Legal Counsel - Investment Products

As (Senior) Legal Counsel – Investment Products, you are part of the legal infrastructure that powers Upvest's Investment API. Your mission is to enable Upvest's internationalisation by closing the gap between rigid financial regulation and flexible, API-driven product design.

What you'll do

• Be the legal authority on the lifecycle of financial instruments. Partner directly with Product and Engineering to co-design features from fractional trading to new asset classes, translating MiFID II/III and WpIG into concrete technical requirements so compliance is built in from the first line of code.
• Own the legal adaptation of Upvest's core German investment offering as we expand into the UK, Switzerland, and the wider EEA.
• Serve as the internal expert on EU and German financial regulation. Monitor and interpret regulatory developments across MiFID, WpIG, WpHG, and MaRisk.
• Lead and support the negotiation of complex B2B agreements with institutional counterparties, including credit institutions and global fintechs.
• Drive the modernisation of Upvest's legal function. Champion the adoption of contract lifecycle management tools, AI-assisted review workflows, and scalable processes.
• Act as a trusted adviser to Product, Engineering, Operations, and Compliance. Deliver clear, actionable guidance that enables commercial decisions.

What you'll need

• At least 3–5 years post-qualification experience (PQE) in the financial services industry. At least one German legal qualification (Erste Juristische Prüfung).
• Hands-on understanding of lifecycles across a variety of investment products (stocks, investment funds, bonds, derivatives).
• Experience in a regulated investment firm, fintech, infrastructure provider, or bank with a brokerage and custody product offering.
• Strong command of EU and German financial law (MiFID, WpIG, WpHG).
• Enthusiasm for streamlining the legal function through technology.
• Professional fluency in English and German.

Nice to have

• Exposure to UK (FCA) regulation or other European NCAs.
• Familiarity with adapting core legal frameworks to new European markets.

What they offer

• 30 days annual leave and sports benefits.
• Professional coaching and flexibility to work remotely abroad for up to 183 days per year.
• UpRest: one-month fully paid sabbatical after every 4 years.
• Personal development budget.
• Hybrid work across Berlin, London or Tallinn hubs.
• Competitive, above-market salary and employee equity program.