General Counsel - Legal & Compliance

Location: On-site, Virginia, US

Role Overview

As the General Counsel ( Legal & Compliance), you will lead the company’s global legal and compliance function. You will be responsible for managing all legal affairs, overseeing regulatory compliance, developing policies, and guiding the executive team on strategic matters. This is a senior leadership role that combines legal expertise, compliance oversight, and team management to ensure the company operates with minimal risk while enabling business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and manage the Legal & Compliance Department, including recruitment, training, and performance management of team members.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO, Board, and leadership team on legal, regulatory, and risk matters.
• Develop and implement the company’s global legal and compliance strategy aligned with business objectives.

Legal

• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including SaaS contracts, MSAs, data processing agreements, reseller/partner agreements, and NDAs.
• Provide guidance on corporate governance, IP protection, M&A, investment, and employment law.
• Oversee litigation, dispute resolution, and regulatory investigations where applicable.
• Manage relationships with external counsel across jurisdictions.

Compliance

• Design, implement, and oversee compliance frameworks covering AML, GDPR, data protection, and sector-specific regulations.
• Monitor regulatory developments across regions (EU, US, MENA, APAC) and ensure business processes remain compliant.
• Lead compliance audits, internal investigations, and regulatory reporting.
• Establish internal policies, training programs, and risk controls for staff across all departments.

Risk & Governance

• Build systems to identify, monitor, and mitigate legal, compliance, and reputational risks.
• Own key metrics for regulatory adherence, audit outcomes, and compliance reporting.
• Ensure strong contract management systems and efficient approval processes. 

Requirements

• Law degree (LLB or equivalent) with bar admission / license to practice law.
• 5+ years of progressive legal experience.
• Demonstrated experience in managing both legal and compliance functions within a SaaS, fintech, or RegTech company (or related technology/regulated sector).
• Strong expertise in commercial contracts, data protection, corporate law, and compliance frameworks.
• Proven track record of leading legal & compliance teams in multi-jurisdictional environments.
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to balance commercial needs with legal and compliance risks.

Preferred Skills

• Prior experience in RegTech / fintech / SaaS industry.
• Familiarity with global compliance standards (GDPR, OFAC, AMLD, FCA, SEC, MAS, etc.).
• Strong background in risk management frameworks and board-level governance.
• Experience in scaling legal & compliance teams within fast-growth companies.