Senior Legal Counsel – Regulatory (EMEA)

About the role

The EMEA Legal Counsel will provide strategic legal guidance across KAST's UK, EU and Middle East operations. Working closely with Product, Compliance and GTM/Business teams, you will ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks and support KAST's engagement with regulators and industry groups. This role is ideal for a lawyer who thrives in fast‑moving environments and is passionate about building the legal foundations for the future of money.

Key responsibilities

• Advise the business on compliance and legal issues related to stablecoin, payments and card products.
• Draft and maintain customer‑facing legal documents such as Terms of Service, user agreements and product disclosures.
• Monitor developments from FCA, EBA, ESMA, ECB, CBUAE, VARA, DFSA, FSRA and advise on their impact.
• Own the global data‑privacy legal function and provide GDPR guidance.
• Collaborate with Product and Commercial teams to design compliant structures for retail and institutional clients.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements with service providers, partners and institutional clients.
• Support card programme compliance under Visa/Mastercard network rules and EEA/UK issuing frameworks.
• Ensure robust compliance with AML/CTF, sanctions, OFAC and Travel Rule obligations.
• Manage outside‑counsel relationships, including selection, scoping and legal spend.
• Engage proactively with regional regulators and industry associations to advocate for innovation‑friendly frameworks.

Required profile

• 5+ years post‑qualification experience, qualified in England & Wales or an EU Member State (dual qualification a plus).
• Demonstrated experience advising on digital assets and payments, either at a top law firm or in‑house.
• Strong knowledge of the FCA regulatory framework and UK financial services law; working knowledge of EU regulations such as MiCA, PSD2, EMD2, MLD5/6.
• Hands‑on expertise in data‑privacy law, including UK GDPR and/or EU GDPR advisory work.
• Familiarity with AML/CTF, sanctions compliance and Travel Rule obligations in an EMEA context.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills, able to translate complex regulation into practical business guidance.
• Comfortable working across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously in a fast‑paced, high‑growth environment.