Associate General Counsel - NYC (New York)
About Digital Asset & the Canton Network Digital Asset builds the technologies that are reshaping the foundations of financial markets. Our mission is to create the world’s most trusted, privacy-enabled, and interoperable digital infrastructure for global finance. At the heart of this mission is the Canton Network — the blockchain purpose-built for institutional finance. Uniquely combining privacy, compliance, and scalability, Canton enables real‑time, secure settlement across multiple asset classes. Governed by the Canton Foundation with participation from leading financial institutions, it is the proven link between the promise of blockchain and the power of global finance. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in New York City, with offices in London, Zurich, Budapest, Hong Kong, and Sydney — we are on a mission to transform finance, and that transformation is now playing out rapidly on the Canton Network. Opportunity We are seeking an Associate General Counsel to join our legal team as the ultimate utility player. This is a high‑impact, high‑visibility role for a versatile lawyer who can operate across commercial transactions, M&A, securities matters, product and regulatory counseling, and general corporate work. You'll handle everything from complex contract negotiations to new product development to regulatory documentation, while building the scalable legal infrastructure we need as we grow. As our first Associate GC, you'll have broad exposure to all aspects of the business, work directly with executive leadership and the board, and help shape the legal function as we scale rapidly. Key Responsibilities Commercial & Transactional Lead contract negotiations for high‑value customer agreements, strategic partnerships, and complex vendor arrangements. Build scalable contract infrastructure: create and revise templates, playbooks, and negotiation guidelines that enable the business to move faster without proportional legal headcount growth. Accelerate revenue: partner closely with Sales to eliminate legal bottlenecks and support deal velocity while maintaining appropriate risk management. Train business teams on approved frameworks. M&A & Strategic Transactions Support M&A activity: lead or support buy‑side and sell‑side due diligence, transaction structuring, and integration planning. Manage strategic investments and partnerships requiring complex legal structuring. Coordinate with securities counsel on deal documentation, disclosure requirements, and regulatory filings. Comfortable with regulatory documentation and reporting requirements. Corporate Matters Handle general corporate matters: board resolutions, subsidiary governance, equity administration, corporate record‑keeping. Partner with external counsel for regulatory reporting and documentation as a knowledgeable thought partner and backup resource. Cross‑Functional Legal Support Serve as legal contact for multiple business functions (Product, Marketing, HR, Finance, as needed). Triage and resolve a wide range of legal issues: employment matters, IP questions, regulatory inquiries, vendor disputes, and other litigations and investigations. Work seamlessly with Deputy General Counsel on specialized matters and operational priorities. Mentor and guide non‑legal teams on legal processes and risk frameworks. Job Requirements JD from top‑tier law school with excellent academic credentials. Active bar admission in New York or ability to waive in. 4‑8 years of experience as a corporate associate at a top law firm (V100 or equivalent) or an in‑house counsel at a Fortune 500 company, high‑growth crypto, technology, or fintech company. Strong M&A background: direct experience leading or supporting multiple transactions through closing. Comfort with regulatory filings and related matters. Excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills with proven ability to balance legal risk and business objectives. Generalist mindset: genuine interest in being a utility player who can handle diverse legal matters, including those with which you have little or no experience. Entrepreneurial energy: thrives in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments where you need to figure things out. Genuine interest in financial technology, including blockchain, crypto, and on‑chain capital markets. Strongly Preferred In‑house experience at a high‑growth technology, crypto, or fintech company. Experience building contract templates, playbooks, or legal operations infrastructure. Financial services or fintech regulatory knowledge (payments, banking, capital markets). Personal Attributes Versatile and adaptable: can switch contexts quickly and handle whatever comes your way. Business‑savvy: understands commercial realities and provides pragmatic, solutions‑oriented advice. Proactive and self‑directed: identifies problems before they elevate and takes initiative without waiting for direction. Collaborative: works effectively across functions and builds trust with business partners. Resilient: comfortable with the intensity and unpredictability of a growth‑stage startup. Excellent judgment: knows when to elevate, push back, and say yes. Target Profile Corporate associate at a top‑tier law firm (V100 or equivalent). 4‑8 years out, likely mid‑level to senior associate. Strong M&A or general corporate practice but wanting in‑house transition. May come from firms’ capital markets, securities, or general corporate groups. What Success Looks Like In Year One Commercial contract improvements: clean documentation, consistent positions, reduction in negotiation periods and time to closing. Building towards scalable self‑service tools: meaningful progress towards allowing the Sales team to execute standard agreements with minimal legal review. M&A capability established: led or supported at least one transaction (if opportunity arises). Business partner satisfaction high: legal seen as enabling growth, not blocking it. Job Benefits We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well‑being of our team members. Health and insurance benefits vary by region to ensure local relevance and compliance, and may include medical, dental, and vision coverage. Digital Asset is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other basis protected by applicable law. If and as required by applicable law, all persons hired to work at Digital Asset will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the location for which they have an offer to work and to complete the necessary employment eligibility verification documents upon hire. Applicants with disabilities who require accommodation should contact [email protected]. As part of our commitment to equal opportunity, Digital Asset believes that all employees should receive equal pay for equal work and is committed to this principle in its pay structure. DA also offers family‑friendly benefits in addition to flexible work arrangements. Pay Transparency: the estimated salary range for this role, based in our New York City office, is $225,000‑275,000. The range may vary if based outside the New York tri‑state area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut). Base salaries are determined during our interview process, during which we assess the candidate’s experience, skills, and capabilities against internal peers and the scope and responsibilities of the position. J-18808-Ljbffr
