UK Legal Counsel

This role is exclusively for candidates currently based in the United Kingdom. While we offer a remote-first working environment, residency in the UK is a mandatory requirement for this position.

About us

Established in 2013, Xapo has pioneered Crypto Banking, while earning a reputation as the Fort Knox of Crypto.

We believe that Bitcoin will do for money, what the internet did for information. Our goal is to provide a bridge between digital assets and traditional financial services.

To make it safe and easy for you to save in Dollars or Bitcoins, with immediate access to funds via Card, Crypto and Bank payment rails. To help you to participate in both traditional and crypto markets, enabling you to grow your wealth and build your financial future. 

Xapo Bank is the first product of its kind: a platform that bridges the gap between crypto and traditional banking services. Headquartered in Gibraltar, we are regulated and authorised as a credit institution to provide fiat related services and in addition, Xapo VASP is regulated and authorised as a Distributed Ledger Technology Provider to provide crypto services.

Position overview

As a Legal Counsel, you will play a critical role in ensuring Xapo meets its UK regulatory obligations. You will be instrumental in supporting the business with its UK regulatory applications and ongoing compliance with the UK’s legal and regulatory framework. A key part of this role will be to collaborate effectively with other key functions and to advise on the structuring and ongoing compliance of new product rollouts. You will be responsible for supporting our legal team particularly in the areas of conducting research, reviewing documentation, contracts, engagement terms, analysing complex legal information and summarising findings in clear, concise reports. Your work will be vital in allowing the Legal team and the wider business to operate effectively and compliantly.

This role will be based in the UK to support Xapo’s continued expansion into the UK. Xapo is in the process of securing the necessary regulatory authorisations to offer its UK-facing banking and crypto services from its new UK home.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the preparation and management of UK regulatory applications, ensuring all submissions are robust, timely and aligned with business objectives. 
• Acting as a key legal adviser on the structuring and ongoing compliance of new product rollouts, collaborating closely with the Product, Marketing, Compliance and other key functions. 
• Monitor, interpret and advise the business on the evolving UK legal and regulatory landscape, particularly within the Banking Fintech and Blockchain sectors. 
• Be responsible for assessing, implementing and maintaining standards relating to key UK regulations, including the consumer duty principle and financial promotions rules. 
• Review and analyse complex legal and regulatory information, providing concise analysis and actionable recommendations to internal stakeholders. 
• Provide sound legal advice on a range of commercial and regulatory matters, including the review of client-facing communications to ensure compliance. 

Skills needed

• Experience: 5+ years PQE, ideally gained from a combination of private practice and in-house roles within the Financial Services industry (primarily banking, payments orcryptoassets) .
• Qualification: UK qualified lawyer (or equivalent) with significant practice and experience with the UK legal and regulatory environment.
• Regulatory Experience: Demonstrable, hands-on experience working on regulatory applications for fintechs within the banking, payments or cryptoasset industries will be highly desirable.
• Analytical and Advisory Skills: The ability to analyse complex UK legal and regulatory issues, conduct thorough research and provide clear, pragmatic and commercially-minded advice to the business. Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to find creative and commercially-minded solutions to complex legal and regulatory challenges. This requires innovative thinking and a proactive approach that moves beyond simply identifying problems.
• Attention to Detail: A high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Technological Proficiency: Our work involves various technologies and infrastructure. Familiarity with these tools and ability to interact with a global team digitally is important.
• Project Management: Ability to lead a project, interact across product, risk, finance and other teams within the group, and to have some business development skills.

Other requirements

• A dedicated workspace.
• A reliable internet connection with the fastest speed possible in your area.
• Devices and other essential equipment that meet minimal technical specifications.
• Alignment with Our Values and the Xapo Values-Driven Leadership principles.