Senior Regulatory & Commercial Lawyer (CY)

Smarter is a management company responsible for defining the overall strategy of investment activities and ensuring optimal management and development strategies for each business unit within the group. The main areas of activity and focus of our company include the international fintech community SFORS (https://sfors.com), the brokerage company Statok (https://statok.global), and the product company Pine Software (https://pinesoftware.com.cy)

We are looking for an experienced and business-oriented Senior Regulatory & Commercial Lawyer to serve as a trusted legal partner for our portfolio businesses across digital assets, algorithmic trading, brokerage, and SaaS technology.

In this role, you will lead our regulatory strategy across key global jurisdictions (particularly the EU, CH,  UAE, US and other), drive complex licensing projects, negotiate high-value commercial and technology contracts, and help build robust legal operations as the group expands.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Regulatory Compliance & Licensing (MiCA, VARA, CySEC, ADGM/DIFC, etc.):

• Provide strategic legal support for licensing and regulatory initiatives across digital assets, financial markets, and brokerage operations. 

• Monitor regulatory developments in the EU, Switzerland, the UAE, the US, and other relevant jurisdictions, assess their business impact, and deliver practical recommendations for adapting business models and operational processes.

Legal-by-Design for Products & Market Entry:

• Provide legal support throughout the development, launch, and scaling of new products, business models, and market entries. 

• Assess legal risks associated with digital wallets, custodial models, smart contracts, stablecoins, and blockchain infrastructure. 

• Advise on the legal aspects of AI development and deployment, including EU AI Act requirements .

Commercial Contracting & Platform Documentation:

• Manage the end-to-end drafting, review, and negotiation of technology and commercial agreements (SaaS, MSA, SLA, DPA, licensing, white-label), as well as partnership, affiliate, and vendor contracts.

• Draft and maintain client-facing platform documentation, including Terms of Service, Risk Disclosures, etc.

Institutional Onboarding & Financial Partnerships:

• Oversee the legal aspects of establishing and maintaining relationships with crypto exchanges, banks, payment providers, custodians, liquidity providers, and other institutional counterparties. 

• Support KYB procedures, review contractual and regulatory requirements, and collaborate closely with Compliance/AML and Finance teams on AML/CFT, sanctions, and related compliance matters.

Digital Operational Resilience & Tech Risk Management:

• Provide legal support for compliance with Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) requirements, ICT third-party risk management, technology outsourcing, data protection, and cybersecurity. 

• Conduct legal assessments of technology provider agreements and the allocation of liability for technological and operational risks.

Legal Operations & External Counsel Management:

• Build and enhance the group’s internal legal infrastructure by developing contract templates, legal playbooks, internal policies, approval procedures, and workflows. 

• Select and coordinate external legal counsel across multiple jurisdictions, manage legal service quality and budgets, build internal legal expertise, and mentor junior lawyers.

• Master’s/Bachelor’s Degree in Law with 5+ years of total legal experience, including 3+ years dedicated to crypto/FinTech (in-house at an exchange, CASP, broker, proprietary trading firm, or leading FinTech law practice).

• Direct, practical experience working on a MiCA/CASP application or a VARA licensing process (theoretical knowledge alone is not sufficient).

• Exceptional drafting and negotiation skills for technology, SaaS, and IP agreements.

• Solid grasp of digital asset market infrastructure, spot vs. derivatives trading, liquidity provision, and market making.

• Business-First Mindset: Proven ability to operate autonomously across multiple jurisdictions, offering pragmatic solutions rather than just risk lists.

Core Competencies & Strong Assets:

• Prior exposure to CySEC, ADGM, DIFC, or other Tier-1/Tier-2 financial regulators.

• Practical understanding of the EU AI Act, and IP commercialization.

• Strong working knowledge of AML/CFT standards (certifications like ACAMS or ICA are a major plus).

Nice-to-Have (Areas of Expertise):

• Broader EU Financial Services Regulation Framework (MiFID II, MAR).

• Swiss Financial Regulations Framework (FINMA / DLT Act).

• Cross-border corporate structuring and international tax fundamentals.

What We Offer

• High degree of autonomy and strategic influence on group-level decisions.

• Exposure to top-tier international projects at the intersection of Web3, algorithmic trading, and AI.

• Highly competitive compensation package based on qualifications and track record.

• Flexible working format (remote / hybrid options).

• Professional growth, conference attendance, and legal budget management authority

• English is fluent, Ukrainian or Russian are a plus

Company offers

• Care from Day One — medical insurance from your first day, including dental care, massage, and professional psychological support.

• Work-Life Balance — 21 days of paid vacation + 30 days of paid sick leave.

• Knowledge Library — office books and access to the Kuka online library. 

• Investment in Your Energy — partial reimbursement for sports and fitness activities.

• Modern Workspaces with full power-backup infrastructure in Larnaca, Cyprus.

• Island Relaxation — up to 14 days per year at the company villa in Cyprus. 

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Join the Smarter team, where your talents and aspirations will be recognized! We offer a dynamic work environment, opportunities for professional growth, and support at every step of your career path. Start your journey to success with us—apply today and take the first step towards your bright future.

Smarter is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Thank you for considering Smarter as your next career move!!