Zodia Markets-Legal Counsel

About the job

Who are we?

Zodia Markets is an institutional digital asset exchange and brokerage, backed by Standard Chartered and OSL. We provide access to top tier digital assets for sophisticated professional clients. Our growing team is made up of a diverse range of experienced financial markets experts, technologists, and innovators. We understand the needs of professional investors, intermediaries, and frontier markets and we put our clients at the heart of our decision making.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a proactive, dynamic Legal Counsel / Company Secretary with a positive attitude and a team-oriented mentality to support our growing team. The role will report to the General Counsel of Zodia Markets. 

The ideal candidate will be a commercial, corporate or finance lawyer with an appetite for immersion in the emerging asset class of digital assets, an aptitude for problem-solving, and a commitment to a business in a scaling phase. You will work alongside an international group of colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds and have the opportunity to shape leading-edge products and their delivery.

You will be given responsibility for an ever-changing portfolio of work across all facets of the business, supporting everything from sales activity to product development.

As Company Secretary you will be responsible for the management of five entities across three jurisdictions, with the potential of additional companies in other jurisdictions as the business expands. You will also help with the overall strategy for the full range of corporate secretarial work. 

Legal Counsel Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including client agreements, trading agreements, vendor agreements, technology agreements and non-disclosure agreements.

• Take on responsibility for the entire contracting cycle - from initial draft to execution, working with business teams to drive contract negotiations to timely and successful completion.

• Provide legal advice that supports the design and implementation of new products.

• Advise on the regulatory aspects of cross-border client and counterparty relationships.

• Support the development of the business in new locations.

• Monitor and advise on regulatory developments that may impact the business strategy.

• Advise on corporate and governance matters.

• Develop and administer internal processes to ensure quick and efficient delivery of legal service.

Company Secretary Responsibilities

• Prepare board resolutions, papers and minutes.

• Support organisation of board meetings, directors' training, and related matters.

• Organise for execution and filing of relevant reports, returns, board papers and other documents. 

• Responsible for providing exemplary corporate governance and corporate authorities advice in relation to all aspects of proposed corporate transactions, including acquisitions, disposals and divestments relating to the Group including ensuring projects are compliant with Shareholder and Company policies and approval processes and local laws and regulations

• Be a trusted adviser to the Directors and their key point of contact for all corporate governance and Board-related matters.

What we hope you will bring

• Qualified as a lawyer to practice in the UK and/or Republic of Ireland.

• Experience in commercial, corporate or finance law.

• Experience reviewing and drafting contracts.

• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, often with a high level of ambiguity and change.

• Experience gained both in an established as well as high growth/start-up companies would be advantageous but is not necessary.

• Experience of financial services, ideally in a trading or execution business.

• Ideally a qualified Chartered Secretary or a company secretary studying towards an ICSA qualification but with substantial work experience.

• Solutions-focused, with good judgement when it comes to problem-solving.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to relate comfortably at all levels with business clients and across borders.

• Highly motivated, strategic, and detail-oriented individual, with the ability to proactively organize a heavy workload and demonstrate excellent analytical abilities.

• Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism and outstanding business judgement with minimal supervision.

• Possess the ability to work effectively with cross functional teams.

• Demonstrated excellence in corporate governance administration and advice, including business advisory support as a Company Secretary or legal adviser.

Zodia Markets is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming work environment. We celebrate, support, and thrive on difference for the benefit of our employees and our community. We are proud to embrace equal opportunity in a serious way because a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills are required to fuel creativity and innovation.