Principal Legal Counsel, Corporate & Finance
"What You'll Be Doing"
About This Role
We're looking for a Principal Lead Counsel, Corporate & Finance, to join Aave Labs in the Cayman Islands, where our Group function is based. You'll be the senior legal lead on the corporate, compliance, treasury, finance and governance work that keeps the Group running, working closely with our Finance and Operations teams.
What You'll Be Doing
Act as the principal legal adviser to Group boards, foundation councils and senior leadership on corporate, governance and finance matters
Manage the Group's legal entities across the Cayman Islands, UK, EU, US and other jurisdictions, including incorporations, dissolutions, statutory registers, filings and annual returns
Build and run the Group's corporate compliance programme, including a compliance calendar of statutory, licensing and filing deadlines across all entities
Own Group-wide corporate policies, such as code of conduct, conflicts of interest, anti-bribery, sanctions, whistleblowing and personal account dealing, and run annual attestations and training
Track the ongoing corporate obligations of the Group's licensed subsidiaries, including FCA and MiCAR authorised entities, such as change in control notifications, director and officer approvals and annual returns, working with the regulatory and compliance teams
Support internal and external audits, bank and counterparty due diligence, and record-keeping and document retention requirements
Advise on and document treasury activity, including lending, borrowing, loan participations, custody arrangements and stablecoin and digital asset holdings
Work with Finance and external tax advisers on the legal structuring of transactions, including choice of contracting or lending entity, withholding tax considerations and transfer pricing support
Own the Group's signing authority matrix, document execution process and contract repository
Support the wider Legal team on commercial and regulatory matters as needed
What We're Looking For
6+ years of post-qualification experience in corporate, finance or funds work, including significant time at a leading Cayman or other offshore law firm (or a leading onshore firm) and senior in-house experience
A track record as a trusted adviser to boards and senior leadership, leading complex transactions and managing external counsel with minimal oversight
Experience with entity management, board governance and corporate secretarial work across multiple jurisdictions
Experience building or running a corporate compliance programme, including policies, registers, attestations, training and a compliance calendar
Comfort working closely with Finance, Tax, Compliance, and Operations teams
Strong organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to run many workstreams at once and keep records accurate
Excellent communication and judgement, with the confidence to challenge and influence at the most senior levels
Willingness to be based in the Cayman Islands, with relocation assistance available for the right candidate
Bonus Points
Familiarity with treasury operations, tax structuring or fund administration
Interest in or experience with crypto, DeFi or digital assets
About Aave Labs
Aave Labs is at the forefront of decentralized finance (DeFi), building innovative protocols that are redefining how value is exchanged and managed across the globe. As the creators of the leading non-custodial liquidity protocol, Aave, we are committed to open-source development and empowering a more transparent, efficient, and accessible financial system. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in Web3, from pioneering flash loans to developing advanced governance mechanisms and exploring new frontiers in multi-chain interoperability. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and a shared passion for the transformative power of blockchain technology. We are a fully remote, globally distributed team of engineers, researchers, and community builders who believe in radical ownership and continuous learning. At Aave Labs, you'll work alongside some of the brightest minds in crypto, contributing to projects that have a tangible impact on the future of finance. We foster an environment where bold ideas are encouraged, and every team member plays a crucial role in shaping the evolution of decentralized ecosystems. Joining Aave Labs means becoming part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to decentralization and financial inclusion. If you're eager to build foundational infrastructure for Web3, tackle complex technical challenges, and contribute to an open and permissionless future, your place is with us. We offer an unparalleled opportunity to innovate, grow your skills in a dynamic blockchain landscape, and contribute to a protocol used by millions worldwide. Come help us build the next generation of DeFi.
Ready to Apply?
To submit your application for this position, please visit Aave Labs's official website and follow their application process.