Payments Counsel
Payments Counsel advising on US and EU payments, fintech, and crypto regulations. Draft and negotiate agreements, support licensing and compliance efforts, and partner cross-functionally with Product, Risk, and Business Development teams. Requires JD and 5-8 years of relevant legal experience.
About the job
Responsibilities
- Advise on U.S. and EU payments regulations, including state money transmission laws, federal banking regulations, PSD2/PSD3, EMD2, e-money licensing, card network rules, and virtual asset frameworks.
- Partner with Compliance and Licensing teams on MTL applications, international licenses, and ongoing obligations.
- Draft card holder agreements across multiple jurisdictions.
- Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements with banks, payment processors, card networks, and vendors.
- Manage relationships with outside counsel on specialized regulatory or jurisdictional issues.
- Assist with responses to regulators and participate in audits, exams, and inquiries.
- Stay ahead of regulatory changes affecting payments, crypto, and fintech; help shape internal strategy and external engagement.
Requirements
- JD from a top-level law program (preference for US-trained lawyers).
- 5–8 years of legal experience focused on payments, fintech, financial services regulation, or related areas.
- Strong understanding of US and EU payments regulations, including state MTLs, the Durbin Amendment, Regulation E, PSD2/PSD3, EMD2, EMI licensing, and card network rules.
- Experience advising on commercial contracts and regulatory issues for fintech or payments companies.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to translate complex regulation into clear business advice.
- Collaborative, business-oriented mindset; comfortable working across multiple teams and time zones.
Nice-to-Haves
- Digital assets/crypto regulatory experience (e.g., VASP regimes, MiCA).
- Prior in-house experience at a fintech, payments company, or financial regulator.
Skills
Payments Regulations, Fintech Regulation, Money Transmission Licenses, Psd2, Psd3, Emd2, Card Network Rules, Commercial Contracts, Regulatory Compliance, Virtual Asset Frameworks, Mica, Vasp
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