Deputy General Counsel

Requirements

• Experience: 12+ years of experience in a top‑tier law firm or a high‑growth fintech/tech company. Previous experience in a Deputy GC or Lead Counsel role is highly preferred.
• Expertise in Fintech: Deep understanding of credit products, payment regulations, and the legal nuances of scaling financial services globally.
• Corporate Finance Knowledge: Proven track record in dealing with credit facilities, debt financing, or venture‑backed equity structures.
• People Operations Savvy: Familiarity with international employment law and the legal mechanics of compensation/bonus schemes.
• Problem Solver Mindset: Ability to provide commercial, "can‑do" legal advice in a fast‑paced environment where there is often no established precedent.
• Communication: Exceptional drafting skills and the ability to explain complex legal risks to non‑legal stakeholders in simple terms.
• Academic: Law degree from a reputable university and professional admission/license to practice in a European or UK jurisdiction is a plus but not a requirement.
• A commercially minded legal leader: who enjoys operating close to the business and balancing risk with growth.
• Comfortable in ambiguity: and energised by building in environments where not everything is fully defined yet.
• Trusted advisor to senior stakeholders: able to influence and challenge when needed, and confident partnering with founders, executives, and cross‑functional leaders.
• Hands‑on and pragmatic: with the judgment to prioritise effectively across a broad and evolving legal remit.
• A strong communicator: able to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical guidance for non‑legal teams.
• Mission‑aligned, motivated: by LemFi’s purpose and excited to help scale a business that delivers real‑world impact for the global diaspora.

What the job involves

As the Deputy General Counsel, you will serve as the "Second in Command" for our Legal and People Department. Reporting directly to the Chief Legal and People Officer, you will play a critical role in scaling our legal infrastructure during a period of rapid global expansion. This is a high‑impact, versatile leadership role where you will balance strategic advisory with hands‑on execution across credit financing, equity, employment, and product innovation. You will be a key partner to the CLPO, stepping in to lead the department in her absence and handling a broad portfolio of high‑stakes legal work.

• Credit Facilities & Financing: Lead the legal structuring, negotiation, and maintenance of credit facilities. You will partner with the Finance team to secure the capital necessary to fuel our "Send Now, Pay Later" and other credit‑based product lines.
• Equity & Options Management: Oversee the legal administration of our Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOP). You will manage the legal aspects of grants, vestings, and exercises, ensuring compliance with local regulations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Employment & Bonuses: In partnership with the People team, you will provide legal oversight for our global workforce. This includes drafting employment contracts, managing complex international labour law issues, and designing/validating bonus and incentive structures.
• New Product Launches: Act as the legal architect for new product releases. You will work alongside Product and Engineering teams to ensure that new features (from savings accounts to credit tools) are legally compliant, risk‑mitigated, and supported by robust Terms of Service.
• Leadership & Ad Hoc Support: Act as a right hand to the Chief Legal and People Officer. You will tackle a variety of ad‑hoc projects—ranging from corporate governance and M&A activity to regulatory responses—and help manage the wider legal team.
• Global Compliance: Ensure LemFi remains ahead of the curve in a complex regulatory environment (FCA, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, etc.), particularly as we enter new markets in Europe and beyond.