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Head of Legal, UK

Peoplematters IoLegal & Compliance
Salary
£120K–£140K
Hiring from
United Kingdom
Work type
Remote
Posted
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Head of Legal, UK

UK remote · £120,000–£140,000 + performance bonus · Employment or B2B

Own Paybis’ entry into the new UK crypto regime

Paybis is looking for a senior UK regulatory lawyer to lead its UK legal and authorisation agenda.
This is not a role supporting an established UK legal function. You will be the company’s most senior legal voice on UK matters and personally lead its FCA cryptoasset authorisation and UK EMI application.
The timing is significant. The UK’s new cryptoasset regime begins in October 2027, and Paybis is preparing to apply through the first authorisation gateway. The person joining us will shape how an established international crypto and payments business operates in the UK under the new framework.
For a Senior Regulatory Counsel ready for their first Head mandate—or an existing Head of Legal looking for direct ownership—this is an opportunity to lead a career-defining regulatory process rather than advise on it from the sidelines.

About Paybis

Paybis is an international fintech company operating across crypto and traditional payments.
Founded in 2014, the business is self-funded and serves approximately 8.5 million users across more than 180 countries, with $5.5 billion in lifetime transaction volume.
Our products include:
  • A B2C crypto on/off-ramp supporting more than 90 digital assets through card and bank payment rails
  • White-label and API infrastructure for exchanges, neobanks, payment providers, EMIs, wallets, payroll platforms and marketplaces
  • Multicurrency accounts, SEPA and SWIFT payouts
  • Crypto custody, exchange and mass-payout infrastructure
  • Liquidity and compliance solutions
Paybis already holds both a MiCA CASP authorisation and a PSD2 Payment Institution licence in Latvia. The UK is the next major regulatory build.
You will not be creating a legal framework for an untested product. You will be establishing the UK regulatory home for an existing B2C and B2B business with real customers, transaction volume and international infrastructure.

What you will own

UK authorisation

During your first year, approximately 60% of the role will focus on the UK regulatory agenda.
You will:
  • Lead the FCA cryptoasset authorisation from perimeter analysis through drafting, regulatory business planning, requests for information and final decision
  • Lead the UK EMI application and determine how the two authorisation programmes should be sequenced
  • Act as Paybis’ senior in-house legal counterpart to the FCA
  • Translate the new UK crypto regime into clear product, governance and operating requirements
  • Advise on financial promotions, Consumer Duty, safeguarding, prudential requirements and the UK Travel Rule
  • Prepare the business for its obligations after authorisation—not only for the application itself
  • Appoint, brief and manage UK external counsel while retaining ownership of the outcome

International expansion

You will also lead the legal work supporting Paybis’ planned regulatory expansion into Jersey and Australia, including engagement with the JFSC, AUSTRAC and the AFSL framework.

Commercial legal work

Alongside the regulatory programme, you will:
  • Draft and negotiate English-law B2B agreements
  • Work on API, white-label, referral and agent agreements
  • Support banking, payments and card-scheme partnerships
  • Review UK consumer terms, disclosures and financial promotions
  • Advise on UK employment and contractor arrangements

What makes the role different

A first-wave FCA mandate.
You will help shape one of the company’s first authorisation applications under a new UK regime, with Paybis’ continued UK market access depending on the result.
Real authority without immediate people management.
You will report directly to the CEO and be the most senior legal decision-maker for the UK. The role has no direct reports at launch, making it particularly relevant to senior counsel who want broader authority without moving into a traditional team-management position.
An established product, not a regulatory concept.
Your decisions will affect an operating platform used by millions of customers and a growing portfolio of B2B clients.
A sophisticated international legal environment.
You will work as a peer to the Head of Legal, EU, who owns Paybis’ existing European regulatory estate and legal team. The division of responsibility is clear: you own the UK mandate.
Commercial influence.
The CEO is looking for a lawyer who can turn regulatory risk into a recommended course of action—not simply identify reasons why something cannot be done.

What we are looking for

You will need:
  • Qualification as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales
  • Typically eight or more years of post-qualified experience
  • Direct UK financial-services regulatory experience
  • Personal ownership or material leadership of at least one FCA authorisation or variation of permission
  • Direct responsibility for FCA correspondence or representation
  • Legal experience within crypto or digital assets, gained at a regulated or established organisation
  • Practical understanding of cryptoasset, e-money or payments regulation
  • The ability to draft and negotiate English-law fintech agreements independently
  • The judgement and confidence to act as the senior UK legal voice in discussions with the CEO, regulators and commercial counterparties
  • Existing right to work in the UK
We may consider a lawyer qualified outside the UK where they can demonstrate exceptional FCA authorisation experience gained inside a UK-regulated business.
Nobody has yet completed an authorisation under the new UK crypto regime. Relevant experience may therefore include FCA cryptoasset registration, EMI or payments authorisation, a variation of permission, or substantive involvement in the 2025–2026 cryptoasset consultations.

You are likely to enjoy this role if you

  • Want to own a regulatory outcome rather than provide recommendations that someone else implements
  • Are comfortable making clear, commercially informed decisions with incomplete information
  • Can work independently without a large legal team or approval structure around you
  • Enjoy building legal and regulatory frameworks from the ground up
  • Can challenge senior stakeholders while remaining pragmatic and solutions-focused
  • Are interested in how regulation affects product architecture, customer experience and market strategy
  • Prefer direct access to decision-makers over a highly layered corporate environment

What success looks like

Within three months

  • The full UK product and regulatory perimeter is mapped
  • The authorisation strategy is agreed with the CEO
  • The FCA application is substantively drafted
  • External counsel is appointed and operating under a clear brief
  • The sequencing of the FCA cryptoasset and UK EMI applications is decided

Within six months

  • The FCA application is submitted or operating against a dated submission plan with no unresolved blockers
  • The UK EMI application is progressing
  • The Jersey and Australian workstreams are actively managed
  • Core English-law B2B templates are in place

Within twelve months

  • The FCA application is in advanced dialogue or authorised ahead of the new regime
  • The UK EMI application is granted or approaching its final stage
  • Paybis is positioned to continue and expand its UK operations under the new framework

Working model and package

  • Location: Remote within the UK, with attendance at regulator-facing meetings in London when required
  • Reporting line: CEO
  • Direct reports: None at launch
  • Compensation: £120,000–£140,000 gross per annum
  • Bonus: Performance bonus linked to UK authorisation milestones
  • Contract: Employment or B2B, depending on candidate preference
  • Start: As soon as notice period and restrictive covenants allow

Interview process

  1. HR conversation
  2. Interview with the Head of Legal, EU
  3. CEO interview
  4. Practical discussion based on a real UK regulatory question
  5. References
Paybis aims to make an offer decision within four weeks of the first interview.


Compensation

The base pay range for this role is £120,000 – £140,000 per year.

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