Legal Counsel

Title
Legal Counsel
Legal
 
Reports to
Senior Legal Counsel

Position Overview

We are looking for a talented attorney with three to seven years of experience to join our legal team and support our rapidly growing, evolving payments businesses. This attorney will be responsible for counseling the Payroc business teams on issues central to the operation, governance, payment technologies, negotiating complex transactions with financial service partners, advising on commercial, regulatory, and compliance-related initiatives in a fast-paced payments and financial services environment.

The Legal Counsel team is a trusted member of the business. Developing innovative solutions to novel legal questions is part of our daily business. The role covers a broad spectrum of legal issues, including new program development in regulated areas, product counseling, day-to-day advice, strategic contract and partnership negotiations, and resolving issues arising in commercial relationships. A successful candidate will need have strong contract negotiating and drafting skills, and an in-depth knowledge of corporate governance issues.. Prior experience in payments or financial services is a plus. 

In this influential role, you will provide legal advice on a range of laws and industry regulations impacting transaction-processing businesses, ensuring prompt, practical counsel to senior business and sales executives.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing legal counseling on a wide range of matters.
• Draft and negotiate commercial agreements directly with input from business unit representatives.
• Draft and negotiate employment agreements and compensation plans.
• Advise business unit leaders on legal, contractual, and risk matters impacting their business units or product sets.
• Provide legal advice on strategic initiatives, technology projects and dispute resolution.
• Develop and maintain forms of contracts and other legal documentation.
• Advise the business  on compliance with laws and industry regulations.
• Research, interpret, and advise on applicable federal and state laws, including Uniform Commercial Code articles 4 and 4A, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money-laundering requirements, and economic sanctions regulations.
• Partner with product, technology, and other stakeholders to develop compliant, innovative payment solutions and related business and educational materials.
• Monitor and summarize relevant legislative and regulatory developments.
• Support the development of legal and policy positions that advance the company’s role as a critical payment system operator.
• Manage pending litigation with the assistance of outside counsel.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school; active member in good standing of a U.S. state bar with no disciplinary record.
• Licensed, or eligible to be licensed, as in-house counsel in the applicable state.
• 3–5 years of experience at a reputable law firm or in-house legal department, with an emphasis on commercial transactions in the payments or fintech industry, including work with payment networks, acquirers/processors, fintechs, or financial institutions.
• Demonstrated expertise in drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, such as merchant processing agreements, sales agent agreements, and technology service contracts.
• Familiarity with financial regulatory frameworks and experience engaging with or supporting interactions involving agencies such as the Federal Reserve, OCC, CFPB, or FinCEN.
• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills, with the ability to provide clear, practical, and business-oriented guidance.
• Proven ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with business leaders and senior management.
• Skilled in managing multiple priorities and time-sensitive matters with precision and sound judgment.

Preferred

• Experience navigating data use and privacy matters.
• Exposure to emerging technologies and regulatory issues involving cross-border payments, digital assets, or tokenization.
• Technical contrac