Commercial Counsel (Product)

📋 Description

• • Join Column, a pioneering bank and software company, at the forefront of transforming financial services. We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Commercial Counsel (Product) to become an integral part of our expanding in-house legal team. This role is crucial for establishing the legal framework that underpins our most significant commercial and strategic partnerships, enabling innovation and growth in the fintech space.
• • At Column, we are fundamentally re-architecting the banking infrastructure for companies building financial technology. The traditional banking supply chain is notoriously complex, often involving numerous intermediaries such as BaaS middleware providers, banks, core processors, and regulatory bodies. This complexity creates significant bottlenecks for innovation and growth. Our mission is to simplify this by offering technology-forward banking solutions that cut through the layers of vendors and abstraction, creating a safer, more transparent, and cost-effective ecosystem for builders and developers.
• • As a Commercial Counsel (Product), you will not be confined to routine contract review. Instead, you will be instrumental in architecting novel partnership structures that facilitate cutting-edge banking experiences. This will involve navigating a landscape of intricate regulatory requirements and collaborating closely with our Sales & Partnerships, Risk, and Compliance teams. Your work will directly influence how we structure our deals, serve our diverse customer base, and ensure the safe and scalable expansion of our platform.
• • This is a unique opportunity for a legal professional who possesses a "builder's mindset" and is eager to apply their legal acumen to solve real-world challenges in financial services. If you are passionate about making a tangible impact on how financial services are delivered at scale, this role offers an exciting and rewarding career path.
• • Key responsibilities will encompass owning complex agreements from inception to completion. This includes the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of a wide array of agreements. These will cover critical customer and vendor relationships, as well as third-party partnerships, all pertaining to our comprehensive suite of banking products and services.
• • You will be directly involved in agreements related to payments and money movement services, ensuring compliance and efficiency. Furthermore, you will handle banking partnerships, including those for deposit accounts, card programs, and lending initiatives, requiring a deep understanding of both commercial terms and regulatory considerations.
• • A significant aspect of this role involves building and managing scalable legal playbooks and templates. This proactive approach will ensure consistency, quality, and speed in our contracting processes. You will develop and maintain a robust inventory of contracts, terms of service, notices, and disclosures for the Bank's products, services, and distribution channels, enabling rapid deployment without compromising legal integrity or risk management.
• • You will lead high-stakes negotiations with a diverse clientele, ranging from rapidly growing fintech startups to established enterprise clients. This requires a delicate balance between advancing commercial objectives and adhering to stringent regulatory mandates, ensuring that all agreements are both commercially viable and legally sound.
• • Cultivating strong cross-functional partnerships is essential. You will work hand-in-hand with our Sales and Business Development teams to gain a thorough understanding of the Bank's strategic goals, overarching strategy, and risk tolerance for each prospective deal. This collaborative approach will enable the development of efficient, risk-mitigated contracting strategies that align with Column's business objectives.
• • As a key member of our growing Legal team, you will contribute to expanding legal expertise into new and evolving areas. This includes supporting novel research initiatives, providing product and regulatory advice, managing regulatory examinations, responding to subpoenas, handling litigation deliverables, and contributing to corporate governance materials. Your role will be pivotal in supporting the team's collective growth and expertise.
• • You will play a vital role in elevating the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Legal department. By serving as a strategic thought partner to both the business and legal functions, you will drive improvements in bank agreements, policies, and overall legal processes, directly contributing to Column's sustained growth and success.
• • This role requires a proactive, detail-oriented, and strategic legal professional who thrives in a fast-paced, innovative environment. You will be empowered to shape legal strategies and contribute to the foundational elements of a rapidly scaling financial technology company.