Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Upstart is a leading AI lending marketplace focused on reducing the cost and complexity of borrowing for Americans. The Lead Legal Counsel, Lending Partnerships will provide legal and strategic advice, draft and negotiate various commercial agreements, and collaborate with internal teams to support business growth.
Responsibilities
- Build a deep understanding of our Lending Partnerships (LP) business and collaborate effectively with internal clients to understand and support their goals
- Act as a key member of our LP commercial team to provide legal and strategic advice to assess and mitigate legal risks while driving business growth
- Review, draft, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements, including purchase agreements, loan sale agreements, servicing agreements, master services agreements, software licenses, SOWs, and other agreements
- Engage with numerous internal stakeholders to escalate and resolve issues quickly and efficiently during negotiations; and
- Develop processes and templates for commercial transactions to support and drive rapidly growing business
Skills
- J.D. degree with solid academic credentials and a state bar membership (NY or CA preferred)
- 7+ years of experience at a law firm in a transactional practice area (ideally technology transactions, capital markets, or similar) or some combination of in-house/law firm experience with a focus on transactional/commercial matters
- Demonstrated ability to act as legal point during intense/complex negotiations and to work effectively with sales leadership to manage expectations and goals
- Experience reviewing, drafting and negotiating complex B2B SaaS agreements, preferably in a regulated environment or while licensing into a regulated environment
- Not just an issue‑spotter but an issue‑solver, with a “can‑do” mindset, a habit of moving quickly, and ownership to drive matters from start to finish
- An exceptionally high bar for your own work product and a desire to work with teammates who operate at a similarly high standard
- 10+ years of experience, ideally with prior in‑house roles on high‑impact legal teams at a fintech, financial services, or technology company; start‑up or high‑growth company experience is a plus
- Experience leading and closing complex commercial negotiations (for example, high value purchase agreements or strategic partnership deals)
- Genuine curiosity about how Upstart's business works and a desire to jump in cross‑functionally to help teams solve problems, even when the work sits outside traditional legal lanes
- Over time, a desire to mentor and collaborate with other members of the legal team, and to help build efficient, scalable processes as we grow and evolve
- Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to translate complex legal and risk concepts into clear, actionable guidance for non‑lawyers
- Eagerness to dive into new products, AI and data issues, and unfamiliar areas of law with a solutions‑oriented, low‑ego mindset
- Entrepreneurial drive that sees ambiguity as opportunity, and obstacles as chances to build new solutions
- A strong sense of ownership, enthusiasm for technology, enjoyment in being continually challenged, and the ability to demonstrate strong judgment in ambiguous situations
Benefits
- Target bonuses
- Equity compensation
- Generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k)
- Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
- Retirement benefits to help you plan for the future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada)
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only)
- Comprehensive health coverage designed to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for US and supplemental health coverage for Canada.
- Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans (US only)
- Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security
- Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, in line with local requirements
- Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments (duration varies by country)
- Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources
- Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service (US Only)
- Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you
- Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from
- Connection and community through team events, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
- Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!)
Company Overview