Contracts Counsel

Who We Are

Cross River is a highly profitable, fast-growing financial technology company powering the future of financial services. Our comprehensive suite of innovative and scalable embedded payments, cards, and lending products deliver financial services for millions of businesses and consumers around the globe. Cross River is backed by leading investors and serves the world’s most essential fintech and technology companies. Together with its partners, Cross River is reshaping global finance and financial inclusion. 

We are on a mission to build the infrastructure that propels access, inclusion, and the democratization of financial services. While our company has tripled in size over the last three years, our strong sense of purpose led Cross River to be named to American Banker’s list of Best Places to Work in Fintech for the last 6 years. The reason for this success is simple – our nimble and collaborative family culture lives in every member of our growing team. Together we are at the forefront of technology and innovation, and we invite passionate, collaborative, and motivated high performers to join our expanding team.

What We're Looking For

Cross River is currently seeking candidates for a Counsel - Contracts. The successful candidate must have demonstrated legal work experience as an attorney with a recognized U.S. law firm and/or in-house with a financial institution, fintech company or technology company. She/he should also have experience advising on general contract agreements, non-disclosure agreements, vendor and SaaS agreements.   Demonstrated strong judgement, market knowledge and decision-making skills are critical to manage transactions. Candidates must possess excellent communication skills, a strong commitment to client service, ability to handle multiple matters, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced team environment.

 Responsibilities:

• Provide legal advice and counsel, and legal interpretation, to management on a wide range of legal matters, including vendor IT/SaaS agreements, donation and sponsorship agreements, general contractual matters
• Draft, review and negotiate with counterparties company form agreements and counterparty agreements, which may include customers, suppliers and vendors, payers, potential clients, and technology licensing.
• Support due diligence and managing closing documents for strategic activities including ventures, passive investments or acquisitions.
• Strong interest in advising companies on legal issues relating to artificial intelligence, including implementing use of AI in the legal department and drafting contracts for AI related transactions or vendor contracts with AI use with a keen focus on providing strategic guidance navigating the legal landscape of AI technology.
• Assist in the development of standardized contractual forms across business lines.
• Provide clear and concise guidance to business units.
• Proactively collaborate with stakeholders across the enterprise, including compliance, technology, risk, operations and other key partners
• Support other legal department needs, as necessary

Success Factors:

• Analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to review and anticipate broader organizational impact(s) required. 
• Ability to think “outside the box” in addressing novel issues and a willingness to learn new legal subject matter areas, as needed. Creative, agile thinker with an entrepreneurial, solutions-oriented mindset to drive business growth objectives.
• Self-starter that likes to take on responsibility and committed to continuous improvement; upholds corporate values and displays integrity and high ethical standards.
• Proactively create trust with colleagues with consistent communication and collaborate effectively with multiple internal groups and foster and maintain strong relationships, partnering with other lawyers, risk and compliance partners and business colleagues at all levels to drive results.
• Good time management and prioritization skills, well organized, attention to detail, and able to effectively self-manage numerous several sensitive or urgent issues or projects simultaneously and produce professional quality work under tight deadlines with limited administrative support.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills, with excellent written and oral advocacy, corporate communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to interact effectively, and the ability and desire to build relationships and influence others.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate degree required, along with admission to a NY/NJ State Bar
• 6+ years’ experience as an attorney
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of contract law
• Experience managing relationships with clients
• Experience with intellectual property and M&A matters, a plus
• Experience of working with consumer finance laws and regulations, risk management, and fintech, a plus
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity
• Sound judgment and ability to analyze situations and information
• Hybrid role (minimum of 3 days required in-person office) located in Fort Lee, NJ

#LI-JJ1 #LI-Hybrid #LI-Onsite

Salary Range: $165,000.00 - $190,000.00