Coinbase is leading the expansion of digital currency into the financial mainstream. We are building a world-class legal team to support Coinbase and its affiliates as we continue to grow the company in the U.S. and internationally. You will be working in a cutting edge and fast paced environment, where disruptive technologies and unconventional thinking are the norm. Given the nascent state of the law, novel legal guidance is needed!
We are looking for an experienced lawyer to join our International Legal team. This position will report into our APAC / Americas lead, and will work closely with a number of global cross functional teams in legal, product, commercial and others. You will be responsible for managing complex international legal issues, including regulatory responses, licensing and registration, OC management, and legal advocacy for Coinbase within the Americas, including South America, the Caribbean, and North America. As a member of the International Team, you will also support Coinbase’s work in other jurisdictions around the world. We are looking for candidates with prior experience with financially regulated products, particularly securities and derivatives, and prior experience working with national and provincial regulators. In-house experience is a plus, along with fluency in Spanish and/or Portuguese. Preference for prior experience and/or interest in cryptocurrency markets and custody.
What you’ll be doing (i.e., job duties):
Work with business teams on managing and/or securing required licenses and registrations in Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America, and the rest of the world.
Provide full product life-cycle counseling for a variety of global consumer and institutional products, and practical advice on associated legal issues and risks, complex agreement structures and company policies in a risk-tolerant, but compliance-oriented environment.
Stay abreast of and advise on digital currency and blockchain technology legal and regulatory issues.
Lead and assist with complex and global cross-functional efforts, driving and ensuring cross-functional alignment with other stakeholders (Local Management, Product/Engineering, Business Development, Finance/Tax, Compliance).
Effectively collaborate with those same cross-functional teams and legal colleagues to solve problems, build partnerships, and close deals quickly.
Proactively solve problems for the business as they plan and execute on an aggressive global growth plan, develop scaled strategies for addressing risk in business-centric ways and build commercial processes that allow the business flexibility and freedom to move quickly.
Operate in a fast paced, demanding environment and quickly adjust to meet leadership's needs.
Recognize priority initiatives and effectively manage your clients and your advice to scale your advice and provide the right level of guidance for the request at hand.
Look around corners and creatively solve problems for the business as they plan, build, and execute their transactional and product roadmap.
Be a business partner, not just an attorney.
What we look for in you (i.e., job requirements):
Currently practicing as an attorney in the Americas (North American, South America, Caribbean), with active bar registration and 5+ years of legal experience.
Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
Interest in digital currency and blockchain technology.
Experience advising clients on new and changing regulatory requirements.
Experience working and leading with cross-functional, globally located teams.
Comfortable challenging the status quo and preconceived notions of what is possible.
Excellent judgment, analytical rigor, clear communication, and business pragmatism.
Top-notch analytical skills with experience owning projects from concept to finish.
Comfort with risk-taking and creative problem-solving.
Intellectual curiosity and flexibility.
Team-oriented and collaborative.
Nice to haves:
Ability to understand legal documents in Spanish and/or Portuguese.
Experience working with financial services and securities regulators.
Familiarity with relevant money transmission laws, travel rules, global banking regulations, securities regulations, client money regimes and/or commodities in the Americas and Caribbean.
Experience counseling product teams in launching new products.