Senior Legal Counsel

Optiver’s Legal Department is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to work in close partnership with the Head of US Legal, senior management, and business teams. This role will serve as a senior member of our legal function, providing strategic advice and leadership to support critical business initiatives in a fast-paced and high-stakes environment.

As Senior Legal Counsel, you will be a trusted advisor and subject matter expert, delivering sophisticated, business-minded legal guidance across a broad range of areas, including securities and commodities laws and regulations, corporate governance, vendor and commercial agreements, employment law, real estate, policy development and implementation, and litigation management. You will play a key role in shaping legal strategy, mentoring colleagues, and ensuring the firm’s interests are protected while enabling business growth. 

What you’ll do:

• Counsel and provide practical solutions to address business and legal risks in areas related to regulatory matters (particularly regarding the operation of SEC and FINRA registered broker dealers), corporate matters, and commercial transactions.
• Partner with business teams to provide strategic legal advice for new business opportunities.
• Develop and support internal controls.
• Negotiate, prepare, and review both trading and commercial agreements and advise business teams on the same.
• Partner with business teams to create internal policies.
• Maintain and update relevant corporate and LLC records, as needed or directed. Provide advice regarding corporate governance issues.
• Stay abreast of evolving regulatory and legal landscape in the US and abroad and counsel the business with respect to relevant changes.
• Interface with outside counsel and other third parties.
• Provide ethical leadership and sound judgment.

What you’ll get:

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
• Highly competitive compensation package including performance-based bonus structure
• bonus structure
• 401(k) match up to 50%
• Comprehensive health, mental, dental, vision, disability, and life coverage
• 25 paid vacation days alongside market holidays
• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more

Who you are:

• A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and admittance in good standing in Illinois or New York.
• 5+ years of relevant experience is required, with at least 3+ at a law firm or private practice.
• A client-first and outcome/solutions focused philosophy for providing legal services.
• Experience representing clients in the financial services industry (including the review and negotiation of trading related agreements) and familiarity with market structure. Proprietary trading industry and/or execution services business is a plus.
• Experience with the Securities Exchange Act (’34 Act) and related SEC, FINRA and exchange rules, and/or the Commodity Exchange Act and related CFTC, NFA and exchange rules.
• Experience working on M&A/venture capital deals and/or secured financing are a plus.
• Strong research and writing skills, and a demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a non-legal audience including business stakeholders.
• Strong project management skills and ability to independently drive business initiatives forward.  Detail orientation and ability to juggle competing priorities.
• The desire to learn new practice areas quickly, and confidently advise the business.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Outlook, Adobe, LexisNexis (and similar legal research products) required. Proficiency with Confluence/JIRA is a plus.

Who we are:

At Optiver, our mission is to improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and stabilising the market no matter the conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we prioritise safeguarding the health and efficiency of the markets for all participants. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a respected partner on 100+ exchanges across the globe.

Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics.