Counsel, Commercial

About the role

This role focuses on crafting and executing commercial agreements with strategic partners in the payments and fintech sectors. You will be responsible for creating novel agreement structures and providing legal guidance that balances business needs with risk management. The position requires a proactive approach to developing scalable commercial playbooks and strategies to mitigate risks, aiming to streamline deal processes and enhance business flexibility across the payments portfolio.

Success in this position means effectively partnering with multiple internal departments, including Business Development, Sales, Product, Engineering, Finance/Tax, and Compliance. You will work to resolve complex issues, foster partnerships, and expedite deal closures. The ability to identify legal concerns outside your primary expertise and coordinate with specialized legal teams or external counsel for resolution is also key.

Coinbase operates with a remote-first policy, though quarterly in-person working sessions, referred to as "surges," are part of the company culture. The environment is described as intense, focused on pushing individuals beyond their perceived limits, and is suited for those who are driven to build the future of finance without settling for minimal effort.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $183,855 to $216,300 USD, with the exact amount varying by location.

Skills that matter here

• transactional legal experience: This role requires a minimum of 5 years of experience in drafting, structuring, and negotiating complex commercial agreements, either in-house or at a law firm.
• JD (or applicable equivalent) and an active license in a U.S. state: A Juris Doctor degree or equivalent and an active bar license in a U.S. state are fundamental requirements for this legal position.
• drafting, structuring, and negotiating complex commercial agreements: A core responsibility is the ability to handle highly tailored agreements with fintechs, banks, payment processors, and payment networks, including first-of-their-kind deal structures.
• navigate highly regulated financial services environments: The role demands the capacity to understand and apply evolving regulatory landscapes to provide actionable commercial guidance within financial services.
• managing a high-volume deal pipeline: Candidates must demonstrate the ability to independently manage numerous deals while maintaining accuracy in legal drafting and risk assessment.
• Utilizes generative AI responsibly: The position expects responsible use of generative AI tools to improve workflow efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance output quality, always with human oversight.

Who this role suits

• You have a background in transactional law, specifically within financial services or payments, and are adept at handling complex commercial agreements.
• You are comfortable in a fast-paced, intense work environment and are motivated by challenging legal problems.
• You can collaborate effectively across diverse business and technical teams, translating legal complexities into practical advice.
• You are self-driven, capable of managing a significant workload independently, and maintain precision under pressure.

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.