Licensing and Compliance Counsel

About Us We're hiring on behalf of our partner — a company that powers the operations behind regulated and high-risk industries. They give fast-moving businesses in these spaces the structure, compliance and talent they need to scale — without slowing down. About the Role You'll be the central legal contact for clients, external advisers, regulators and internal teams. You'll also help build the company's Legal & Licensing Department from the ground up. Core Responsibilities 1. Licensing & Regulatory Project Delivery Manage each legal and licensing project from preparation to approval, covering MSB, MiCA, EMI, PSP, FSP and similar regimes across several jurisdictions. Coordinate external lawyers, regulatory consultants, corporate service providers and clients. Communicate directly with regulators on current and upcoming cases. Review and oversee applications, legal opinions, AML/KYC policies, compliance materials and supporting documents, including their ongoing maintenance. Track deadlines and requirements, identify gaps and lead responses to regulator questions. Diagnose stalled applications, find what's missing and resolve anything likely to cause delays. Handle regulatory and operational issues with banks and authorities, including payment restrictions and stuck funds. Work with client and internal IT teams on technical, security and infrastructure requirements. Monitor global regulatory changes and turn them into clear, actionable guidance for clients and internal teams. 2. Department Build-Out & Leadership Set up and structure the Legal & Licensing Department. Recruit, train and supervise a junior legal associate. Develop scalable internal procedures, templates and project-tracking systems. Align legal and regulatory priorities with client needs, working with other internal teams. 3. Corporate & Contract Support Draft, review and negotiate service, partnership and vendor agreements and other commercial documents. Draft and manage contracts for larger e-commerce and corporate clients. Support international incorporations, corporate structuring and ongoing entity management. This includes managing global incorporations, working with local incorporators and acting as master agent to secure the best terms and rates. Provide corporate legal support for new ventures, structures and continuing client relationships. Maintain oversight of global entities and their compliance documentation. Ensure all policies, structures and documents meet the relevant regulatory standards. Candidate Profile Essential A law degree or related field. At least 3 years of experience (ideally 3–5+) in financial regulation, fintech, payments, crypto or regulatory consultancy. Hands-on experience managing licensing or registration projects (MSB, MiCA, EMI, PSP, VASP, CASP). Our partner wants candidates who have run applications, not only advised on them. Strong knowledge of AML/KYC and financial regulatory requirements. A proven record in contract drafting, corporate structuring and international incorporation management. A basic understanding of international tax and holding-entity structuring, or the ability to build that knowledge quickly. Excellent written and spoken English, with clear communication toward regulators, clients and international stakeholders. A strategic, commercial mindset that treats licensing as a driver of client growth, not a compliance checkbox. Strong project management skills and the ability to run multiple international projects independently without losing detail. Comfort with high autonomy and ownership. You'll build a department rather than follow an existing process, and you'll treat every case and client relationship as a reflection of your own work. What the Role Offers Ownership of live international licensing projects (MiCA, EMI, MSB and more) with real regulatory exposure. Work across multiple regulatory frameworks with global clients and regulators. Leadership of a newly created department, with significant autonomy and direct impact. You'll build the process rather than inherit one. A place in a fast-growing international consultancy, where your scope expands as the department grows.