Head of Legal - US

Augustus
New York, NY
On-site

Who this role is best for

Strong fit for candidates with in-house startup experience who want to lead legal strategy and product development in a high-impact fintech environment.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with in-house startup experience and a desire to lead legal strategy across multiple functions
    — “This role covers whatever the company needs next on the corporate side.”
  • Legal professionals who have closed financings and are comfortable making independent decisions
    — “You’ve closed financings and deals and want to own the process, not just one workstream.”
  • Individuals who thrive in fast-moving environments and are motivated by building something from scratch
    — “We are building the US team from the ground up, while continuing to grow rapidly in Europe.”

Things to consider

  • Candidates must be based in New York or willing to relocate, which is a geographic constraint
    — “Based in New York or willing to relocate.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your ability to lead full-cycle financings and strategic deals in your resume and interviews
    — “Lead financings end to end, from term sheet to closing.”
  • Emphasize your experience in corporate governance and equity plans in your application materials
    — “Hands-on experience with venture financings, equity plans and corporate governance.”
  • Showcase your comfort with taking independent legal decisions and ownership of complex processes
    — “You’re comfortable making the call yourself, with no partner to check with.”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • advise on product development and sales practices
  • manage board and shareholder meetings
  • lead financings
Typical background
J.D. and admission to a US state barcorporate law experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Corporate LawM&ABoard GovernanceRegulatory EngagementFinancings

Preferred

Banking RegulationsFintech Legal Expertise

Stack & domain

Legal AdviceProduct DevelopmentSales PracticesM&AStrategic InvestmentsPartnershipsBoard GovernanceRegulatory EngagementFinancingsCommunicationProblem SolvingTeam BuildingStrategic PlanningClient Relationship ManagementFinanceBanking

About the role

Original posting from Augustus via Ashby

Few people get to build a bank from scratch. Even fewer get to build one at a moment when banking itself is being reinvented.

The Dollar is the best product in the history of the world - there is infinite global demand. But international fintechs and banks are left with two unsatisfying options to choose from: Either build on legacy correspondent banks that are slow and unreliable, or interface with middleware providers that neither move nor hold the dollars directly, but instead rely on underlying legacy banks themselves. At Augustus, we collapse the stack by combining two things: A real, national bank charter (in organization), and Marble, our proprietary core banking system, built around intelligence, made of code.

We are a group of ex-founders, founding employees of unicorns, and people who dropped out of university because they believe this is an industry and career defining opportunity. We are backed with more than $200M from Peter Thiel's Valar Ventures, Tiger Global, Hummingbird, QED, Creandum, and the founders of Nubank, Ramp, Deel, Circle, Fluidstack, Fuse, and Etched.

We are regulated in Europe and live with Euro and Stablecoin clearing today. Now, we are building the US team from the ground up, while continuing to grow rapidly in Europe.

THE ROLE

As Head of Legal - US at Augustus, you own the legal backbone of the company in the U.S. - inclusive of U.S. product development, strategy, U.S. board governance and regulatory engagement.

You report to Ro, our Global Chief Legal and Risk Officer, and work closely with Product, Sales, Finance, People and the founders.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

  • Advise on product development and sales practices.
  • Run M&A, strategic investments and partnerships from diligence to closing.
  • Manage board and shareholder meetings, resolutions and consents, bylaws and charter, corporate records.
  • Lead financings end to end, from term sheet to closing.

WHO WILL THRIVE AT AUGUSTUS

We believe that throwing smart people with high agency at big problems produces the best outcomes. We’re building a modern correspondent bank, and we win by having a better team. The people who succeed here share the following traits:

  • American Dream: You’d rather shoot for gold than settle for mediocrity. You pick the harder goal and stay optimistic when the odds are against you. If it feels easy, we aimed too low.
  • Live Player: You don’t need permission. You rebuild what’s broken without being asked, challenge how things are done, and move before the perfect moment.
  • Ever to Excel: You can’t accept good enough and you take your work personally. When it matters, you do what it takes and keep raising the bar for yourself and your team.
  • Genuine: You play for the company, not your title or turf. Low ego, low drama, no politics. You say it straight, also upwards and always assume good intent.

This Role Is For You If:

  • You’ve closed financings and deals and want to own the process, not just one workstream.
  • You’re comfortable making the call yourself, with no partner to check with.
  • You want to see how a bank is built from the inside.

This Is Not For You If:

  • You want to stay a pure deal lawyer and never touch the housekeeping.
  • You need a team of associates or a precedent bank before you can start.
  • You want a narrow practice. This role covers whatever the company needs next on the corporate side.

HARD REQUIREMENTS

Must Haves:

  • J.D. and admission to a US state bar (New York preferred).
  • 5+ years of corporate legal experience, split between a leading law firm (emerging companies/VC, M&A or capital markets) and at least 2 years in-house at a startup.
  • Hands-on experience with venture financings, equity plans and corporate governance.
  • Based in New York or willing to relocate.

Strong preference:

  • In-house experience at a fintech

PAY TRANSPARENCY

Compensation packages at Augustus include base salary, equity, and benefits. New hire offers are made based on a candidate’s experience, expertise and geographic location. The annual US base salary range for this role is USD 200,000 - USD 300,000.

WHAT WE OFFER

  • Career Growth: You will be given more responsibility and pushed to grow faster than ever before.
  • Network: Your peers are brilliant, highly motivated people. These people will be foundational in your future opportunities.
  • Real Participation: Employees are shareholders. You will think and act like an owner.
  • Perks & Benefits: Relocation support, visa support, the latest Apple gear (MacBook + AirPods), lunch benefit, gym benefit, a beautiful office in the heart of the city, 4x on-/offsites per year, and an annual development budget.

Additional to the global benefits above, we offer localized benefits such as comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan for our US team.

Augustus is committed to creating an inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds can thrive and where different viewpoints and experiences are valued and respected. Augustus will consider all applications for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, religious beliefs, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, disability, age, parental or veteran status.

Source: Augustus careers (Ashby)

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