Regulatory & Licensing Counsel (Trading & Derivatives)

About the role

In this role, you will serve as the primary legal expert on the Commodity Exchange Act and NFA Rules, advising Anchorage on licensing obligations and compliance strategies. You will lead the process of obtaining and maintaining regulatory licenses while ensuring that trading workflows align with compliance requirements.

Your responsibilities will include drafting and negotiating complex margin lending agreements and regulatory documents, as well as proactively monitoring regulatory changes. Success in this position requires effective collaboration with various teams to embed compliance into the firm's operations and to manage regulatory inquiries and audits.

The salary range of $68K-$112K reflects the competitive nature of the role in the crypto industry.

Skills that matter here

• Regulatory Advisory: This role requires advising on compliance with CFTC and NFA regulations.
• Licensing & Registration Management: You will manage the lifecycle of regulatory licenses.
• Margin Lending Arrangements: Drafting and negotiating margin lending agreements is a key responsibility.
• Contract Drafting & Negotiation: You will draft and negotiate various regulatory agreements.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Collaboration with Trading, Operations, and Engineering teams is essential.
• High-Stakes Problem Solving: You will address complex jurisdictional issues and regulatory challenges.

Who this role suits

• You have a J.D. with a focus on financial services or corporate law.
• You thrive in a remote work environment and are comfortable executing tasks with moderate supervision.
• You possess strong attention to detail and can manage multiple regulatory audits simultaneously.
• You are enthusiastic about crypto and understand the intersection of digital assets with regulatory frameworks.

From the employer

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal expert on the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and NFA Rules, advising the firm on the obligations associated with being a licensed firm.
• Lead the end-to-end strategy for obtaining and maintaining regulatory licenses, including managing the registration lifecycle and navigating complex exemption frameworks.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex margin lending agreements with sophisticated institutional counterparties.
• Draft, review, and negotiate specialized regulatory agreements, including ISDA/CSA documentation, and disclosure documents required for regulatory compliance.
• Partner with Trading, Operations, Risk, and Engineering teams to embed CFTC/NFA compliance requirements directly into trading workflows and platform architecture.
• Proactively monitor and interpret shifts in CFTC mandates and NFA interpretive notices, advising the executive team on necessary pivots to business strategy.
• Lead the legal response to regulatory inquiries and NFA examinations, managing the preparation, document production, and strategic communication with regulators.
• Act as a prolific individual contributor on complex projects, such as launching new derivative asset classes or navigating cross-border regulatory shifts.
• Drive the development of internal "Rules-to-Workflow" frameworks to prevent regulatory breaches, ensuring the firm’s "right to operate" remains uncompromised.

Requirements

• J.D. degree with a focus on financial services, commodities, or corporate law.
• 4+ years of experience practicing law, with at least 3+ years specifically focused on CFTC and NFA regulatory matters.
• Deep knowledge and practical experience with the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and the Dodd-Frank Act (Title VII).
• Technical proficiency in derivatives, including a solid understanding of OTC products, margin lending, and the legal life cycle of futures and swaps.
• Excellent communication, drafting, and negotiation skills, with specific experience handling ISDA/CSA documentation or clearing agreements.
• Demonstrated experience working closely with the business and cross-functional teams (Trading, Engineering, and Risk) to build new financial products, solve complex jurisdictional issues, and strategize for scale.
• Enthusiasm for crypto and a foundational understanding of how digital assets intersect with CFTC/NFA jurisdiction and the evolving global regulatory landscape.
• Demonstrated experience with close attention to detail and the ability to manage complex licensing applications and regulatory audits simultaneously.
• The ability to execute with moderate supervision, balancing aggressive commercial growth targets with the necessity of rigorous legal and regulatory compliance.
• Previous in-house legal experience at a fintech firm, hedge fund, major financial institution, or a specialist regulatory practice at a top-tier law firm.
• Familiarity with market infrastructure, including electronic trading platforms, central clearing, and the operational complexities of margin and collateral management.

Conditions

• Competitive salary range of $68K-$112K.
• Remote work environment.
• Commitment to a welcoming and inclusive workplace.