Overview

Whistler Partners is partnering with an established European alternative asset manager specializing in digital assets on its first U.S. legal hire.

The firm manages more than $500M in assets, has an institutional client base, and is expanding its footprint into the U.S. through the launch of a U.S. RIA. This is a cross-functional in-house role supporting diligence, transactions, fund and SPV formation, compliance, risk management, regulatory matters, external counsel management, and portfolio support.

Why this role?

This is an opportunity to help build the legal function inside a growing digital assets focused investment platform. The role is broad by design. The right candidate will work across investment, operations, compliance, risk, and business teams, helping shape internal processes as the firm expands in the U.S. market. This is not a narrow fund formation or regulatory seat. It is a first-legal-hire role where the person will help define the function, manage external counsel, support transactions, and provide practical legal and regulatory guidance in a fast-moving asset class. For someone with strong law firm training, real interest in digital assets, and the judgment to operate across legal, compliance, and business work streams, this is a highly differentiated in-house opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

• Support legal due diligence across investments and counterparty agreements.
• Draft and review transaction terms, agreements, side letters, and related documentation.
• Assist with fund and SPV formation matters.
• Support group compliance, risk management, and internal regulatory processes from both the U.S. and global perspectives.
• Track and assess U.S. and global regulatory developments impacting digital assets and funds.
• Provide practical legal and regulatory guidance to investment, operations, and business teams.
• Support legal and compliance initiatives tied to the firm’s U.S. expansion and RIA buildout.
• Act as a day-to-day point of contact for external counsel on defined matters.
• Help design, document, and refine internal legal and compliance processes as the platform scales.
• Provide portfolio company support where applicable.

Top Requirements

• Strong law firm experienced preferred. All levels.
• Transactional experience involving private investments, liquid investments, funds, or related investment work.
• Experience with fund formation, fund management, regulatory, or compliance matters preferred.
• Strong personal or professional interest in digital assets required.
• Ability to operate in a broad, cross-functional role with evolving responsibilities.
• Strong judgment, drafting ability, organization, and comfort working directly with business teams.
• Interest in helping build the legal function for a U.S. expansion.

Location / Flexibility

• New York.
• Full-time in-office role.
• Part-time arrangement may be considered depending on candidate profile.

TL;DR

Established European digital assets manager launching its U.S. RIA and hiring its first U.S. legal counsel in New York. Strong fit for an associate with funds, transactional, regulatory, or compliance experience who wants a broad in-house role across diligence, transactions, fund/SPV formation, digital asset regulation, and legal-function buildout.

About Whistler Partners

Matchmakers, Not Headhunters

Whistler Partners is a boutique matchmaking firm focused on counseling the best and the brightest attorneys over the course of their careers. We believe that the right move comes from working closely with talent to curate their long-term career paths. When it comes to career advice, what matters is not the size of the agency but the strength of your individual recruiter.

We readily admit that we are elite and only work with the best – after all, a little elitism is okay when it comes to your career. Employers love us because we are picky about whom we represent, and attorneys love us because we get them their dream jobs.