REMOTE Legal Counsel

At Cleo, we're not just building another fintech app. We're embarking on a mission to fundamentally change humanity's relationship with money. Imagine a world where everyone, regardless of background or income, has access to a hyper-intelligent financial advisor in their pocket. We have an exceptionally high bar for talent, seeking individuals who are not only at the top of their field but also embody our culture of collaboration and positive impact.

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We're hiring a Legal Counsel to join Cleo's Legal, Compliance & Policy team in the US. This is a high-impact role for a commercially minded lawyer who can operate as a true generalist across product counseling, regulatory analysis, public policy support, litigation management, and commercial contracting.

As one of the early legal hires at Cleo, you'll have the opportunity to help build the legal framework for a fast-growing, AI-powered fintech. You'll work closely with product, compliance, policy, operations, and business teams to advise on laws impacting consumer credit products, assess emerging regulatory and legislative developments, and help the business navigate legal risk in a practical, solutions-oriented way.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, wants meaningful ownership, and is excited by the chance to help shape the legal function at a scaling company. You'll be the kind of lawyer who can move from advising on new credit products, to assessing proposed legislation, to managing outside counsel on litigation matters, to reviewing vendor agreements - all while partnering cross-functionally to help Cleo grow responsibly.

Advise on consumer credit products and regulatory issues

Provide practical legal and regulatory advice to product squads and business stakeholders developing and scaling consumer credit products, and other adjacent offerings. Help identify legal risks, interpret applicable laws, and support compliant product development.

Manage litigation and arbitration matters

Support litigation, arbitration, and dispute-related matters by managing outside counsel, coordinating internal responses, and serving as a key interface between legal counsel and business teams. Help oversee document requests, gather relevant information, and ensure matters are handled efficiently and strategically.

Review and negotiate commercial agreements

Review, draft, and advise on vendor agreements, NDAs, and other commercial contracts. Work closely with Legal, Compliance, Product, Policy, Operations, and other teams to provide timely, pragmatic legal advice that balances risk mitigation with business objectives. Help bring structure and clarity to complex and evolving legal questions.

Help build the legal function

Contribute to the growth of Cleo's legal program as an early team member, helping establish scalable processes, guidance, templates, and frameworks that enable the company to move quickly and responsibly.

5-7 years of legal experience practicing law, with a strong background in financial services, consumer financial regulation, or fintech.

• Juris Doctor (JD) and active admission to at least one US state bar, with the ability to practice law in the role.
• Experience advising on consumer credit products and related legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong experience providing legal guidance to business teams on new products, regulatory change, and evolving legal requirements.
• Familiarity with legal and regulatory issues relevant to products such as credit card products, installment loans, or similar consumer finance offerings.
• Experience reviewing, drafting, and advising on vendor agreements, NDAs, and other commercial contracts.
• Experience managing outside counsel and supporting litigation, arbitration, investigations, or other dispute-related matters.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex legal analysis into clear, practical guidance for cross-functional stakeholders.
• A pragmatic, business-oriented approach to legal counseling with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.

Experience advising on legal issues related to AI, emerging technology, or automated decisioning.

Familiarity with public policy, legislative analysis, or supporting advocacy and policy strategy in regulated industries.

Prior law firm experience in consumer financial services or a combination of law firm and in-house experience.

Broad-based legal experience across regulatory, product, litigation, and commercial work, rather than a narrow specialization in just one area.

A competitive compensation package (base + equity) with bi-annual reviews, aligned to our quarterly OKR planning cycles .

Work at one of the fastest-growing tech startups, backed by top VC firms, Balderton & EQT Ventures

We can't fight for the world's financial health if we're not healthy ourselves. Our US team works fully remotely, but we host virtual socials and an annual company offsite in Europe with all expenses paid.

Company-wide performance reviews every 6 months

• Equity top-ups for team members getting promoted
• 15 days annual leave a year + 5 additional floating flexible days per year + public holidays (+ an additional day for every year you spend at Cleo)
• Medical Insurance, Dental and Vision care
• Regular socials and activities, online and in-person
• Online mental health support via Spill
• We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

By submitting this application, I confirm that all the information given by me in this application for employment and any additional documents attached hereto are true to the best of my knowledge and that I have not wilfully suppressed any material fact. I accept that if any of the information given by me in this application is in any way false or incorrect, my application may be rejected, any offer of employment may be withdrawn or my employment with Cleo AI may be terminated summarily or I may be dismissed. By submitting this application, I agree that my personal data will be processed in accordance with Cleo AI's Candidate Privacy Notice