Lead Legal Counsel, Lending Partnerships

About Upstart At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence. As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 1,800 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress. We’re proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you’ll have the support to work in the way that works best for you. If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you. The Team As a Lead Legal Counsel, Lending Partnerships at Upstart, you’ll be joining a close-knit, collaborative team of attorneys who work in a fast-paced innovative environment. You will act as a key point person for our Lending Partnerships business, while also handling a broad range of commercial, business development, and transactional legal matters across the entire organization. This position is unique because it offers exposure to new legal issues and the opportunity to work on diverse tasks such as contract drafting and negotiation and a number of projects that will arise as we continue to scale. Experience drafting and negotiating complex B2B SaaS agreements is required. Experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements involving financial services and/or technology licenses in a heavily regulated environment is a big plus. If you have the confidence, creativity, and flexibility to tackle ambiguity and craft innovative legal arrangements with a bias towards action, this could be the right opportunity for you. How you’ll make an impact: Build a deep understanding of our Lending Partnerships (LP) business and collaborate effectively with internal clients to understand and support their goals; Act as a key member of our LP commercial team to provide legal and strategic advice to assess and mitigate legal risks while driving business growth; Review, draft, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements, including purchase agreements, loan sale agreements, servicing agreements, master services agreements, software licenses, SOWs, and other agreements; Engage with numerous internal stakeholders to escalate and resolve issues quickly and efficiently during negotiations; and Develop processes and templates for commercial transactions to support and drive rapidly growing business. What we’re looking for: Minimum Requirements: J.D. degree with solid academic credentials and a state bar membership (NY or CA preferred); 7+ years of experience at a law firm in a transactional practice area (ideally technology transactions, capital markets, or similar) or some combination of in-house/law firm experience with a focus on transactional/commercial matters; Demonstrated ability to act as legal point during intense/complex negotiations and to work effectively with sales leadership to manage expectations and goals; Experience reviewing, drafting and negotiating complex B2B SaaS agreements, preferably in a regulated environment or while licensing into a regulated environment; Not just an issue‑spotter but an issue‑solver, with a “can‑do” mindset, a habit of moving quickly, and ownership to drive matters from start to finish; and An exceptionally high bar for your own work product and a desire to work with teammates who operate at a similarly high standard. Preferred Requirements: 10+ years of experience, ideally with prior in‑house roles on high‑impact legal teams at a fintech, financial services, or technology company; start‑up or high‑growth company experience is a plus; Experience leading and closing complex commercial negotiations (for example, high value purchase agreements or strategic partnership deals); Genuine curiosity about how Upstart’s business works and a desire to jump in cross‑functionally to help teams solve problems, even when the work sits outside traditional legal lanes; Over time, a desire to mentor and collaborate with other members of the legal team, and to help build efficient, scalable processes as we grow and evolve; Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to translate complex legal and risk concepts into clear, actionable guidance for non‑lawyers; Eagerness to dive into new products, AI and data issues, and unfamiliar areas of law with a solutions‑oriented, low‑ego mindset; Entrepreneurial drive that sees ambiguity as opportunity, and obstacles as chances to build new solutions; and A strong sense of ownership, enthusiasm for technology, enjoyment in being continually challenged, and the ability to demonstrate strong judgment in ambiguous situations. Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote Travel requirements As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time. #LI-REMOTE #LI-MidSenior At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k). United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range $208,000—$287,900 USD What you'll love At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial well-being, family, and personal growth. Here’s what you can expect: Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly Retirement benefits to help you plan for the future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada) Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only) Comprehensive health coverage designed to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for US and supplemental health coverage for Canada. Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans (US only) Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, in line with local requirements Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments (duration varies by country) Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service (US Only) Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from Connection and community through team events, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs) Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!) For roles based in Canada, please note that we are not currently able to hire in Quebec. Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Just as we are dedicated to improving access to affordable credit for all, we are committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email candidate_accommodations@upstart.com https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy