Legal Counsel

USM Finastra USA Corporation; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

USM Finastra USA Corporation is searching for a Corporate Legal Counsel to manage the U.S. corporate legal portfolio. This role demands proficiency in contract drafting, negotiation, and an understanding of the software industry, specifically within the context of U.S. or global payments and corporate lending.

The ideal candidate will navigate complex legal landscapes, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure compliance while mitigating risks associated with contractual obligations. A law degree and licensing to practice are essential.

Qualifications

• Must have law firm or corporate legal department experience.
• Experience in the software industry is mandatory.
• Fluency in legal terminology in English is required.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate software licenses and service contracts.
• Act as a legal advisor to internal stakeholders.
• Provide regulatory and compliance support as needed.
• Review legislation and draft required contractual adjustments.
• Assist in customer disputes and aid in their resolution.

Skills

Knowledge of the software industry

Strong legal and commercial understanding

Business acumen for contract negotiation

Ability to explain legal topics clearly

Strong drafting, negotiation and advisory skills

Fluency in English

Education

Law degree from an accredited institution

Active license to practice law in at least one state

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a Corporate Legal Counsel to join our team based in the United States. This fast‑paced, dynamic team is accountable for the U.S. corporate legal portfolio. The ideal candidate will have fluency of law firm or corporate legal department experience. Experience in the software industry is mandatory, and having experience within U.S. or global payments and/or corporate lending software platforms is a plus. The role will predominantly focus on contracts with Finastra customers for the licensing of software and/or provision of services (including software‑as‑a‑service). The role requires experience in contract drafting and negotiation combined with the ability to work closely with internal stakeholders to support optimized commercial transactions aligned with the organization’s business guidelines and approval processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate contracts for software license, services, and software‑as‑a‑service transactions, as well as other types of transactions with a focus on identifying and mitigating contractual risks.
• Act as a trusted legal advisor to internal stakeholders, including sales and finance, concerning contractual rights, obligations, compliance with applicable laws and regulations and risks, and demonstrate ability to mitigate risk while helping to ensure business objectives, including the timely execution of contracts that grow the business.
• Work collaboratively as part of a global team and provide regulatory and compliance support as necessary.
• Provide guidance to internal stakeholders concerning best practices when producing pre‑contractual and contract collateral documents.
• Ensure internal approval processes are followed prior to making commitments to customers and that all deal approvals are obtained prior to signing any contracts.
• Review existing and upcoming legislation with respect to its impact on the organization’s business and, where required, draft required contractual adjustments.
• Assist in customer disputes, including evaluating Finastra’s position, communicating with customers, and assisting in the resolution of such disputes.

Required Skills & Expertise

• Knowledge of the software industry, preferably working on the vendor side. Exposure or experience with U.S. or global payments and/or corporate lending, SaaS/cloud and data privacy and security would be considered an asset.
• Strong legal and commercial understanding with the ability to adapt quickly and work toward scheduled business deadlines.
• Strong business acumen to draft and negotiate contracts with customers and vendors.
• Ability to explain legal topics clearly to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Confident, resourceful and motivated lawyer with very strong drafting, negotiation and advisory skills.
• Experience with banking and financial technology is a nice to have.
• Fluency in English in speaking and writing, including proficiency of legal terminology in English, is required.

Education & Experience

• Must have a law degree from an accredited institution and an active license to practice law in at least one state.
• Law firm or corporate legal department experience with a broad range of corporate and commercial law matters; experience in the software industry would be an advantage.

Location

Applicants for this position need to be located in the posted location or their immediate surrounding areas. Due to the requirements of this position, we will not consider applicants who currently reside in New York City or California.