Product Counsel, Payments

A Juris Doctor (J.D.) and active membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (CA or NY preferred). 8+ years of combined experience in a top law firm and/or in-house legal department, including at least 3 years advising on payments, fintech, or financial services matters. Deep understanding of payments law and infrastructure, including card network operating rules, money transmission, and merchant acquiring frameworks. Proven experience negotiating commercial and technology agreements with financial institutions, processors, or payment partners. Strong familiarity with U.S. and international regulatory frameworks, including PSD2, e-money, AML, and consumer finance regulations. Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, product-driven environment, providing actionable guidance to non-legal stakeholders. Excellent communication, drafting, and interpersonal skills, with a bias toward clarity and collaboration. A proactive, business-minded approach and comfort with ambiguity. A sense of humor and humility—you take your work seriously, but not yourself.

Provide strategic and practical legal advice to product, engineering, and business teams on the design and rollout of payment products, merchant services, and financial infrastructure. Advise on regulatory and compliance requirements, including U.S. and international payment regulations, money transmission, stored value, AML/BSA, consumer protection, and card network rules. Draft, negotiate, and manage complex commercial agreements with processors, acquiring banks, payment facilitators, and other financial partners. Partner with Compliance, Risk, and Product Operations to develop scalable policies, playbooks, and controls that support compliant and sustainable growth. Support expansion of payment products into new jurisdictions, assessing cross-border licensing and regulatory frameworks. Collaborate with Business Development on strategic financial partnerships and integrations. Stay current on developments in payments, fintech, and digital commerce regulation, and advise leadership on implications for product strategy. Help build the infrastructure for a world-class legal function that scales with Whatnot’s growth.