Senior Legal Counsel (US)

We’re hiring a US-qualified Senior Legal Counsel in our London HQ to support YouLend’s rapidly scaling US business—offering a unique chance to work on a high-growth, startup-like trajectory, backed by the infrastructure and reach of a global fintech.

About YouLend

YouLend is a leading embedded financing platform enabling companies like Stripe, Etsy, GoDaddy and Grubhub to offer flexible funding to their SME customers. Our technology and APIs power seamless, fast financing at scale.

Operating across 9+ markets in the US, UK and EU, we’re continuing to scale quickly, especially in the US—doubling year-on-year—and redefining how financing is delivered.

Why this role?
You’ll sit at the centre of our fast-growing US business, working on complex, high-impact matters across commercial, product, regulatory and corporate law. It’s a rare opportunity to combine the ownership and development opportunities of a startup with the backing of an established, global platform.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead negotiations on major US partnerships with global e-commerce platforms and payment service providers
• Draft and manage complex commercial and partnership agreements
• Partner with product, tech, sales and commercial teams to deliver pragmatic legal advice
• Navigate US fintech regulatory landscape and help shape scalable product structures
• Support new product launches and evolve our SME financing offerings
• Oversee US corporate governance and structuring

What we’re looking for

• US-qualified lawyer (NY or CA preferred) with at least 5 years of post-qualification experience (corporate, M&A, financing, fintech or regulatory) at a top law firm
• Strong commercial instinct and interest in fintech / embedded finance
• Experience with complex transactions and cross-functional work
• Adaptable, fast-learning and comfortable in a high-growth environment

Nice to have

• In addition to private practice experience, fintech or other in-house experience is strongly preferred
• US financial regulatory experience (especially SME financing)
• Cross-border transactional experience

Why YouLend:

• Award-winning legal team: Won "In-House Banking & Financial Services Team of the Year" at The Lawyer Awards 2024. Shortlisted at the British Legal Awards 2024 hosted by Law.com International for In-House Legal Team of the Year and General Counsel of the Year.
• 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” 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.