Legal Counsel

About Finfare Financial:

Finfare Financial offers a Next Generation Business Card program that redefines the future of modern finance.  We combine working capital with an enterprise-grade AI/Machine learning solutions suite, empowering businesses to grow faster. Finfare Financial is dedicated to empowering Scaling and Middle Market businesses with market leading 1.5% cashback rebates, 30/60/90 day repayment options, bill payment, expense management integration and a Next Level+ Rewards program that delivers AI/Machine Learning solutions to support business growth.

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Legal Counsel to join our growing team as a key strategic business partner. This individual will provide expert legal guidance and advice to senior leaders across various departments and play a pivotal role in driving the company's legal strategy, product strategy, and regulatory guidance. As the go-to in-house legal counsel, you will collaborate directly with the CEO and other C-suite executives, advising on a broad range of corporate legal issues and ensuring the company’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

The ideal candidate will have strong business communication and business negotiation skills, with expertise in navigating legal commercial fintech/banking challenges common in fintech start-up environments. You will be comfortable managing day-to-day commercial banking business legal matters, from M&A, contracts and negotiations to risk management, intellectual property, and corporate governance. Please note that this a fully on-site role based in Irvine, CA.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary legal advisor to the CEO, senior leadership, and key stakeholders on corporate, commercial, banking, and fintech-related matters.
• Provide practical, strategic legal guidance on contracts, business transactions, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and corporate governance.
• Draft, negotiate, and review a wide range of legal agreements, including commercial contracts, partnership deals, NDAs, employment agreements, control agreements, and escrow agreements.
• Review and interpret corporate organizational documents (e.g., operating agreements, bylaws, resolutions) and provide guidance on matters involving corporate authority, signing authority, and fiduciary roles.
• Conduct legal research and analysis on statutes and regulations relevant to business and consumer deposit accounts, fintech operations, and commercial banking, including (but not limited to) UCC, Regulation E, Regulation D, Regulation CC, and related laws.
• Oversee legal aspects of corporate compliance programs, ensuring adherence to applicable laws and minimizing legal and regulatory risks.
• Advise internal teams on day-to-day legal questions tied to operations, trust and estate matters, court orders, and other banking-related issues.
• Collaborate with external counsel on specialized legal matters as needed.
• Proactively identify and address legal risks associated with fintech growth, such as intellectual property, fundraising, and employment law matters.
• Support internal teams with legal training, updates on regulatory developments, and best practices.
• Assist in investigating and resolving client complaints, including fact-gathering, document review, and assessment of legal exposure.
• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives, partnering with product, compliance, risk, HR, and finance teams to align legal priorities with business objectives.
• Take on additional legal projects or responsibilities as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with a U.S. state bar.
• 5–7+ years of legal experience in fintech, banking, payments, or related financial services—ideally with exposure to both startup and established corporate environments.
• Proven ability to provide strategic legal advice across a wide range of corporate, commercial, and regulatory matters.
• Strong contract drafting, review, and negotiation skills, with experience handling complex commercial agreements and operational documents.
• Deep understanding of financial regulations impacting deposit products, fintech services, and bank operations (e.g., UCC, Regulation E, Regulation D, Regulation CC, ECOA, UDAAP).
• Experience managing legal issues related to corporate governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks.
• Ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical guidance for non-legal stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable working directly with executives and cross-functional teams.
• A proactive, solution-oriented mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving, high-growth environment.
• Collaborative approach with a willingness to roll up your sleeves and take on a wide range of legal work.
• Experience engaging with external counsel on specialized legal matters as needed.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $230K-$250K (depending on experience).

Benefits at Finfare Financial

• Competitive health, vision, and dental benefits (covering 100% premium for employee and all dependent(s))
• 401K (with up to 4% employer matching) 
• Health and wellness reimbursement through Gympass
• Catered lunches 5x times a week
• Work sponsorship (if applicable)
• Other employee perks

 As part of our dedication to the diversity of our workforce, Finfare Financial is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, genetic information or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.