Lead Legal Counsel, Lending Partnerships

Upstart

Lead Legal Counsel for Lending Partnerships at Upstart, driving legal and strategic advice with focus on B2B SaaS agreements.

Posted 6/3/2026full-timeRemote • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $179,900 - $249,100 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & 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.

Requirements

What you’ll need

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

Comp & perks

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!)

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

J.D. degreetransactional practicecommercial agreementsB2B SaaS agreementsnegotiationlegal risk assessmentcontract draftingissue resolutionprocess developmentlegal advice

Soft Skills

strong communicationproblem-solvingownershipcollaborationmentorshipentrepreneurial drivecuriosityhigh standardsadaptabilityjudgment

Certifications

state bar membership