Legal Counsel - Xapo Fund

About us

Established in 2013, Xapo has pioneered Crypto Banking, while earning a reputation as the Fort Knox of Crypto. 

We believe that Bitcoin will do for money, what the internet did for information. Our goal is to provide a bridge between digital assets and traditional financial services.

To make it safe and easy for you to save in Dollars or Bitcoins, with immediate access to funds via Card, Crypto, Stablecoins and Bank payment rails. To help you to participate in both traditional and crypto markets, enabling you to grow your wealth and build your financial future. 

Xapo Bank is the first product of its kind: a platform that bridges the gap between crypto and traditional banking services. Headquartered in Gibraltar, we are regulated and authorised as a credit institution to provide fiat related services and in addition, Xapo VASP is regulated and authorised as a Distributed Ledger Technology Provider to provide crypto services. 

Position overview

As Legal Counsel at Xapo, you’ll be a core legal partner to our banking and fund activities, with a particular focus on the governance, structuring, and legal oversight of the Xapo Fund.You will be responsible for ensuring robust compliance and governance while leveraging strong expertise in financial market structures and derivatives to support our broader investment strategy. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, you will lead legal negotiations, ensure robust fund compliance, and partner closely with our external fund manager to support and evaluate structured product transactions, derivatives-based opportunities, and other complex financial instruments. 

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of banking, crypto, and investment management—advising on cutting-edge financial products while ensuring world-class legal and regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

 Transaction Structuring & Execution

• Lead negotiation and execution of legal agreements for fund investments, including structured finance transactions, derivatives, lending agreements  and other strategic opportunities aligned with the Xapo Fund’s strategy.

• Support legal assessment of new fund investment opportunities, particularly those involving complex financial instruments, ensuring compliance with relevant banking, investment and derivatives regulations. 

 External Manager Oversight (Legal Interface)

• Act as the legal point of contact between Xapo and the Xapo Fund’s external investment manager, Hilbert Capital, ensuring legal integrity in our partnership and communications.

• Support the smooth operation and evolution of the Xapo Fund’s legal architecture in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, with a keen focus on best practices in traditional financial market operations.

Fund Governance & Control

• Review, draft, and advise on key fund documentation, including constitutional documents, offering memoranda, investment management agreements, and investor contracts.

• Ensure fund structures and operations remain aligned with legal, regulatory, and governance expectations, including derivatives-related disclosures and compliance.

Member Offering & Disclosures

• Collaborate with Product and Compliance teams to ensure clarity, accuracy, and compliance in customer-facing fund materials (e.g. investor updates, risk disclosures, marketing collateral, terms & conditions), especially when pertaining to structured and derivative product offerings.

 Broader Legal Responsibilities

• Provide commercial legal advice across Xapo’s fintech and banking operations, particularly in areas of traditional financial regulation, derivatives, payments, crypto, and digital assets.

• Support general legal operations including vendor contracts, commercial negotiations, and cross-functional initiatives.

• Monitor evolving regulatory landscapes (especially Gibraltar, United Kingdom and European frameworks) to ensure Xapo’s products remain compliant and future-fit.

Skills needed

• Experience: 5+ years PQE as a qualified lawyer, with strong experience in financial services, investment funds, fintech or crypto. Exposure to traditional banking, financial market structuring, and derivatives transactions is highly desirable.

• Qualification: UK qualified solicitor or equivalent with experience in the United Kingdom, Gibraltar or Europe. Previous in-house counsel experience preferred.

• Legal Expertise: Solid understanding of investment fund documentation, investment regulations, derivatives documentation and DLT frameworks.

• Analytical Skills: Excellent research, drafting, and contract negotiation skills.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Able to navigate fast-paced environments and partner across legal, risk, product, and external firms.

• Attention to Detail: High level of precision, particularly when it comes to member-facing materials and regulatory compliance.

• Autonomy & Initiative: Comfortable working independently on high-impact projects with a solutions-oriented mindset.

Other requirements

• A dedicated workspace.

• A reliable internet connection with the fastest speed possible in your area.

• Devices and other essential equipment that meet minimal technical specifications.

• Alignment with Our Values and the Xapo Values-Driven Leadership principles.