Institutional Legal Counsel (UK)

OnHires; London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000

Job description

Location: London, United Kingdom

About the Company:
Our client is a liquidity and technology provider of solutions for the crypto and foreign exchange (FX) industry. The company specializes in B2B services and products, catering to a wide range of clients, including large licensed brokers, crypto exchanges, crypto brokers, forex brokers, hedge and crypto funds, and professional managers. Our client’s advanced base of ready-to-use technical solutions enables brokers to save time and money on consuming infrastructure projects and focus on enlarging their client base and increasing their revenues.

About the Role:
We are building a dedicated Institutional Liquidity Team and expanding our client’s legal department into specialized streams. As part of this initiative, we are seeking a highly skilled Institutional Legal Counsel based in the UK to support our institutional business and oversee key legal and regulatory aspects. This role will play a crucial role in securing and maintaining our FCA brokerage license, structuring institutional deals, and ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

1. FCA Brokerage License Management – Lead the process of acquiring or applying for an FCA brokerage license, ensuring full regulatory compliance.

2. Institutional Contract Negotiation – Handle the structuring and negotiation of complex agreements with institutional clients (hedge funds, prime brokers, institutional counterparties).

3. Product Governance – Ensure the full regulatory compliance and legal structuring of new products, such as DMA futures, including program documentation, contract frameworks, and risk mitigation.

4. Collaboration with AML & MLRO Teams – Work closely with internal compliance teams to oversee regulatory obligations related to AML, risk assessment, and reporting.

5. FCA Communication & Regulatory Oversight – Monitor and coordinate all interactions with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), including regulatory updates and compliance submissions.

6. Marketing Compliance Review – Ensure all marketing materials and institutional communications align with FCA and industry regulatory standards.

7. PB Relationships & Institutional Deal Structuring – Support and manage legal frameworks for Prime Brokerage (PB) relationships, POP, Agency, and give-up deals.

8. Industry Representation & Networking – Leverage an existing network in the institutional space, ideally with exposure to ICMA (International Capital Market Association).

Requirements:

• UK-qualified lawyer with extensive experience in institutional finance and prime brokerage.

• Proven track record working with Prime Brokerage, POP, Agency, give-up deals.

• Deep understanding of FCA regulations and experience securing/maintaining an FCA brokerage license.

• Experience structuring complex institutional agreements with hedge funds, institutional brokers, and counterparties.

• Prior exposure to ICMA and institutional market practices.

• Established network within institutional finance and brokerage sectors in the UK.

• Strong negotiation skills and ability to manage long, complex deal structuring processes.

• Experience working within an institutional trading environment (exposure to liquidity providers, institutional brokers, and hedge funds preferred).

What We Offer:

• A chance to shape the institutional brokerage market in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• Collaboration with a highly skilled and motivated international team.

• Competitive compensation and opportunities for professional growth.