General Counsel

The Role

We seek an experienced and business-minded General Counsel to join our team to lead our legal, regulatory, privacy, and policy functions.

Responsibilities

• Build, scale, and oversee Step’s legal, regulatory, privacy, and product compliance functions. You will work closely with Step’s leadership on business strategy, corporate governance, and navigating complex legal challenges in the fintech space.
• Operate as one of our primary product architects. You will work with the product and engineering teams to help build next-gen financial solutions that seek to improve the lives of many, helping drive and push for innovative and creative solutions on one hand while ensuring that the products are compliant with applicable laws and regulations on the other hand.
• Be one of the closest advisors and confidants to Step’s executive team. Proactively provide business-forward advice and ensure the company operates at the highest level of legal and regulatory compliance in all aspects of the business.
• Be the authority on all applicable financial, banking, investing, consumer-protection, and marketing regulations. Serve as the north pole to the company in both educating our team members on legal and regulatory trends as well as implementing whatever is necessary to ensure compliance.
• As Corporate Secretary, manage functions around Step’s equity program, corporate governance (maintain corporate policies, bylaws, governance documents), and board meetings (resolutions and minute keeping).
• Ensure Step’s legal and business interests are protected in all commercial transactions.
• Liaise with Step’s external banking partners to ensure smooth product execution and spearheading approvals of product changes and marketing initiatives.
• Function as the Chief Compliance Officer of Step’s investment advisory subsidiary.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and a member of good standing in a state bar, preferably California.
• 10+ years of experience at one or more law firms and corporate legal departments. Strong preference for candidates with significant prior experience at a fast-paced fintech company (at a leadership level, either as a general counsel or a deputy general counsel managing a significant legal function).
• Mastery of relevant financial and marketing regulations, including Reg B, Reg E, Reg Z, UDAP, UDAAP, SEC Advisers Act, Bank Secrecy Act (KYC/AML).
• Experience and familiarity with all relevant privacy regulations, especially COPPA, CPPA, CPRA, and all upcoming and evolving regulations in the space (such as the California Age Appropriate Design Code Act).
• Familiarity with representing the interests of a company in legislative and judicial settings as well as in front of regulatory agencies.
• Working knowledge of corporate legal functions such as employment, IP (patents, trademarks, open source, copyrights, trade secrets), immigration, and contracts management.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking with a proactive approach to legal issues.
• Business acumen and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and quickly adapt to changes.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

This role is available remotely within the U.S. or in our Palo Alto, CA office.