The RoleAscenda is seeking an experienced, business-minded lawyer to serve as Interim General Counsel during a parental leave period. This individual will provide strategic legal leadership and hands-on support across commercial, regulatory, and corporate matters, ensuring continuity of legal operations and alignment with business objectives in a fast-growing fintech environment.
This is a full-time, fixed-term contract covering parental leave from October 2026 through March 2027.Key ResponsibilitiesLegal Leadership & Strategic Advisory- Act as the primary legal advisor to senior leadership on day-to-day legal matters and strategic initiatives
- Provide practical, solutions-oriented guidance balancing legal risk with commercial objectives
- Operate as a hands-on generalist who can roll up their sleeves and connect the dots across commercial, product, partnerships, finance, and HR teams
Commercial & Transactional Work- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including:
- MSAs with banks and card issuers
- Strategic partnership agreements with airlines, loyalty partners, content providers and other complementary partners
- DPAs, IDTAs and data sharing agreements
- Advise on structuring complex global partnerships and revenue-generating arrangements
- Review and maintain customer-facing product terms, participation agreements, and service-specific terms
Regulatory & Compliance- Oversee legal and regulatory compliance across relevant jurisdictions (payments, data privacy, loyalty frameworks as applicable)
- Provide guidance on emerging regulatory developments impacting fintech and data-driven platforms
- Advise on AI governance, including responsible AI policies and contractual restrictions on AI/ML model training using company or client data
Employment & HR- Support global employment matters, including employment agreements, workplace policies, and workforce actions across multiple jurisdictions
Corporate & Governance- Support corporate governance matters, including board materials, shareholder agreements, resolutions, and entity management
- Advise on international expansion, entity structuring, and cross-border considerations
- Engage and manage external counsel on an as-needed basis for specialized matters, including litigation, dispute resolution, and jurisdiction-specific regulatory advice
Operational Continuity- Step into ongoing matters and ensure seamless continuation of legal workflows
- Assess and triage litigation and pre-litigation matters, including conducting initial investigations and managing responses to counterparty claims
- Identify and prioritize key legal risks and urgent issues during the coverage period
- Maintain and improve legal processes, templates, intake workflows, and playbooks; leverage legal technology tools where appropriate
Who You Are- JD or equivalent; Admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state
- 10+ years of legal experience, including:
- Prior General Counsel, Deputy GC, or senior in-house leadership role
- Strong background in B2B fintech, SaaS, or technology-driven businesses
- Demonstrated experience handling complex commercial transactions and global partnerships
- Working knowledge of international data protection frameworks, including GDPR, and experience negotiating DPAs, IDTAs, and cross-border data sharing agreements
- Familiarity with APAC regulatory environments, particularly Singapore (PDPA) and Australia (Privacy Act, APRA prudential standards); UK exposure is a plus
- Experience with data privacy programs, including GDPR, CCPA, and PDPA compliance; CIPP/US or CIPP/E certification preferred
- Comfortable managing workflows and stakeholder communications across multiple time zones (US, APAC, EU)
- Proven ability to operate independently in a lean, fast-paced environment
- Strong executive presence with the ability to advise senior stakeholders
Preferred Qualifications- Experience in loyalty, rewards, or points-based ecosystems
- Familiarity with financial services regulatory standards (e.g., APRA CPS 230/234, PCI DSS)
- Experience advising on AI/data governance for product launches
The salary range for this position is between $196,000 to $264,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
