Compliance Specialist, Legal_Specialist, Legal_Counsel

ABOUT FIRST CRYPTO EXCHANGE LLC

First Crypto (“FCE”) is a Virtual Asset Service Provider licensed and regulated by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai, holding a licence for Broker-Dealer Services. 
We enable clients to buy, sell and manage virtual assets securely and efficiently.

FCE is committed to building a trusted, well-governed business, combining robust market infrastructure with strong financial controls, regulatory compliance and operational transparency.
 

JOB OVERVIEW

FCE is seeking a Legal Counsel to provide legal and regulatory support across the firm's virtual asset activities, corporate matters and UAE regulatory obligations.

This role will own day-to-day legal matters, including regulatory advisory and perimeter analysis, contract drafting and negotiation, regulatory submissions and correspondence, policy and governance documentation, and assessment of legal and regulatory risk across the firm's activities.

The Legal Counsel will work closely with senior management, the Board and cross-functional teams to ensure the firm's operations, agreements and business initiatives are structured in accordance with applicable UAE and Dubai legal and regulatory requirements.
 

The role will also support the company in monitoring developments within the virtual asset regulatory landscape, including the VARA Rulebooks and the CBUAE Payment Token Services Regulation, and in developing and maintaining effective legal processes, templates and documentation.
 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide day-to-day legal support across the company's virtual asset and financial services activities.
• Advise on the application of the VARA Rulebooks to new products, services, asset listings and client types, including perimeter analysis on activities that may fall outside the current licence.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and update agreements, contracts, legal templates, policies, and other legal documentation.
• Develop and maintain standardized legal templates for recurring business activities.
• Review contracts and agreements, identify potential legal and regulatory risks, and provide clear recommendations.
• Support negotiations with clients, partners, vendors, service providers, and other counterparties.
• Conduct legal research and monitor changes in UAE and Dubai legislation and regulatory requirements, including VARA, CBUAE and federal AML/CFT developments relevant to the company's activities.
• Assess legal risks associated with new products, services, partnerships, and business initiatives.
• Support corporate matters, including preparation and review of corporate documentation.
• Work closely with Compliance, Finance, Operations, Product, and Business Development teams on legal matters.
• Coordinate with external legal advisors and local counsel when required.
• Maintain and organize the company’s legal documentation, contracts, and templates.
• Prepare and manage regulatory submissions, notifications, licence variations and no-objection requests, and support the firm's ongoing supervisory relationship with VARA.
• Draft, review and maintain the firm's suite of regulatory policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with current Rulebook versions and effective version control.
• Support Board and committee governance, including preparation of papers, terms of reference, and appointment and change-of-control documentation.
• Work closely with the stakeholders, specifically the Compliance team on matters with a legal dimension.
   

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Qualified lawyer in a recognised common law jurisdiction (England & Wales, or equivalent).
• Approximately 3+ years' post-qualification experience, with meaningful time spent in-house or in a regulatory advisory capacity.
• Demonstrable experience in the virtual asset or digital asset sector, including familiarity with trading, custody and settlement mechanics.
• Current or recent experience within a UAE-regulated financial services or fintech business supervised by VARA, FSRA or DFSA.
• Strong understanding of the UAE legal and regulatory environment.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and managing contracts and commercial agreements.
• Strong legal research and analytical skills.
• Ability to independently identify legal and regulatory risks and provide practical, business-oriented recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills. (The team’s working languages are English and Russian. Knowledge of Arabic would be a strong plus.)
• Strong attention to detail, confidentiality, and professional judgment.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced and international environment.
   

WOULD BE A PLUS

• Prior experience supporting a licence application, licence variation or change-of-control submission with a UAE regulator.
• Experience in a firm holding broker-dealer, exchange or tokenisation permissions.
• Experience working with multiple international jurisdictions.
   

WORKING CONDITIONS & BENEFITS

• Location: Dubai, UAE
• Work Format: Full-time, on-site / office-based
• Relocation: Relocation to Dubai can be considered for suitable candidates.
• Employment: Official employment with the company in accordance with applicable UAE regulations.
• Salary: Competitive compensation based on experience 
• Vacation: 20 working days per year
• Sick Leave: 10 days per year
• Days Off: 5 days per year
• Public Holidays: 8–10 days per year, depending on the holiday calendar of different countries