Counsel, Commercial

About the role

In this role, you will be responsible for drafting and negotiating commercial agreements with strategic partners in the payments and fintech sector. You will also drive innovative legal solutions and frameworks that address both risk and business needs, ensuring that Coinbase remains agile in its operations.

You will work closely with various teams, including Business Development and Compliance, to tackle complex legal challenges and expedite deal closures. Success in this position involves managing a high volume of deals while maintaining attention to detail and a strong understanding of the regulatory landscape.

The salary range for this position is between $183,855 and $216,300, depending on location.

Skills that matter here

• transactional legal experience: This role requires over five years of transactional legal experience, focusing on drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• expertise in fintech agreements: Candidates must have a proven track record in structuring agreements with fintechs and payment processors.
• risk assessment: You will need to balance risk with business needs while providing legal guidance.
• generative AI: The role involves utilizing generative AI responsibly to improve workflow efficiency and output quality.

Who this role suits

• You are detail-oriented and thrive in high-pressure environments.
• You have a strong background in financial services and understand complex regulatory frameworks.
• You enjoy collaborating with cross-functional teams to solve legal issues.
• You are proactive in managing a high-volume deal pipeline and maintaining precision in your work.

From the employer

What you'll do:

• Own drafting, negotiation, and execution of highly tailored commercial agreements with strategic partners and sophisticated counterparties in the payments and fintech space, including first-of-their-kind deal structures.
• Drive novel agreement frameworks and deliver practical, business-centric legal advice that balances risk with speed and flexibility.
• Partner cross-functionally with Business Development, Sales, Product, Engineering, Finance/Tax, and Compliance to solve complex problems, build partnerships, and close deals quickly.
• Build scalable commercial playbooks and risk-mitigation strategies that accelerate deal timelines and increase business flexibility across the payments portfolio.
• Identify legal issues that extend beyond your core expertise and drive resolution by coordinating with specialists across the Coinbase legal team and outside counsel.

Required Skills and Experience:

• 5+ years of transactional legal experience in-house or at a leading law firm, with a JD (or applicable equivalent) and an active license in a U.S. state.
• Demonstrated expertise drafting, structuring, and negotiating complex commercial agreements with fintechs, banks, payment processors, payment networks, and/or payment issuers/acquirers.
• Proven ability to navigate highly regulated financial services environments and translate evolving regulatory landscapes into actionable commercial guidance.
• Track record of independently managing a high-volume deal pipeline while maintaining precision in drafting and risk assessment.
• Utilizes generative AI responsibly, maintaining human oversight to deliver business-ready outputs and drive measurable improvements in workflow efficiency, cost, and quality.

Pay Transparency Notice:

• Base salary varies by location (see range below). Total compensation may also include equity and bonus eligibility, and benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401(k)). Annual base salary range (excluding equity and bonus): $183,855—$216,300 USD.
• Application Limit: Candidates may submit a maximum of 3 applications within a 6-month period.
• Equal Opportunity Employer: Coinbase is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. Applicants with criminal histories will be considered consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• US Applicants: View [Employee Rights](https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/legacy/files/eppac.pdf), [Know Your Rights](https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12.pdf), and [E-Verify](https://static-assets.coinbase.com/e-verify.pdf) Notice of Participation.
• Accommodations: If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reasonable accommodation, email us your request and contact info at [email protected].
• Data Privacy & Arbitration: By submitting your application, you agree to our [Candidate Privacy Notice](https://www.coinbase.com/legal/applicant_privacy_notice). US applicants: By submitting your application, you agree to [Arbitration of Disputes](https://www.coinbase.com/legal/application-arbitration-agreement).
• AI Disclosure: Coinbase is piloting an AI tool based on machine learning technologies to conduct initial screening interviews to qualified applicants.