Legal Counsel
Remote
Operations – Legal /
Full-time /
Remote
Espresso Systems is the lead developer of Espresso, a global confirmation layer designed to enhance cross-chain composability by providing fast and reliable transaction confirmations. Espresso confirmations help reduce finality risk and prevent issues like sequencer equivocation, making it easier for applications to operate across multiple chains. The network is currently in its Mainnet 0 release and supports various functionalities, including fast confirmations, decentralized sequencing, and low-cost data availability.
At Espresso Systems, we work with leading teams developing chains, rollups, and applications including Offchain Labs, Polygon, Cartesi, RARI Chain, and beyond—all united in our mission to build an open Web3 experience without silos for all users.
The Espresso team comprises a diverse and passionate group of contributors from around the world. We are developers, designers, and researchers who have contributed in academia, in open source communities, in policymaking, and beyond. We are backed by over $50m in funding from leading investors in technology and crypto including a16z, Greylock Partners, Electric Capital, Sequoia Capital, and Polychain Capital.
Espresso is looking for someone to join our awesome team as Legal Counsel. If you have experience in a fast-paced environment and are looking for an opportunity to be a member of an innovative legal team in the blockchain space, this is the perfect opportunity for you!
Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day legal operations within the company (contractual agreements, structuring, HR, etc.)
- Manage the full cycle of corporate documentation, from planning and drafting to implementation
- Regulatory alignment: work closely with the General Counsel to monitor the regulatory landscape across jurisdictions and assist with ensuring alignment and risk management across jurisdictions and authorities ( FCA, MAS, SEC, CTFC, etc.)
- Contribute to building a streamlined legal operation process that can grow with the startup. Work closely to improve the efficiency of legal operations.
- Assist in managing external/outside counsel as required, e.g. employment law, counsel in relation to other jurisdictions, etc.
- Select, engage and manage outside counsels across relevant jurisdictions with cost-effectiveness
- Research laws and regulations in the US as well as relevant foreign jurisdictions to aid strategic decisions on business opportunities
- Drive legal support for product development and service operations
- Assist in navigating the global regulatory landscape for the organization
Experience
- Law degree, educational background in computer science/infosec is a bonus
- 5+ years of experience practicing law (qualified) at a top-tier law firm and/or as in-house counsel for a firm specialized in financial services, fintech, and/or web3/crypto
- In-house counsel specializing in financial services, fintech, emergent tech, and/or ideally web3/blockchain is a plus
- Experience working in a high-performance, dynamic, and high-growth environment is strongly preferred
Skills
- Ability to think critically through complex concepts and tackle them in an organized and efficient manner while communicating with other members
- Ability to engage constructively with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators
- Strong organizational and communication skills
- Enjoys working independently and proactively in a remote-only work environment
- Excels in delivering results under time constraints and consistently iterates
- Proactive and collaborative attitude and ability to work cross-functionally within the organization
- Familiarity with blockchain, Ethereum, and DeFi
- Have an entrepreneurial mindset rather than 9-to-5 mentality; prepared to work non-standard working hours as required
Benefits
- Fully remote with flexible hours
- Work alongside the brightest minds in the crypto space
- Competitive salary + equity package
- Regular team off-sites to international locations
- Unlimited vacation policy
- Top-tier health, dental, and vision coverage for US employees
