Counsel, Commercial

Kenyan Edu; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 184,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

Coinbase is seeking a Commercial Counsel to lead the legal strategy behind critical payments partnerships. You will own end-to-end execution of complex agreements with banks, fintechs, and networks, and advise cross-functionally to balance risk and speed.

Join a remote-first company that values aggressive growth and practical, business-centric legal guidance. 5+ years of transactional experience and a JD are required, with the position housed in our Business Legal team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of transactional legal experience in-house or at a leading firm.
• Experience drafting, negotiating, and executing complex commercial agreements.
• Ability to navigate regulated financial services environments.
• Strong drafting, risk assessment, and deal-pipeline management skills.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and execute highly tailored commercial agreements with strategic partners.
• Provide business-centric legal advice balancing risk with speed.
• Collaborate across Business Development, Sales, Product, Engineering, Finance/Tax and Compliance.
• Develop scalable playbooks and risk-mitigation strategies to accelerate deals.

Skills

Commercial contracts

Fintech payments

Regulatory guidance

High-volume drafting

AI in workflow

Education

JD degree (or equivalent)

Tools

None

Job description

Headquarters: Remote - USA

Ready to do the most impactful work of your career? At Coinbase, we are uncompromising on our mission to increase economic freedom. The bar is high, the environment is intense, and we like it that way. This isn't a place for complacency, it's a place to be pushed past your perceived limits. If you're ready to build the future of finance alongside people who refuse to settle for "good enough," you belong here. Coinbase is a remote-first, but not remote-only company. Expect to get together quarterly for intense in-person working sessions called "surges." Learn more about working at Coinbase.

We're hiring a Commercial Counsel to join our Business Legal team and lead the legal strategy behind Coinbase's most important payments partnerships. This team powers the deals that connect Coinbase to banks, payment networks, fintechs, and strategic partners across the financial ecosystem. You'll own end-to-end legal execution on complex, first-of-their-kind transactions that set precedent for the crypto industry and directly accelerate Coinbase's growth.

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, Know Your Rights, and E-Verify 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 accommodations[at]coinbase.com. Need screen reading technology? Click here to download a free compatible screen reader and view the tutorial.

Data Privacy & Arbitration: By submitting your application, you agree to our Candidate Privacy Notice. US applicants: By submitting your application, you agree to Arbitration of Disputes.