Legal Counsel (UK / EU / Fintech)

YouLend is the preferred global embedded financing platform for many of the world’s leading e-commerce sites, tech companies and payment services providers such as Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Stripe, Deliveroo and Etsy. Our software platform and APIs enable our partners to offer flexible financing products, in their desired branding, to their SME merchant base. With YouLend's AI-driven credit risk assessment solutions, more merchants and SMEs than ever can receive fast, flexible and affordable funding. We operate in 9+ geographies across the UK, EU and US.

We believe that the future of financial services will be delivered by customer-oriented tech companies that embed financing in their customer journeys, and we are building the solutions that will power that future.

We are seeking a top-performing, smart and motivated individual to join our legal team in London. You will work with the legal team and the wider company to deliver growth against ambitious targets (>doubling each year) and support YouLend’s business in the UK, Europe and US.

If you are a qualified attorney, have 3-5 years of PQE with experience in debt capital markets, financing, M&A, financial regulatory and/or fintech practices at a top law firm in the UK (or another Commonwealth jurisdiction) or EU, and are looking for an opportunity to leverage your experience in an in-house setting while expanding the breadth of your practice, this could be a great opportunity for you.

The role will require you to manage our existing and new capital mandates, but is also highly varied and will require you to advise our business across a wide range of practice areas (including product, tech, commercial negotiation, regulatory, and capital markets) and geographies.

You will be:

• Collaborating with the capital markets team to manage and negotiate complex financings such as term facilities, revolving credit facilities, forward-flow financings and securitisations.
• Supporting the commercial team in negotiating major partnerships for YouLend, and drafting / updating bespoke partnership agreements.
• Working cross-functionally with all arms of the business (including commercial, product, tech, sales, etc.) to provide pragmatic and business-minded legal advice.
• Structuring and refreshing our product offerings and partnership models to navigate the dynamic fintech regulatory landscape.
• Conducting ongoing review and updating our merchant financing agreements in light of market / regulatory / partner-specific developments.
• Driving development of innovative financing products to serve our SME customer base.
• Supporting the product team on YouLend’s existing products and the development of new products.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating various contracts and other legal documents.

You have:

• 3-5 years of professional experience as a transactional lawyer (corporate, M&A, financing, fintech and/or capital markets practice) from a top law firm.
• A keen interest in fintech and YouLend’s SME financing products.
• Desire to work across multiple jurisdictions.
• Knowledge and understanding of financing products, commercial transactions and corporate law.
• Exposure to a broad range of commercial and technology law issues and experience across a range of commercial contracts.
• Experience managing communications with non-legal stakeholders and delivering legal advice in a practical manner.
• Desire to broaden your practice and a willingness to learn.
• A fast, self-driven learner who can gain rapid familiarity with complex products, solutions and legal frameworks and maintain knowledge of those changing products, solutions and legal frameworks.
• Solution-oriented with excellent time management, planning and organisational skills.

The following would be useful:

• Prior fintech (in-house or otherwise) experience.
• Experience with financing, banking and/or debt capital markets practice.
• Fluency in German or French.
• Working on cross-border transactions with international, multicultural teams.
• Experience in working with other jurisdictions in addition to the UK (e.g. the EU and US).

Why join YouLend?

• Award-Winning Team: Won "In-House Banking & Financial Services Team of the Year" at The Lawyer Awards 2024, showcasing our commitment to excellence and industry leadership.
• Award-Winning Workplace: YouLend has been recognised as one of the “Best Places to Work 2024” by the Sunday Times for being a supportive, diverse, and rewarding workplace.
• Award-Winning Fintech: YouLend has been recognised as a “Top 250 Fintech Worldwide” company by CNBC.

We offer comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Stock Options
• Private Medical insurance via Vitality
• EAP with Health Assured
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Modern and sophisticated office space in Central London
• Free Gym in office building in Holborn
• Subsidised Lunch via Feedr
• Deliveroo Allowance if working late in office
• Monthly in-office Masseuse
• Team and Company Socials
• Football Power League / Squash Club

At YouLend, we champion diversity and embrace equal opportunity employment practices. Our hiring, transfer, and promotion decisions are exclusively based on qualifications, merit, and business requirements, free from any discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, nationality, or any other protected basis under applicable law.