About this role in the team:BVNK is at the forefront of next-generation payment solutions, and we're seeking a General Counsel (GC) to join our team. The GC will serve as the company's US legal advisor, overseeing all legal and regulatory matters. As a key member of the US executive leadership team, the GC will play a critical role in guiding the company through a complex and dynamic regulatory landscape in the payments and fintech industries, supporting its growth strategy, and mitigating legal risks. This role requires an experienced legal professional with a deep understanding of payments, financial technology, compliance, and corporate governance.
Key Areas of Responsibilities:Commercial, Product & Contractual Matters:- Act as the lead legal partner to the US business on commercial and product matters, providing pragmatic legal advice that enables growth while effectively managing risk.
- Provide product counsel across the development and launch of new and existing products, advising on legal and regulatory considerations throughout the product lifecycle.
- Draft, negotiate, and review key commercial contracts, including customer agreements, partnerships, vendor agreements, and other strategic arrangements.
- Work closely with Product, Commercial, Compliance and other cross-functional teams to ensure products, customer propositions and go-to-market strategies meet applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Legal Strategy & Leadership:- Develop and implement the company's US legal strategy to support growth while managing risk.
- Advise executive leadership and the board of directors on all legal and regulatory matters.
- Build and lead the internal US legal team, including external counsel relationships where necessary.
- Work closely with Mastercard's legal team and other key stakeholders to support the successful integration of BVNK, ensuring alignment across legal, regulatory, governance and commercial matters.
Regulatory Compliance:- Ensure the company's full compliance with relevant federal, state, and international laws governing the payments and fintech sectors.
- Monitor regulatory developments and provide proactive guidance on their potential impact on the business.
- Liaise with regulatory agencies, financial institutions, and other key stakeholders.
Corporate Governance & Risk Management:- Oversee US corporate governance matters, ensuring adherence to best practices.
- Develop and maintain risk mitigation policies and procedures to safeguard the company's operations.
- Support the US board of directors, including preparation of board materials and participation in board meetings.
Dispute Resolution & Litigation:- Manage legal disputes, litigation, and arbitration proceedings, collaborating with external counsel as necessary.
- Develop strategies to resolve conflicts efficiently while protecting the company's interests.
Team Leadership & Collaboration:- Build strong relationships across the business, partnering with product, compliance, finance, and operational teams to drive strategic objectives.
- Lead and mentor a high-performing legal team to support business initiatives.
- Collaborate with the group legal team on cross functional or group matters.
- Contribute to the group's legal knowledge management by sharing insights on U.S. legal developments, precedents, and best practices.
- Act as the primary liaison between the U.S. legal function and the group legal team to ensure alignment on global legal strategies, policies, and compliance efforts.
What we need from you:- Extensive experience in Legal leadershipwithin fintech, payments, or technology sectors.
- Strong expertise in commercial law, with experience negotiating and structuring strategic agreements.
- Proven track record of providing legal guidance for product and business development teams in a highly regulated sector.
- Regulatory acumen and in-depth knowledge of US regulatory frameworks, especially those related to financial services, payments and emerging trends in fintech; working knowledge of global regulatory frameworks across these areas.
- Ability to interpret, anticipate, and adapt to evolving regulations across multiple different jurisdictions at the federal, state, and local levels.
- Ability to excel in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating excellent judgment and adaptability.
- Exceptional project management skills, with the capacity to handle competing priorities under tight deadlines.
- A genuine passion for technology and strong business acumen, with the ability to quickly grasp complex product use cases.
- Expertise in translating legal concepts into practical, actionable guidance for product and business teams.
- Strong drafting and communication skills, ensuring clear and effective legal documents and stakeholder interactions.
- Executive presence and a proven ability to lead and grow high-performing legal teams.
What you can expect from us:- Fair and competitive salary at every stage of your growth
- Flexible working hours, with hybrid working at its heart
- A culture built on passionate, growth-minded people
- A flexible approach to holiday
- Opportunities to travel to our offices around the world
- An open and creative environment where you can help us define the future of BVNK, its culture, and its opportunity sets
At BVNK, we are focused on building a diverse and inclusive team. While you may not meet all of our requirements, we'd encourage you to apply if you meet the majority of our expectations. You may be a great fit for this role or another role in our team.
