Counsel, Derivatives

StoneX Group•Chicago, IL

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

StoneX seeks a Counsel to support its derivatives businesses, including its registered futures commission merchant (“FCM”), its swap dealer, and its clearing and execution business, on a broad range of legal, regulatory, and litigation matters. This role is a member of StoneX’s in-house Legal Department, and the Litigation and Regulatory team, working closely with Sales and Trading, Compliance, Trade Surveillance, and product development, and also supports matters related to StoneX’s obligations as a public company. This role advises business and support functions across derivatives products and operations, including activities of the FCM, swap dealer, and clearing and execution businesses. The role routinely engages with staff of designated contract markets and derivatives clearing organizations (“exchanges”), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), and the National Futures Association (“NFA”). We're looking for someone with solid financial services legal experience who knows derivatives regulation well, can move quickly, is able to work independently, and is comfortable advising on novel issues and fact patterns.

Requirements

At least 5 years of legal or compliance experience in financial services, with direct exposure to derivatives, FCM, swap dealer, or clearing and execution businesses
Direct experience with exchange, NFA, or CFTC examination or enforcement processes
Working knowledge of the Commodity Exchange Act, CFTC regulations, and NFA rules, particularly as they apply to FCM, swap dealer, and clearing and execution businesses
Experience with and demonstrated ability to draft clear and persuasive documents, including responses to regulatory inquiries, customer and other agreements evidencing regulated relationships, litigation-related documents, from pleadings through trial preparation, and internal research memorandum with minimal revision
Familiarity with preservation and collection of electronic communications and trading data in a financial services environment
Strong judgment about when to escalate, when to move, and how to give practical guidance under regulatory uncertainty
J.D. and active U.S. bar membership

Nice To Haves

Prior experience at or advising a public company, including familiarity with SEC disclosure or corporate governance considerations
Familiarity with prediction markets or event contracts
Interest in emerging financial technologies and market structure

Responsibilities

Prepare responses to exchange, CFTC, and NFA regulatory inquiries and examinations, coordinating with key stakeholders and Compliance to produce well-reasoned and well-supported submissions
Assist with all phases of litigation and regulatory enforcement matters, including pleadings, discovery, e-discovery protocols, document review and production, motions, and other trial preparation activities, with the ability to manage matters independently and with outside counsel
Support litigation and regulatory strategy across derivatives businesses, including matters related to FCM, swap dealer, clearing and execution operations, and derivative regulation
Track exchange, CFTC, and NFA enforcement actions, rulemaking, notices to members, and litigation trends, and translate them into actionable guidance for internal teams
Provide advice on new and revised policies and procedures covering derivatives operations, sales and trading practices, margin, and customer protection requirements across the FCM, swap dealer, and clearing and execution businesses
Support legal matters connected to StoneX's obligations as a public company, including coordination with Corporate and Securities counsel on disclosure, governance, and related compliance issues as they relate to the derivatives businesses
Contribute to other in-house projects and other tasks as assigned.