Legal Counsel - Derivatives

About Wintermute

Wintermute is one of the largest crypto native algorithmic trading companies in digital assets. We provide liquidity across most cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms, a broad range of OTC trading solutions as well as support high profile blockchain projects and traditional financial institutions moving into crypto. Wintermute also has a Wintermute Ventures arm that invests in early stage DeFi projects.

Wintermute was founded in 2017 and has successfully navigated industry cycles. Culturally, we combine the best of the two worlds: the technology standards of high-frequency trading firms in traditional markets and the innovative and entrepreneurial culture of technology startups.

To Wintermute digital assets is not just another asset class, we believe in the innovative potential of blockchain, the fundamental innovations, we have a long-term view on the digital asset market and are taking a leadership position in building an innovative and compliant market. You can read more here.

Business Development at Wintermute

We are looking for a Legal Counsel - Derivatives role to support Wintermute’s rapidly growing derivatives business and expansion into traditional financial markets, with a focus on OTC derivatives. The successful candidate should have strong foundation in derivatives in traditional financial markets and be able to adapt rapidly to the entrepreneurial, varied and highly dynamic nature of Wintermute's business, including the challenges and opportunities associated with the digital assets business.

Working closely with senior legal colleagues, traders and teams across risk, compliance and operations, you will take ownership of negotiations and projects across the jurisdictions in which Wintermute operates. You will have the opportunity to help shape approaches that appropriately balance the business growth objectives and legal risk.

Key Responsibilities: Negotiate commercial agreements:

• draft and negotiate documentation relating to our derivatives offerings, including ISDA Master Agreements, related credit support documentation and trade-specific confirmations,  as well as financial infrastructure agreements (particularly  tri-party custody and collateral, prime brokerage and clearing documentation); coordinate input and decisions from various stakeholders and drive contracts to completion
• External negotiations: negotiate directly with counterparties and their counsel as required
• Derivatives regulatory compliance and research: conduct legal and regulatory research and work with external advisors as required to define the legal and regulatory requirements for the firm’s trading in various products and jurisdictions
• Advisory and implementation: Ability to deliver practical, commercially focused advice
• Other legal: get involved in projects outside of OTC derivatives based on personal professional development interests and company requirements
• Experience and Qualifications: A lawyer qualified in England and Wales, preferably with approximately 3–5 years’ post-qualification experience as a derivatives lawyer. Applications from particularly strong candidates with a different level of post-qualification experience, or an equivalent common-law qualification, will also be considered.
• Training at a Magic Circle firm, leading US law firm or other leading international firm with a recognised derivatives practice is strongly preferred. Candidates who trained in such a practice and subsequently moved in-house at a bank, broker-dealer, hedge fund or trading firm will also be considered.
• Experience must include: Negotiating ISDA Master Agreements and the related credit support documents (both English and New York law governed).
• Ability to document transactions in OTC derivatives (swaps, options, forwards) across a range of underlying asset classes.
• Familiarity with securities lending and repurchase master trading documentation; Experience with prime brokerage, custody, clearing and other financial infrastructure documentation is highly desirable.
• Ability to work effectively in a high performing setting and under tight deadlines.
• Some level of understanding of regulatory frameworks and how they apply to OTC derivatives in various jurisdictions in traditional financial markets would be helpful.
• Here is why you should join our dynamic team:: Working at one of the most innovative trading firms globally.
• Engaging projects offering accelerated responsibilities and ownership compared to traditional finance environments.
• A vibrant working culture with frequent team meals, holiday celebrations, gaming events, and company-wide outings.
• A Wintermute-inspired office in central London, featuring an array of amenities such as table tennis and foosball, personalized desk configurations, a cozy team breakout area with games and free food.
• Great company culture: informal, non-hierarchical, ambitious, highly professional with a startup vibe, collaborative and entrepreneurial.
• A performance-based compensation with a significant earning potential alongside standard perks like pension and private Health insurance.
• Note: Although we are unable to accept fully remote candidates, we support significant flexibility in regards to working from home and working hours.
• We offer UK work permits and help with relocation