Legal Counsel
Job Description
About Hedera:
Hedera is the decentralized governing body for the Hedera network, an enterprise-grade public distributed ledger technology (DLT) network that’s fast, environmentally sustainable, and secure, making it well-suited to become an integral layer of the emerging web3 world. Hedera is governed by a diverse group of world-leading institutions distributed across six continents, representing multiple industries including technology, banking and financial services, web3, education, legal services, gaming, aerospace, and manufacturing.
The vision for the Hedera network is to support a trusted, empowered, and decentralized digital future for everyone; a cyberspace where you work, play, buy, sell, create, and engage socially; where you have safety and privacy in your digital communities; where you feel confident when interacting with others; where you own and control your information.
Hedera brings together some of the best minds in the industry. We are proud of our high-quality culture and dedicated to values of integrity, ethics, service, excellence, and teamwork. We are looking for hard-working, talented, and collegial people to help achieve this vision. Join us and say, "Hello future."
About This Role
We are seeking a Legal Counsel to provide exceptional support to the General Counsel and provide support to the legal and regulatory needs of a blockchain and cryptocurrency environment. This role is ideal for someone with a strong foundation in U.S crypto regulations and a passion for navigating the evolving legal landscape of digital assets, decentralized technologies, and financial innovation.
The Legal Counsel will play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with complex regulatory frameworks. You’ll advise on a wide range of matters from contract negotiation and intellectual property protection, to corporate governance and open-source licensing. Your ability to interpret legal developments and translate them into actionable strategies will be critical to the success of Hedera.
This role will work closely with the legal/governance team to ensure Hedera operates within a scalable legal framework. From supporting corporate governance matters to aligning legal strategies with regulatory obligations, they will contribute directly to building a cohesive legal infrastructure that supports innovation. This individual will have the opportunity to engage with experienced legal professionals, help refine internal policies, and ensure consistency across the company’s legal and compliance efforts.
Responsibilities
- Regulatory Analysis and Compliance:
- Monitor, interpret, and advise on U.S. federal and state regulations affecting blockchain, cryptocurrency, and DLT.
- Provide legal insights on securities laws, commodities regulations, AML/KYC requirements, and evolving crypto-specific frameworks (e.g., SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OFAC).
- Assist in developing and implementing compliance strategies to mitigate legal and regulatory risks.
- Contract Drafting and Negotiation:
- Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of agreements, including partnership agreements, licensing agreements, and vendor contracts.
- Ensure contractual compliance with applicable crypto regulations and industry best practices.
- Intellectual Property and Open Source Law:
- Advise on intellectual property (IP) matters related to blockchain technology, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
- Work with outside counsel to manage IP protection and licensing agreements.
- Corporate and Business Support:
- Provide general legal support across departments.
- Assist in corporate governance matters, including internal policies.
- Stay updated on global legal trends affecting crypto and provide strategic recommendations.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school.
- Admission to at least one U.S. state bar.
- 1-3 years of legal experience, ideally at a top tier law firm or in-house at a fintech, crypto, or blockchain-related company.
- Strong understanding of U.S. crypto regulations and familiarity with regulatory agencies (SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OFAC).
- Experience with contract negotiation and drafting in a technology or financial services setting.
- Knowledge of IP law, particularly in the context of open-source licensing and software development.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with emerging legal challenges.
- Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Personal user of crypto or DLT products and services; passionate about the ability of crypto and DLT to change the world for the better.
- Experience working with crypto or DLT companies.
- Exposure to international crypto regulations (EU, UK, Asia) is a plus.
- Willingness to learn and keep up-to-date with evolving laws and distributed ledger technology use cases in various industries.
- A business-oriented approach to legal problem-solving.
- Skill in managing numerous projects simultaneously
Company Information
Location: Richardson, TX
Type: Hybrid