Legal Counsel, Payments & Fintech

Overview

The organization is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel with strong background in payments and fintech to join its legal team. This role provides strategic legal guidance on payment processing, financial regulation, and digital innovation, while supporting broader legal needs of a global commerce business.

The ideal candidate is comfortable in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and can manage multiple priorities while anticipating legal challenges and collaborating across business and technology teams.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate agreements with payment service providers, acquirers, card networks, payment facilitators, banks, and other financial partners, securing commercially favorable terms and protecting the company’s interests.
• Advise on payment processing operations end-to-end, including onboarding new payment methods and providers, structuring global money flows and settlement, chargeback and refund frameworks, fund flows, and reserve/holdback arrangements.
• Support and advise on KYC/KYB, AML/CFT, sanctions screening, and customer due diligence requirements across markets; help build practical onboarding and compliance processes with the business.
• Support legal and regulatory requirements for connecting to payment systems and expanding into new markets, including licensing analysis, entity structuring, and incorporation and maintenance of legal entities where required.
• Consult with the business on legal issues and implications of potential business decisions, initiatives, and payment strategies; provide clear legal advice, strategies, and practical solutions for general business and legal matters.
• Maintain current knowledge of laws and regulations governing payment services and digital innovation, including cryptocurrencies, blockchain, NFTs, and decentralized finance (DeFi).
• Identify, summarize, and analyze the impact of new and proposed rules and regulations on money movement, payment strategies, and current business initiatives.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and other documentation for new business ideas, as well as licensing, vendor, and partnership agreements, ensuring alignment with legal standards and company goals.
• Work closely with business and technology teams to understand and achieve key business objectives and help develop compliant payment products and service offerings.
• Identify potential legal challenges early and propose practical solutions to address them.
• Manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines; provide other legal services and advice as needed.

Requirements

• Licensed to practice law in the US, in good standing.
• At least 5 years of legal experience in fintech, banking, and/or payments, with demonstrated expertise in payments and familiarity with the applicable U.S. and international regulatory landscape (e.g., money transmission, BSA/AML, PSD2, MiCA, and card network rules).
• Proven ability to provide practical legal advice in a fast-paced business environment.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including product, technology, business operations, and management.
• Excellent drafting skills, including experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements such as payment processing, financial services, technology, licensing, vendor, and partnership agreements.

Preferred Qualifications

Not specified.

Compensation & Benefits

• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision plans
• Unlimited Flexible Time Off
• Personalized career roadmap for each employee
• Training and educational opportunities for professional development

Location

• Remote position open to candidates anywhere in the US
• Ability to travel to Los Angeles-area headquarters (Sherman Oaks, CA) approximately twice a year
• Candidates based in the Los Angeles area are preferred but not mandatory

Equal Employment Opportunity

• Equal opportunity employer; committed to an inclusive environment.
• No discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.
• Considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the Fair Chance Act.

Background Checks (Criminal History Consideration)

For the Legal Counsel position, a background check may include:

• Criminal history check
• Employment verification
• Education verification

The background check is relevant because of role responsibilities involving:

• Accessing confidential company data
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements
• Handling sensitive financial information/managing budgets/accessing funds

Applicants may inquire about rights under the Fair Chance Act.