Head of Legal
Fintech / Payments Infrastructure
Location: London or Amsterdam
Employment Type: Full time
The Opportunity
RI Talent is partnering with a high-growth fintech infrastructure business operating within payments, regulation, and global commerce.
We are seeking a Head of Legal to take ownership of legal and regulatory matters as the business scales internationally. This is a senior, hands-on role for an experienced in-house lawyer who wants to build and own a legal function rather than manage a mature or heavily resourced department.
The successful candidate will work closely with the CEO and leadership team and will play a critical role in shaping how the business operates in regulated markets.
The Role
This role sits at the centre of the business, covering commercial, regulatory, compliance, and corporate matters. You will be responsible for both execution and judgement — drafting, negotiating, and designing legal and compliance frameworks that support growth.
The role is particularly suited to lawyers currently working within payments companies or regulated fintechs who are looking for greater ownership, influence, and scope.
Key Responsibilities Commercial & Contracts
- Own and manage all commercial agreements including enterprise customer contracts, partnerships, and vendor arrangements
- Draft and negotiate contracts directly
- Build scalable contract templates and negotiation playbooks
- Support revenue-critical transactions where legal input is a core part of the sales process
Payments Regulation
- Own regulatory posture across payments frameworks (e.g. EMI, PSD2 and equivalent regimes)
- Advise on scheme rules (Visa / Mastercard) and operational compliance
- Support regulatory requirements linked to international expansion
- Manage and coordinate external counsel across multiple jurisdictions
AML & Compliance
- Design, implement, and own the AML and compliance programme
- Develop KYC / KYB processes that balance risk and commercial efficiency
- Prepare for regulatory audits, reviews, and examinations
Corporate & Governance
- Lead legal input on fundraising, term sheets, and investment documentation
- Own corporate governance and group structure as the business scales
- Support board processes, investor relations, and equity matters
International Expansion
- Assess legal and regulatory considerations for new market entry
- Advise on licensing strategy, entity structuring, and local compliance
- Build and manage a trusted external legal network globally
Ideal Candidate Profile
- Qualified lawyer with strong in-house experience in fintech or payments
- Background within regulated environments (EMI / payments frameworks)
- Strong commercial contracting experience in B2B or enterprise settings
- Hands-on experience designing or owning AML / compliance programmes
- Exposure to fundraising and corporate governance
Relevant employer backgrounds may include:
Adyen, Stripe, Checkout.com, Revolut, Wise, Nuvei, or similar payments / fintech platforms
Key Attributes
- Commercial, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented
- Comfortable drafting, negotiating, and making judgement calls
- Confident operating in ambiguous and fast-moving environments
- Strong communication skills and stakeholder management
- Desire to own more than “legal only”, with exposure to regulatory and commercial strategy
What’s on Offer
- Senior-level role with real ownership and influence
- Direct access to the CEO and leadership team
- Competitive compensation package (salary, bonus, equity)
- Opportunity to shape the legal and regulatory foundation of a scaling fintech
- Long-term progression into broader compliance and regulatory leadership
Why This Role
This is not a traditional in-house legal position. It is an opportunity to build legal infrastructure at the core of a regulated fintech, influence commercial outcomes, and play a meaningful role in international growth.
Contact
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
RI Talent
�� Applications and enquiries handled discreetly
