Legal Counsel, Payments & Fintech

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Legal Counsel, Payments & Fintech based in the United States. This role offers the opportunity to provide strategic legal guidance at the intersection of payments, financial services, technology, and global digital commerce. You will advise on complex payment processing operations, regulatory requirements, commercial agreements, and market expansion initiatives. Working closely with product, technology, business operations, and leadership teams, you will help translate complex legal requirements into practical, business-oriented solutions. The role covers a broad international regulatory landscape, including money transmission, AML, sanctions, card network rules, and emerging financial technologies. You will also play an important role in identifying legal risks early and supporting the development of compliant payment products. This is an ideal opportunity for a commercially minded attorney who enjoys working in a fast-paced, innovative, and highly collaborative environment. Draft, review, and negotiate agreements with payment service providers, acquirers, card networks, payment facilitators, banks, financial institutions, vendors, licensors, and strategic partners. Advise on end-to-end payment processing activities, including new payment methods and provider onboarding, global money flows, settlement structures, chargebacks, refunds, reserves, and holdback arrangements. Provide legal guidance on KYC/KYB, AML/CFT, sanctions screening, customer due diligence, and related compliance processes across multiple markets. Support the legal and regulatory aspects of entering new markets, including licensing analysis, entity structuring, and the establishment and maintenance of legal entities where required. Advise business and technology leaders on the legal implications of strategic initiatives, payment strategies, product launches, and other commercial decisions. Monitor developments in laws and regulations affecting payments, digital commerce, and emerging technologies, including cryptocurrency, blockchain, NFTs, and decentralized finance. Analyze new and proposed regulations and communicate their potential impact on money movement, payment strategies, products, and ongoing business initiatives. Draft and negotiate commercial, financial services, technology, licensing, vendor, and partnership agreements while ensuring alignment with business objectives and legal requirements. Partner closely with product, technology, operations, and management teams to develop compliant payment products and services that support commercial objectives. Identify potential legal and regulatory challenges proactively and develop practical strategies to mitigate risks. Manage multiple legal matters and competing priorities while delivering high-quality advice within demanding timelines. Provide additional legal support and strategic guidance across broader business initiatives as needed. Requirements Licensed to practice law in the United States and in good standing. At least 5 years of legal experience in fintech, banking, payments, financial services, or a closely related field. Demonstrated expertise in payment systems and familiarity with U.S. and international regulatory frameworks, including money transmission, BSA/AML, PSD2, MiCA, and card network rules. Strong understanding of payment processing, financial regulation, compliance requirements, and global digital commerce. Proven ability to provide practical, commercially focused legal advice in a fast-paced and constantly evolving business environment. Excellent drafting, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with experience handling complex commercial agreements. Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex legal and regulatory matters clearly to non-legal stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effective