Overview
Remote (U.S.) — Full Time
This role involves leading the legal function for a pre-launch startup developing a blockchain-based payment system that enables real-time, 24/7 movement of digital money across traditional finance and digital asset ecosystems. The system focuses on tokenization to bring cash on chain and supports payments for banks, digital asset exchanges, and their customers.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a high volume of contract negotiations with highly regulated U.S. banks and third-party service providers, from initial terms through execution.
- Coordinate contract reviews across internal teams including risk and compliance, finance, product, and technology to ensure issues are identified, resolved, and documented prior to signing.
- Serve as a shared-services legal counsel supporting contracting needs across multiple internal teams.
- Standardize contract templates, playbooks, and processes to scale contracting throughput.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks in commercial agreements, advising leadership on tradeoffs in a fast-moving, highly regulated environment.
- Provide practical legal and regulatory guidance related to bank payments, tokenization, and digital assets, working closely with compliance teams.
- Build and establish the legal function’s contracting infrastructure, external counsel relationships, and operating cadence to support rapid company growth.
Requirements
- Based in the U.S. with ability to travel as needed.
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and active membership in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar.
- Minimum of 10 years of relevant legal experience, including significant experience negotiating commercial contracts with highly regulated U.S. banks or financial institutions.
- Proven track record leading high-volume contract negotiations and coordinating contract reviews across internal teams such as risk and compliance, finance, product, and technology.
- Familiarity with crypto, blockchain, and digital asset technologies; understanding of regulatory landscape for bank payments and tokenization is a strong plus.
- Strong knowledge of commercial, vendor, and technology contracting, including experience standardizing templates and contracting processes.
- Exceptional negotiation, drafting, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work independently and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary, bonus, and equity compensation.
- Full medical, vision, and dental benefits.
- 401(k) plan with matching program.
- Flexible vacation policy (PTO).
- Remote-first work environment.
Location
Remote within the United States, with travel as needed.