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.
