General Counsel

Job description

**Key Responsibilities** **Regulatory and Market Advisory** - Serve as the firm’s principal legal advisor on trading, market conduct, and securities regulation across MAS, SFC, SEC/CFTC/FINRA, and FCA frameworks. - Advise business leadership on market access, exchange memberships, clearing arrangements, and cross-border trading structures. - Lead regulatory engagement including inquiries, filings, and enforcement actions, maintaining strong relationships with key regulators. **Corporate and Transactional Work** - Oversee legal support for fund formation, M&A, joint ventures, seed investments, and strategic transactions. - Manage entity formation, licensing, and operational buildouts across trading, R&D, and investment operations. - Negotiate critical documentation including LPAs, ISDAs/CSAs, prime brokerage, and execution agreements. **Intellectual Property, Employment, and Dispute Management** - Direct the firm’s IP protection strategy, covering proprietary code, data, and research outputs. - Advise on employment and partner-level matters, including restrictive covenants and IP protections on exit. - Manage disputes and regulatory proceedings in collaboration with top-tier external counsel. **Governance and Compliance Oversight** - Lead the Legal & Compliance Department, including internal counsel, compliance officers, and operational support staff. - Supervise regional compliance functions to maintain independence of regulated entities (including Singapore LFMC). - Oversee and coordinate outsourced compliance providers to ensure global consistency and effective risk management. - Advise the partnership and board on governance, profit-sharing, and fiduciary structures. - Collaborate with finance and tax counsel to align tax and transfer pricing execution with operational design. **External Counsel and Provider Management** - Build and manage relationships with leading law firms and compliance service providers across jurisdictions. - Establish a disciplined, cost-efficient panel structure with consistent performance oversight. **Candidate Profile** **Required Qualifications** - LL.B., J.D., or equivalent; admitted to practice in Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, or England & Wales. - Minimum 12 years of post-qualification experience, including meaningful in-house experience in a hedge fund, proprietary trading firm, investment bank, or asset manager. - Deep knowledge of securities regulation, derivatives, fund formation, or financial services M&A. - Demonstrated success in managing relationships with financial regulators (e.g., MAS, SFC, SEC, FCA). - Proven leadership in building and managing cross-border legal and compliance teams. - Professional proficiency in English and Mandarin. **Preferred Experience** - Prior in-house experience at a quantitative hedge fund, HFT firm, or market maker. - Experience handling IP, trade secret, or data-related matters in financial services. - Familiarity with structures spanning Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States. **What We Offer** - A leadership role in shaping the firm’s global legal and governance infrastructure. - Direct collaboration with the COO, Managing Partner, and founding partners. - Competitive compensation and long-term incentive alignment. - An intellectually rigorous, research-driven culture combining technology, markets, and innovation.