Wintermute is a hyper-growth algorithmic trading firm and one of the largest players in the global digital asset markets. We provide liquidity algorithmically across most cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms, as well as support high profile blockchain projects and traditional financial institutions moving into crypto. Culturally, we combine the best traits of both trading companies and technology startups. As a trading company, we manage hundreds of millions in assets, trade more than $5B+/day across dozens of trading platforms. As a technology startup, we build, innovate and move incredibly fast, we create best-in-class liquidity products that create more efficient markets. We believe that traditional finance has to change and we are on a mission to define and build the decentralized future of finance. Wintermute is a hyper-growth profitable proprietary trading business. We are backed by top tier global venture capital investors such as Lightspeed, Pantera Capital, Sino Global Capital, Blockchain.com Ventures, Avon Ventures by Fidelity Investments, DeFi Alliance and others. Learn more about our team and culture on our website and on Twitter.

About Wintermute

Wintermute is a technology unicorn and one of the leading global players in the digital asset markets. Wintermute is the largest crypto-native algorithmic trading company providing liquidity across all major exchanges and trading platforms. Our OTC desk offers a wide range of spot and derivatives products and supports over 2,000 counterparties across crypto natives and traditional financial institutions. We actively participate in the development of the blockchain ecosystem by being one of the largest players in DeFi as well as our investments arm, partnerships and incubations.

Wintermute was founded in 2017 by trading industry leaders and has successfully navigated multiple crypto industry cycles. Culturally, we combine the best of the two worlds: the technology standards of high-frequency trading firms in traditional markets and the innovative and entrepreneurial culture of technology startups. Read more here.

Nature of the role

We are looking for a Senior Legal Counsel in the US who will focus on supporting Wintermute's various businesses such as OTC and on-exchange trading and cross-border regulatory matters, with a focus on US regulations.

The candidate should either have experience in digital asset markets or in traditional financial markets and can easily adapt to the entrepreneurial, varied and highly dynamic nature of Wintermute's business, as well as to the challenges and opportunities specific to the proprietary trading business.

This role will work closely with the business (BD and traders), Risk and legal team colleagues globally and will cover the US and all other jurisdictions where Wintermute and its counterparties are currently active.

Key Responsibilities:

Draft and negotiate trading and commercial agreements in relation to our business lines (OTC and on-exchange trading in spot crypto assets, securities and derivatives, liquidity provisioning/ market making, exchange agreements, software agreements, and other trading agreements).

Support the regulatory team to: advise, implement and operationalise any US legal advice or regulatory or case-law developments as needed, whilst ensuring alignment with the general and global business objectives. Develop Wintermute's digital assets policy with leading crypto associations, federal and state regulators, and analyse, consider and comment on proposed bills in the US as they are promulgated; develop regulatory and operational strategy for new products in multiple jurisdictions in coordination with the business and product teams; handle disputes, regulatory inquiries, foresee contentious risks and mitigate regulatory and other risks.

Collaborate with other business and legal stakeholders and assist on other non-US regulatory matters as may be required.

Work independently and collaborate with the legal team, internal stakeholders and external counsels to develop, update and maintain appropriate trading and commercial agreements as suited for each business line.

Educate the business on all legal aspects of our trading and commercial agreements, underpinned by a risk-informed understanding of various products and approaches.

Work on corporate matters such as investments, acquisitions, corporate governance and lending, and prepare board and shareholder approvals for various transactions or corporate exercises.

Other legal projects: get involved in a wide range of legal matters depending on skills, preferences and company needs, including employment and trademarks etc.

Hard Skills Requirements:

5-10 years (US-qualified) experience, gained in a top-tier US law firm. Additional in-house experience is preferred but not mandatory.

A strong grasp of contractual and commercial issues relevant to proprietary trading firms is strongly preferred (for e.g. experience with drafting and negotiating trading agreements (for spot, derivatives and structured products) and lending agreements etc.).

Corporate governance, lending, corporate finance and/or M&A background, with experience in maintaining shareholder registers and obtaining corporate approvals.

Knowledge and ability to support the regulatory team in navigating US securities laws, SEC/ FINRA regulations and money transmission laws as it applies to proprietary trading firms and experience dealing with regulatory agencies such as the SEC and FINRA.

Commercial disputes/litigation experience across securities and digital assets and/or experience liaising with regulators on a range of topics such as inquiries and requests.

Experience working in a high-performance, dynamic and high-growth environment and leading complex regulatory projects, including considering the need for regulatory licences, preparation of regulatory licence applications and implementation of compliance and operational policies under tight deadlines, with input from internal stakeholders and external counsels.

Ability to work closely with different stakeholders across time zones to roll out solutions firm

wide to drive the firm's business objectives whilst being in compliance with its risk management policies and regulatory and compliance requirements.

An interest and/or understanding of the crypto industry, i.e. main players, types of tokens, token governance, DAOs, blockchain foundations.

An inherent sense of self-motivation to take control and deliver on projects by being hands-on and identifying the right external resources to solve specific questions within a project.

A healthy dose of common sense, the ability to be nimble and apply legal concepts to problem-solve in a US and non-US context, and willingness to adapt and learn quickly when faced with novel issues.

Proven track record of working across functions and successfully launching regulated financial products.

Good to have but not mandatory: cross-border regulatory experience, in particular the UK and Singapore and/or prior in-house work experience in a regulated environment in the digital assets industry.

Join our dynamic team and benefit from:

Working at one of the most innovative trading firms globally.

Engaging projects offering accelerated responsibilities and ownership compared to traditional finance environments.

Great company culture: informal, non-hierarchical, ambitious, highly professional with a startup vibe, collaborative and entrepreneurial.

A performance-based compensation with a significant earning potential.

Note:

This is a fully remote position for now until we have established an office in New York

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the US.

We prefer candidates based on the East Coast or in the UK but are open to exceptional candidates from other regions in the US.

Senior Counsel (US Trading and Regulatory)

Offer summary

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Key responsibilities:

Job description

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