Legal Counsel - Commercial Agreements

Job Description

Legal Counsel – Commercial Agreements

Location: New York, NY or Austin, TX

A global financial services firm is seeking a Legal Counsel to join its Legal & Compliance team. The role will focus on drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, providing legal guidance across the business, and supporting corporate transactions and legal process improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

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• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including brokerage agreements, terms of business, product agreements, software licenses, and other counterparty agreements.
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• Provide practical legal guidance that balances commercial objectives with legal, regulatory, and business risks.
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• Develop contract templates, negotiation playbooks, and frameworks to improve consistency and efficiency.
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• Support legal operations initiatives involving process automation, knowledge management, and AI-driven solutions.
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• Assist senior legal leadership with corporate and transactional matters, strategic initiatives, and dispute management.
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• Partner with internal stakeholders and business teams on commercial and legal matters.
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Qualifications

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• J.D. and admission to the New York or another state bar.
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• 3–5+ years of relevant experience at a leading law firm or in-house legal department within financial services, fintech, or technology.
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• Experience drafting, structuring, and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
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• Familiarity with financial services counterparties and products, including broker-dealers, prime brokers, trading platforms, exchanges, fintech companies, or banks.
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• Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into practical commercial guidance.
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• Strong drafting, analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
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• Ability to independently manage a high volume of agreements and competing priorities.
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• Comfort working with cross-functional teams across offices and time zones.
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Preferred Experience

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• Digital Assets: Familiarity with blockchain technology, crypto-related products, token classifications, or digital asset regulation.
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• Derivatives: Knowledge of ISDA documentation, options structures, and derivatives regulation.
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• Fintech & Technology: Experience advising technology companies or platforms operating in evolving regulatory environments.
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• Regulatory Engagement: Experience working with or before the SEC, CFTC, or other regulatory agencies.
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• Legal Technology: Interest in contract automation, AI-enabled legal workflows, and process optimization.
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• Markets & Financial Innovation: Interest in digital assets, market structure, and emerging financial technologies.
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