General Counsel (5-Month Fixed-Term Contract)

The Role

Ascenda is seeking an experienced, business-minded lawyer to serve as Interim General Counsel during a parental leave period. This individual will provide strategic legal leadership and hands‑on support across commercial, regulatory, and corporate matters, ensuring continuity of legal operations and alignment with business objectives in a fast‑growing fintech environment.

This is a full‑time, fixed‑term contract covering parental leave from October 2026 through March 2027.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Leadership & Strategic Advisory

• Act as the primary legal advisor to senior leadership on day‑to‑day legal matters and strategic initiatives
• Provide practical, solutions‑oriented guidance balancing legal risk with commercial objectives
• Operate as a hands‑on generalist who can roll up their sleeves and connect the dots across commercial, product, partnerships, finance, and HR teams

Commercial & Transactional Work

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including:
  • MSAs with banks and card issuers
  • Strategic partnership agreements with airlines, loyalty partners, content providers and other complementary partners
  • DPAs, IDTAs and data sharing agreements
• Advise on structuring complex global partnerships and revenue‑generating arrangements
• Review and maintain customer‑facing product terms, participation agreements, and service‑specific terms

Regulatory & Compliance

• Oversee legal and regulatory compliance across relevant jurisdictions (payments, data privacy, loyalty frameworks as applicable)
• Provide guidance on emerging regulatory developments impacting fintech and data‑driven platforms
• Advise on AI governance, including responsible AI policies and contractual restrictions on AI/ML model training using company or client data

Employment & HR

• Support global employment matters, including employment agreements, workplace policies, and workforce actions across multiple jurisdictions

Corporate & Governance

• Support corporate governance matters, including board materials, shareholder agreements, resolutions, and entity management
• Advise on international expansion, entity structuring, and cross‑border considerations
• Engage and manage external counsel on an as‑needed basis for specialized matters, including litigation, dispute resolution, and jurisdiction‑specific regulatory advice

Operational Continuity

• Step into ongoing matters and ensure seamless continuation of legal workflows
• Assess and triage litigation and pre‑litigation matters, including conducting initial investigations and managing responses to counterparty claims
• Identify and prioritize key legal risks and urgent issues during the coverage period
• Maintain and improve legal processes, templates, intake workflows, and playbooks; leverage legal technology tools where appropriate

Who You Are

• JD or equivalent; admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state
• 10+ years of legal experience, including:
  • Prior General Counsel, Deputy GC, or senior in‑house leadership role
  • Strong background in B2B fintech, SaaS, or technology‑driven businesses
  • Demonstrated experience handling complex commercial transactions and global partnerships
• Working knowledge of international data protection frameworks, including GDPR, and experience negotiating DPAs, IDTAs, and cross‑border data sharing agreements
  • Familiarity with APAC regulatory environments, particularly Singapore (PDPA) and Australia (Privacy Act, APRA prudential standards); UK exposure is a plus
  • Experience with data privacy programs, including GDPR, CCPA, and PDPA compliance; CIPP/US or CIPP/E certification preferred
  • Comfortable managing workflows and stakeholder communications across multiple time zones (US, APAC, EU)
• Proven ability to operate independently in a lean, fast‑paced environment
• Strong executive presence with the ability to advise senior stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in loyalty, rewards, or points‑based ecosystems
• Familiarity with financial services regulatory standards (e.g., APRA CPS 230/234, PCI DSS)
• Experience advising on AI/data governance for product launches

The salary range for this position is between $196,000 to $264,000 per year, depending on experience and location.

Diversity & Inclusion

Ascenda is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, welcoming candidates from all backgrounds.