A. Role Overview
KuCoin EU is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel – Product & Regulatory to support the development and operation of its regulated crypto-asset business in the European Economic Area.
The role will focus primarily on financial-services regulation, crypto-asset regulation and legal assessment of new and existing products.
The successful candidate should be able to independently analyse complex product structures, identify regulatory and legal risks, work directly with Product and business stakeholders, and develop commercially workable solutions within KuCoin EU’s regulatory framework.
The position is intended for a lawyer with strong regulatory analysis, product counselling and problem-solving capabilities.
The role will work closely with the Management Board, Business Operations, Product and Operations, and other group functions.
B. Key Responsibilities
1. Product Legal Advisory
Act as a principal legal advisor for new and existing KuCoin EU products and services.
Responsibilities include:
- Conduct legal and regulatory assessments of proposed products, features and business models.
- Advise Product teams throughout the product lifecycle, from concept and structuring through launch and post-launch review.
- Identify regulatory constraints at an early stage and propose commercially workable alternative structures.
- Work with Product, Technology and Operations teams to translate legal requirements into operational and product requirements.
Successful candidate should be able to provide clear recommendations rather than merely identifying legal risks.
2. EU Financial Regulation
Provide legal advice on EU and relevant national financial-services regulation affecting KuCoin EU. This shall include and is not limited to:
- Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR);
- MiFID II;
- PSD2 / EMD2;
- DORA;
- other EU financial-services legislation relevant to KuCoin EU’s activities.
Successful candidate should be comfortable analysing areas where multiple regulatory regimes potentially overlap
3. Licensing and Regulatory Engagement
Lead and support licensing and authorization efforts of KuCoin EU and regulatory engagement involving KuCoin EU, including but not limited to interactions with the Austrian Financial Market Authority and other European authorities, and advising management in determining appropriate regulatory strategy.
4. Commercial and Contractual Support
Support where necessary in drafting and reviewing platform and product legal documents, contractual arrangements, outsourcing and intra-group arrangements. Also support in reviewing commercial structures where regulatory considerations are significant; and work with external counsel where specialist advice is required.
C. Candidate Requirements
- Qualified lawyer in an EU/EEA jurisdiction, UK or another recognised common-law jurisdiction.
- Approximately 5 - 8+ years of relevant post-qualification experience, although exceptional candidates outside this range may be considered.
- Strong experience in financial-services regulation, crypto regulation or fintech regulation.
- Demonstrable experience in product advisory and regulatory engagement.
- Strong legal research and analytical skills.
- Ability to interpret complex financial regulation and translate it into practical business requirements.
- Strong written and spoken English.
- Ability to independently manage legal matters involving multiple stakeholders.
- Commercial judgment and strong problem-solving ability.
- Previous experience at a financial regulator, financial-services law firm, regulated crypto platform or financial institution would be particularly valuable.
