Senior Legal Counsel (Fintech)

Cana Consulting is partnering exclusively with a leading regional fintech and digital financial services platform seeking a seasoned Senior Counsel to lead its legal function across Asia Pacific. This is a strategic leadership position for a commercially minded lawyer with strong financial regulatory expertise and experience navigating complex, high-growth, regulated environments. The successful candidate will work closely with senior management on regional expansion, regulatory engagement, product development, governance, and strategic initiatives. Key Responsibilities • Act as the principal legal advisor to senior management and leadership teams across the region. • Lead and manage the legal function across multiple jurisdictions within Asia Pacific. • Provide commercially pragmatic legal advice to support business growth, strategic partnerships, and expansion initiatives. • Drive legal strategy and risk management frameworks aligned with the organization’s long-term objectives. • Manage and coordinate external counsels across jurisdictions. • Provide strategic legal and regulatory advice relating to payments, consumer finance, digital banking, lending, fintech, and financial services regulations. • Advise on licensing, regulatory approvals, governance frameworks, and ongoing compliance obligations across regional markets. • Partner closely with compliance and risk teams on regulatory matters, audits, investigations, and regulator engagements. • Monitor and assess legal and regulatory developments impacting the business across Asia Pacific. • Support the implementation of internal policies, controls, and governance standards in line with evolving regulatory requirements. • Lead negotiations and reviews of complex commercial agreements, strategic partnerships, technology agreements, financing arrangements, and customer-facing documentation. • Advise business and product teams on legal risks relating to new products, digital platforms, data privacy, and technology initiatives. • Develop scalable legal processes, templates, and contracting frameworks to support regional operations and growth. • Support corporate structuring, fundraising activities, strategic investments, and expansion into new markets. • Advise on corporate governance, shareholder matters, and board-related legal issues. • Oversee legal aspects of strategic transactions, joint ventures, and regional business initiatives where required. • Manage disputes, investigations, contentious matters, and regulatory inquiries. • Provide practical and strategic advice on legal exposure, reputational risks, and escalation management. • Promote legal awareness and compliance culture across the organization. Requirements • Qualified lawyer admitted in a common law jurisdiction preferred. • Approximately 12–15 years of post-qualification experience. • Strong financial regulatory experience within fintech, payments, digital banking, consumer finance, or broader financial services sectors is essential. • Combination of top-tier private practice and in-house experience preferred. • Strong experience advising on cross-border legal and regulatory matters across APAC. • Proven ability to operate effectively within fast-paced, evolving, and highly regulated environments. • Excellent commercial judgment and stakeholder management skills. • Prior leadership or team management experience preferred. EA Lic: 24S2202 | CEI Reg: R2091776