptoasset Regime.

• Substantial familiarity with EU or UK e-money and payment-services regulations, including account-access and open-banking obligations.

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

• Experience in advising on outsourcing agreements and ensuring operational-resilience compliance.

• Exceptional analytical, drafting, and organizational abilities.

• Proficient in crisp, plain-English writing.

• Capability to simplify complex legal and regulatory matters into clear, actionable guidance.

• Pragmatic and commercially accountable approach to legal and regulatory risks.

• Ability to work independently and manage a diverse, fast-paced BAU workload.

• Familiarity with MiFID II is a plus.

• Experience with change-of-control notifications is a plus.

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

🏝️ Benefits

• Fully remote work arrangement.

• Ongoing applications will be accepted unless a specific deadline is mentioned.

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

• Commitment to equal opportunity employment.

• Consistent application of job-related skills or work-style assessments, not solely used as the basis for employment decisions.

• Requirement to use Kraken products as part of the role once employed.