Counsel, Product & Regulatory - Payments & AML

About the role

In 1905, chief engineer John Stevens inherited one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in history: the Panama Canal. The challenge wasn’t digging a ditch between two oceans. It was figuring out how to move ships safely through a system of locks, gates, reservoirs, and changing conditions without bringing global commerce to a halt. The solution wasn’t to stop movement. It was to create a framework that allowed movement at scale.

The Modern financial infrastructure presents a similar challenge. Payment systems, banking products, compliance obligations, and regulatory frameworks all exist for a reason. The goal isn’t to eliminate complexity. It’s to build systems that allow innovation, growth, and customer value within it.

Responsibilities

• Advise on payments products and infrastructure. You’ll support a broad portfolio of payments-related initiatives across Mercury. You’ll advise on matters involving payment rails, product launches, operational incidents, partner relationships, and customer-facing experiences. You’ll help product teams navigate regulatory complexity while continuing to build exceptional products.
• Partner across the company. This role sits at the intersection of Product, Compliance, Risk, Engineering, Operations, Partnerships, and Legal. You’ll build trusted relationships across these functions and bring legal perspective into conversations early, not as a checkpoint, but as a low-ego, high-ownership thought partner.
• Help launch new capabilities. Mercury is continuing to expand its product offerings while building a nationally chartered bank. You’ll support new payment capabilities (like Zelle) from early exploration through launch, helping teams identify risks, evaluate options, and make sound decisions in ambiguous environments.
• Support financial crimes initiatives. You’ll work closely with Mercury’s AML Advisory, Sanctions, Compliance, and Risk teams on matters involving financial crimes compliance. You’ll help interpret requirements, evaluate new initiatives, and develop practical guidance that enables teams to move efficiently while maintaining an appropriate risk posture.
• Build scalable guidance. The best legal advice solves more than the question in front of you. You’ll help create frameworks and guidance that improve consistency, reduce friction, and allow the organization to make better decisions over time.
• Use AI intentionally. Bring a working knowledge of AI tools in legal workflows and a genuine interest in finding new ways to drive efficiency. We’re building a legal team that works smarter, not just harder.
• Stay curious and adaptable. The regulatory and product landscape continues to evolve quickly. New payment rails emerge. Regulatory expectations shift. Business priorities change. You’ll embrace that complexity and continue learning alongside it.

Requirements

• 4+ years of legal experience.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Experience supporting fintechs, banks, payment companies, sponsor-bank programs, payment networks, BaaS providers, or regulators with substantial payments- or AML-related exposure.
• Strong working knowledge of payments-related regulatory frameworks, and an interest in emerging areas like stablecoins.
• Familiarity with BSA/AML and sanctions requirements.

Qualifications

• Exceptional communication skills. You know your audience and tailor accordingly.
• Strong judgment and comfort operating in ambiguous environments.
• A proactive sense of ownership. You’re comfortable saying, “I don’t know yet, but I’ll find out.”
• Genuine curiosity about financial products, financial infrastructure, and the evolving regulatory landscape.
• Strong working knowledge of AI use cases within legal roles and/or financial services generally and genuine interest in using AI to drive efficiency in your work.

Skills

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

Benefits

At Mercury, we believe in offering comprehensive benefits to support our employees' well-being. Our benefits package includes:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Flexible spending accounts
• Retirement savings plans
• Employee assistance programs

Pay

Our salary and equity ranges are highly competitive within the SaaS and fintech industry and are updated regularly using the most reliable compensation survey data for our industry. New hire offers are made based on a candidate's experience, expertise, geographic location, and internal pay equity relative to peers.

Schedule

We are currently a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC. Investment advisory products and services offered by Mercury Advisory, LLC ("MA"), an SEC-registered investment adviser. MA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercury Technologies, Inc..