Deputy General Counsel

OKX

What You ll Be Doing

• You will serve as the primary legal point of contact for regulatory matters across the Middle East and CIS, including the UAE (both onshore CBUAE/VARA), Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kazakhstan (AFSA/AIFC) and adjacent markets. Your responsibilities will include:
• Leading engagement with financial regulators - Including licensing applications, regulatory notifications, RFI responses, and ongoing supervisory relationships , ensuring the business maintains and expands its regulatory permissions in each jurisdiction.
• Advising senior stakeholders on the regulatory implications of new product launches, including digital asset trading products, derivatives, stablecoins, payment instruments, and earn/staking offerings, with a particular focus on jurisdiction-specific restrictions and approval pathways.
• Monitoring and analysing regulatory developments across target markets, translating legislative and rule changes into actionable guidance for the business and compliance teams.
• Partnering with external counsel on complex regulatory matters, managing outside counsel relationships effectively and ensuring cost-efficient, commercially focused advice.
• Handling regulatory correspondence, enforcement matters, and where necessary, managing relationships with law enforcement and government authorities across the region.
• Providing legal input on marketing materials, product terms, and contractual arrangements to ensure they meet local regulatory standards.
• Collaborating with global Legal, Compliance, Government Relations, and Product teams to deliver a joined-up regulatory strategy.

What We Look For In You

• Must hold a law degree and be eligible to practice as an advocate
• 12+ years of experience at a top-tier law firm and/or in-house legal team, preferably in a financial services or crypto industry
• Experience advising on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology legal issues (or strong interest and knowledge in the field) and have a basic understanding (or eager to learn) about the relevant legal/regulatory landscape
• Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, growth-stage and multi-cultural environment
• Ability to effectively advise and build trust with business teams
• Ability to navigate through a rapidly-changing legal landscape and deal with legal ambiguity
• Ability to work in a high-functioning legal team and feel comfortable in a collaborative working environment
• Self-starter, quick learner who is highly driven, proactive, responsive and precise
• Experience working on cross-jurisdictional matters and a global legal team
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts.