Head of Legal

Head of Legal

Department: Legal ( US)

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Atlanta

Description

We’re hiring a Head of Legal to lead the legal function for YouLend’s rapidly scaling US business, based in our Atlanta office.

This is a senior leadership opportunity to take ownership of the US legal strategy at a pivotal stage of growth, combining the pace, autonomy and entrepreneurial environment of a high-growth fintech with the infrastructure, resources and reach of an established global business.

As Head of Legal you will be the senior legal adviser to our US leadership team, taking responsibility for the full range of legal matters associated with scaling our US operations. From negotiating major strategic partnerships and shaping innovative financing products to advising on regulatory frameworks, capital markets, corporate governance and complex commercial transactions, you will play a central role in enabling YouLend’s continued expansion.

This is not a narrow advisory role. We’re looking for a commercially minded legal leader who can operate strategically while remaining hands‑on, exercise independent judgment and build scalable legal solutions that support ambitious business growth.

You will have significant autonomy, direct exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to shape the future of YouLend’s US business. You will work closely with our established global Legal team, benefiting from strong international infrastructure, collaborative expertise and external counsel support where needed.

Key Responsibilities

US Legal Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the legal function for YouLend’s US business, taking ownership of US legal strategy, priorities and delivery.
• Act as the principal legal adviser to the US leadership team and a trusted strategic partner to senior stakeholders across the wider group.
• Provide commercially focused legal guidance on strategic initiatives, business expansion, risk management and operational decision‑making.
• Identify, assess and manage legal risks while enabling the business to execute efficiently and at pace.
• Develop and implement scalable legal processes, governance frameworks, templates and playbooks to support continued US growth.
• Manage and develop US legal resources, including supervising Legal team members and overseeing external counsel relationships and budgets.

Commercial Partnerships & Transactions

• Lead legal negotiations for major US commercial and strategic partnerships, including with global e-commerce platforms, payment service providers and other key partners.
• Structure, draft and negotiate complex commercial, financing and partnership agreements.
• Advise on significant US transactions and strategic initiatives, including capital markets activities, restructurings, non‑performing assets and corporate structuring.
• Work closely with commercial, finance, product, technology and operations teams to structure and execute commercially important transactions.
• Take ownership of complex negotiations, balancing legal protection with commercial objectives.

Product, Financing & Regulatory

• Lead legal advice on the development, structuring and expansion of YouLend’s US embedded financing products.
• Partner with product and commercial leadership to support new product launches, market expansion and the evolution of YouLend’s US financing offering.
• Advise on US financial services regulation, including federal and state‑level requirements relevant to SME financing, payments and embedded finance.
• Provide strategic legal guidance on bank partnership structures, financing arrangements and associated regulatory considerations.
• Work with relevant internal teams and external advisers to assess regulatory developments and their implications for YouLend’s US business.
• Support the development of legally robust, commercially scalable operating and financing structures.

Corporate Governance & Risk Management

• Oversee US corporate legal matters, including entity governance, group structuring and relevant corporate transactions.
• Advise senior leadership on material legal, regulatory and contractual risks.
• Support the management of disputes, contentious matters and other significant legal issues as required.
• Ensure appropriate legal oversight and governance arrangements are in place as the US business continues to scale.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Required

• US-qualified lawyer, with admission to at least one US state bar (New York, California or Georgia preferred).
• Ideally 8–12+ years of relevant legal experience , including substantial experience gained at a leading law firm and/or in a senior in‑house legal role.
• Strong background in one or more of corporate transactions, financing, financial services, fintech, commercial partnerships or financial regulation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex legal matters, manage high‑value negotiations and advise senior business stakeholders.
• Excellent commercial judgment, with the ability to balance legal and regulatory risk against business objectives.
• Comfortable operating as the senior legal lead for a fast‑growing US business, with the confidence to make decisions and take ownership of outcomes.
• Strong understanding of the legal and regulatory considerations associated with operating and scaling a US financial services or technology business.
• Ability to work strategically while remaining hands‑on across a broad range of legal matters.
• Exceptional drafting, negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proactive, solutions‑oriented approach and the ability to thrive in a fast‑moving, entrepreneurial environment.
• Genuine interest in fintech, embedded finance and SME financing.

Nice to have

• Previous experience as a Head of Legal, Deputy General Counsel, senior in‑house counsel or equivalent legal leader within a fintech, financial services, payments or technology business.
• Experience with US commercial financing, merchant cash advances, revenue‑based financing or other alternative SME financing structures.
• Knowledge of US federal and state financial services regulation, bank partnership models and embedded finance.
• Experience advising on capital markets, structured finance, warehouse facilities or other funding arrangements.
• Cross‑border transactional experience and experience working within an international legal function.
• Experience building or scaling a legal function, managing external counsel and developing legal team members.

Benefits

• Award‑Winning Workplace: YouLend has been recognised as one of the Sunday Times' Best Places to Work in 2024, 2025 and 2026, reflecting our commitment to a supportive, diverse and rewarding workplace.
• Award‑Winning Fintech: YouLend has been recognised by CNBC as one of the world's Top 250 Fintech Companies.

• We've developed powerful solutions, secured significant partnerships and are scaling rapidly across our markets.
• The global opportunity remains substantial, and our US business is at an exciting stage of expansion.
• As Head of Legal, you'll have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the business, shape its legal strategy and help build the foundations for its next phase of growth.

• A high‑growth business with meaningful opportunities for career development and long‑term reward through compensation, bonuses and potential share option appreciation.
• Well‑capitalised with supportive private equity backing.
• Part of Banking Circle Group, which includes a fully licensed Luxembourg bank, providing strong financial infrastructure and supporting international expansion.
• A senior leadership role with significant ownership, autonomy and exposure to business‑critical decisions.

• A high‑quality, ambitious team that challenges and supports one another through direct feedback and aligned incentives.
• A strong, transparent and collaborative culture where we have each other's backs.
• An independent working environment where ownership, accountability and results matter.
• A data‑driven culture with an emphasis on speed, practical decision‑making and minimal bureaucracy.

• Healthcare Coverage: YouLend covers 80% of health insurance premiums, with employees contributing 20%.
• Medical Insurance: Choice of five medical plans through UnitedHealthcare, including prescription drug coverage.
• Dental and Vision: Dental and vision insurance coverage.
• Dependent Coverage: Options for employee-only, employee and spouse, employee and child, or family coverage.
• Retirement: 401(k) employer match of $1 for every $1 contributed, up to 5% of salary.
• Life Insurance: Basic Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
• Travel Insurance: International travel insurance for work‑related travel.
• Paid Time Off: 20 working days (four weeks) of PTO plus US public holidays.
• Office Parking: Paid office parking.

YouLend is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect and has the opportunity to succeed.

We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

If you require a reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to support your needs.