Founding Head of Legal - Remote

Overview

We’re hiring our first in-house legal leader — a founding team member who will establish and own the legal function at ModernFi. As our Founding Head of Legal, you’ll serve as a key partner across the business, advising on commercial agreements, risk, compliance, people operations, and future fundraising efforts. This is a unique opportunity to join a rapidly growing fintech company and help shape its operational and regulatory foundation.

In Short

• Own all core legal responsibilities as the first in-house legal hire, including revising, reviewing and negotiating client contracts, vendor agreements, NDAs, and employment documents.
• Advise on legal risk, particularly in reviewing contractual agreements from institutional bank and credit union partners and vendor relationships.
• Support due diligence processes from customers, vendors, and investors with clear, efficient, and consistent legal review.
• Partner with internal teams on employment-related legal needs, such as offer letters and policy documentation.
• Prepare for and support fundraising activities, including working with outside counsel and managing investor diligence.
• Contribute to ModernFi’s compliance posture, especially regarding frameworks relevant to FDIC, NCUA, OCC, and Federal Reserve guidance on risk management for third-party relationships.
• Represent ModernFi on external legal and compliance calls with banks, credit unions, and other partners.
• Build the internal legal infrastructure — processes, templates, and policies — that will scale with the company.

Requirements

• 5–8+ years of experience, ideally with a mix of law firm and in-house roles, particularly at a technology or fintech company.
• Hold a JD from a prominent law school as well as a bar admission.
• Confident in contract negotiation and legal strategy, especially in regulated or B2B enterprise contexts.
• Thoughtful and pragmatic in your approach to legal risk, with the ability to advise on what’s essential, what’s flexible, and what to push back on.
• Comfortable working cross-functionally and explaining legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
• Entrepreneurial — excited to build from the ground up, work through ambiguity, and be part of a founding team.
• Experience with banks, credit unions, or financial infrastructure is a strong plus.

Benefits

• We offer a generous salary, unlimited PTO, 401(k), and premium health, dental, and vision insurance.
• As an early hire, you will have access to significant equity at a critical stage of the company’s growth.