Ready to be pushed beyond what you think you’re capable of?
At Coinbase, our mission is to increase economic freedom in the world. It’s a massive, ambitious opportunity that demands the best of us, every day, as we build the emerging onchain platform — and with it, the future global financial system.
To achieve our mission, we’re seeking a very specific candidate. We want someone who is passionate about our mission and who believes in the power of crypto and blockchain technology to update the financial system. We want someone who is eager to leave their mark on the world, who relishes the pressure and privilege of working with high caliber colleagues, and who actively seeks feedback to keep leveling up. We want someone who will run towards, not away from, solving the company’s hardest problems.
Our work culture is intense and isn’t for everyone. But if you want to build the future alongside others who excel in their disciplines and expect the same from you, there’s no better place to be.
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!
Team/ Role Paragraph:
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 legal issues related to Australia, including regulatory responses, licensing and registration, OC management, and legal advocacy for Coinbase within Australia and the broader APAC region. We are looking for candidates with prior experience with financially regulated products, particularly securities, derivatives, and payments, and prior experience working with federal regulators. In-house experience is a plus, along with knowledge of Australian financial services law and regulations. Preference for prior experience and/or interest in cryptocurrency markets and custody.
What you’ll be doing (ie. job duties):
- Work with business teams on securing required licenses and registrations for our Australian entity and businesses.
- 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 (ie. job requirements):
- Currently practicing as an attorney in Australia, with active Australian bar registration and 7+ years of legal experience.
- Interest in digital currency and blockchain technology.
- Expertise and experience working with Australian financial services, securities, and crypto regulators.
- Experience counseling product teams in launching technology products and have a clear understanding of the legal underpinnings supporting these products.
- Experience working and leading with cross-functional, globally located teams.
- Familiarity with relevant money transmission laws, travel rules, global banking regulations, securities regulations, client money regimes and/or commodities regulations outside of Australia.
- Experience advising clients on risk mitigation across technology product platforms.
- Experience working with and presenting to VP-level leadership.
- 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.
- Creativity, comfort and experience with oral solutions that help scale financial services businesses and technology solutions that help scale practices.
- Comfort with risk-taking and creative problem-solving.
- Intellectual curiosity and flexibility.
- Team-oriented and collaborative.
Nice to haves:
- Direct experience working on regulatory matters related to ASIC and other Australian regulators.
PID: P63786
Commitment to Equal Opportunity
Coinbase is committed to diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by applicable law. Coinbase will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. For US applicants, you may view the Know Your Rights notice here. Additionally, Coinbase participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations, as required by law.
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