Product Counsel, Payments

Overview

An organization is seeking an experienced Senior Product Counsel to lead legal support for its payments and financial services initiatives. This role involves advising on consumer experiences and merchant/acquirer relationships, working closely with Product, Engineering, Business Development, and Risk teams to design, develop, and operate innovative payment systems. Responsibilities include supporting new payment features, financial products, and partnerships with processors, card networks, and fintech entities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and practical legal advice on the design and rollout of payment products, merchant services, and financial infrastructure.
• Advise on regulatory and compliance requirements including U.S. and international payment regulations, money transmission, stored value, AML/BSA, consumer protection, and card network rules.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage complex commercial agreements with processors, acquiring banks, payment facilitators, and other financial partners.
• Collaborate with Compliance, Risk, and Product Operations to develop scalable policies, playbooks, and controls supporting compliant and sustainable growth.
• Support expansion of payment products into new jurisdictions by assessing cross-border licensing and regulatory frameworks.
• Work with Business Development on strategic financial partnerships and integrations.
• Stay current on developments in payments, fintech, and digital commerce regulation and advise leadership on implications for product strategy.
• Contribute to building a scalable, world-class legal function aligned with organizational growth.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and active membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (California or New York preferred).
• Minimum of 8 years combined experience in a top law firm and/or in-house legal department, including at least 3 years advising on payments, fintech, or financial services.
• Deep understanding of payments law and infrastructure, including card network operating rules, money transmission, and merchant acquiring frameworks.
• Proven experience negotiating commercial and technology agreements with financial institutions, processors, or payment partners.
• Strong familiarity with U.S. and international regulatory frameworks such as PSD2, e-money, AML, and consumer finance regulations.
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, product-driven environment, providing actionable guidance to non-legal stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, drafting, and interpersonal skills with a focus on clarity and collaboration.
• Proactive, business-minded approach with comfort handling ambiguity.
• Sense of humor and humility.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in remote or co-located teams.
• Familiarity with scaling legal functions in high-growth environments.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $260,000 - $325,000 annually.
• Generous holiday and time off policy.
• Health insurance options including medical, dental, and vision.
• Work from home support including home office setup allowance.
• Monthly allowances for cell phone, internet, and wellness.
• Annual childcare allowance.
• Lifetime family planning benefits (e.g., adoption or fertility expenses).
• Retirement plans including 401(k) with employer match up to 4% of base salary (U.S.) and pension plans internationally.
• Monthly allowance to use the company’s app as a buyer and seller.
• Paid parental leave: 16 weeks plus one month gradual return to work.

Location

This role offers flexibility to work remotely or from one of several global office hubs. Candidates must reside within commuting distance of one of the following U.S. hubs: New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, to facilitate in-person collaboration when needed.