Lead Legal Counsel, Lending Partnerships

Requirements

• Minimum Requirements:
• 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; and
• An exceptionally high bar for your own work product and a desire to work with teammates who operate at a similarly high standard.
• Preferred Requirements:
• 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 collab

Additional Information

About Upstart At Upstart, we're united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence. As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that's both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 1,800 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress. We're proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn't mean distant. We're intentional about in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you'll have the support to work in the way that works best for you. If you're energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we'd love to hear from you. The Team As a Lead Legal Counsel, Lending Partnerships at Upstart, you'll be joining a close-knit, collaborative team of attorneys who work in a fast-paced innovative environment. You will act as a key point person for our Lending Partnerships business, while also handling a broad range of commercial, business development, and transactional legal matters across the entire organization. This position is unique because it offers exposure to new legal issues and the opportunity to work on diverse tasks such as contract drafting and negotiation and a number of projects that will arise as we continue to scale. Experience drafting and negotiating complex B2B SaaS agreements is required. Experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements involving financial services and/or technology licenses in a heavily regulated environment is a big plus. If you have the confidence, creativity, and flexibility to tackle ambiguity and craft innovative legal arrangements with a bias towards action, this could be the right opportunity for you. How you'll make an impact: 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.

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