Assistant General Counsel, Digital Assets & DeFi (Virginia)

About the Role

Grade Level (for internal use): 13

S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets.

The Team

Join a Best-In-Class Global Legal, Compliance, Risk & Government Affairs Team committed to delivering timely, practical and actionable advice to advance our business and safeguard our reputation, people and assets. Thie position reports to the Associate General Counsel and Managing Director for the Americas.

The team provides legal support to the S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) business, including: legal advice and support to internal clients; drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts and other legal documents related to licensing indices for use with investment products (including, without limitation, digital assets), DeFi technology projects, blockchain technology, data licensing, joint marketing and co-development collaborations, consulting agreements; review of marketing material; legal research; management and coordination of external legal resources; and training to employees on legal issues and contracting procedures.

Impact

Serve as a trusted legal advisor to product, innovation, and commercial teams on emerging DeFi, tokenization, and blockchain initiatives.

Help shape legal frameworks for index construction and licensing in decentralized and tokenized markets.

Evaluate novel business models, protocols, and partnerships involving digital assets, oracle networks, and blockchain infrastructure.

Anticipate regulatory and legal developments affecting DeFi and translate them into actionable business guidance.

Responsibilities

• Play a leading role in shaping S&P Dow Jones Indices’ engagement with decentralized finance, digital assets, and blockchain-based market infrastructure.
• This position sits at the intersection of traditional financial markets and emerging decentralized ecosystems, advising on innovative index solutions, data products, and technology collaborations that influence how global markets evolve.
• Be responsible for structuring, drafting, negotiating and advising on complex commercial agreements across DeFi, digital assets, licensing indices for use with financial products (including digital assets), index data subscription and distribution, inbound data and the deployment of blockchain technology.
• Collaborate closely with legal, product, technology, and commercial leaders to provide practical, forward-looking, strategic and legal advice on matters pertaining to emerging products and business initiatives.
• Support compliance with review and implementation of applicable policies and procedures (e.g., confidentiality, insider trading, and compliance).
• Assist the business in responding to requests for proposal, customer due diligence/risk questionnaires.
• Special projects as assigned by manager.

Compensation & Benefits Information

(This section is only applicable to US candidates)

S&P Global states that the anticipated base salary range for this position is $149,031 to $260,291.25 USD. Final base salary for this role will be based on the individual’s geographic location, as well as experience level, skill set, training, licenses and certifications.

In addition to base compensation, this role is eligible for an annual incentive plan.

This role is eligible to receive additional S&P Global benefits. For more information on the benefits we provide to our employees, please click here.

What We’re Looking For

• J.D. or LLM and admitted to practice law in any of the states listed within the location.
• 6+ years’ legal experience, including possibly in an in-house legal environment, with a focus on commercial contract negotiation and drafting.
• Demonstrated interest in and familiarity with financial services and investment products, decentralized finance, digital asset regulation, digital asset ecosystems, blockchain infrastructure, and tokenized assets.
• Familiarity with data licensing, intellectual property principles, business technology.
• Excellent drafting, negotiating, and communication (both written and spoken) skills.
• Capability to manage high-volume, complex environments with sound judgment and adaptability.
• Ability to recognize and accommodate internal and external client needs while adequately protecting S&P DJI’s interests and mitigating liability risk.
• Strong organizational skills.

Right to Work Requirements: This role is limited to persons with indefinite right to work in the United States.

Return to Work: Have you taken time out for caring responsibilities and are now looking to return to work? As part of our Return to Work initiative, Restart, we are encouraging enthusiastic and talented returners to apply, and will actively support your return to the workplace.

What’s In It For You

Our Mission

Advancing Essential Intelligence.

Our People

We're more than 35,000 strong worldwide—so we're able to understand nuances while having a broad perspective. Our team is driven by curiosity and a shared belief that Essential Intelligence can help build a more prosperous future for us all. From finding new ways to measure sustainability to analyzing energy transition across the supply chain to building workflow solutions that make it easy to tap into insight and apply it. We are changing the way people see things and empowering them to make an impact on the world we live in. We’re committed to a more equitable future and to helping our customers find new, sustainable ways of doing business. Join us and help create the critical insights that truly make a difference.

Our Values

Integrity, Discovery, Partnership

Throughout our history, the world’s leading organizations have relied on us for the Essential Intelligence they need to make confident decisions about the road ahead. We start with a foundation of integrity in all we do, bring a spirit of discovery to our work, and collaborate in close partnership with each other and our customers to achieve shared goals.

Benefits

• Health & Wellness: Health care coverage designed for the mind and body.
• Flexible Downtime: Generous time off helps keep you energized for your time on.
• Continuous Learning: Access a wealth of resources to grow your career and learn valuable new skills.
• Invest in Your Future: Secure your financial future through competitive pay, retirement planning, a continuing education program with a company-matched student loan contribution, and financial wellness programs.
• Family Friendly Perks: It’s not just about you. S&P Global has perks for your partners and little ones, too, with some best-in class benefits for families.
• Beyond the Basics: From retail discounts to referral incentive awards—small perks can make a big difference.

For more information on benefits by country visit:

Global Hiring and Opportunity at S&P Global

At S&P Global, we are committed to fostering a connected and engaged workplace where all individuals have access to opportunities based on their skills, experience, and contributions. Our hiring practices emphasize fairness, transparency, and merit, ensuring that we attract and retain top talent. By valuing different perspectives and promoting a culture of respect and collaboration, we drive innovation and power global markets.

Equal Opportunity Employer

S&P Global is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, military veteran status, unemployment status, or any other status protected by law. Only electronic job submissions will be considered for employment.

If you need an accommodation during the application process due to a disability, please send an email to: View email address on apply.placed-app.com and your request will be forwarded to the appropriate person.

US Candidates Only: Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal