Deputy General Counsel

We are seeking experienced, commercially oriented Deputy Legal Counsel with deep expertise in the global payments sector to join and lead the Commercial Legal Team, Americas.
The ideal candidate will support the company’s business growth by providing practical, risk-aware legal advice and ensuring compliance with company policies and relevant regulations.
You will work closely with sales, product, security, compliance, and other teams and contributing to commercial negotiations across our international operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted adviser to Shift4’s commercial businesses in the Americas, providing proactive, business-focused legal guidance to drive growth and innovation across our expanding Americas operations .
• Subject Matter Mastery: Serve as an authority on the mechanical and legal intricacies of merchant acquiring, payment processing, and money movement. This includes a granular understanding of the flow of funds, clearing and settlement cycles, and the contractual "web" of the payments industry.
• Strategic Advisory: Act as a legal partner to the Legal Service General Counsel providing sophisticated guidance on product launches and international expansion while thriving in an environment where demands and priorities shift daily.
• Advanced Regulatory Navigation: Solution commercial matters in accordance with complex regulatory frameworks, including BSA/AML, FinCEN, NACHA rules, and state money transmitter laws. This role proactively interprets Card Brand Rules (Visa/Mastercard)and anticipates shifts in the regulatory landscape before they impact business operations.
• Team Leadership: manage and develop a small legal team across the Americas. . This individual is a key contributor for transferring high-level payments expertiseto the legal team, ensuring team members understand the technical nuances of payments law to build a scalable, expert function.
• Complex High-Value Negotiations: Architect and lead negotiations for Shift4’s most critical merchant acquiring, sponsorship, and referral agreements in the Americas, ensuring rigorous protection of interests in high-stakes environments. Work on network/scheme, product, and supplier deals will also be required.
• Leadership & Peer Support: Serve as a high-level technical resource for leadership peers in Risk, Finance, and Operations, providing peer reviewof complex legal frameworks and strategic "second opinions" on high-risk commercial initiatives.
• Product Counseling & Innovation: Partner with Strategy and Product teams to structure compliant, scalable services—such as merchant payouts, sales-based financing, and fintech solutions—ensuring "speed to market" without compromising legal integrity.
• Global Legal Team - Work in partnership with the global legal team, comprised of over 30 lawyers across North America, Europe, and APAC, to establish a respected, effective legal function that delivers high-quality, responsive commercial legal advice in a dynamic international environment.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education: J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing.
• Experience: 12+ yearsof legal experience, with a significant majority spent immersed in the payments and merchant acquiring
• Technical Expertise: Expert knowledge of payment industry and significant expertise in negotiating and drafting commercial contracts specific to payment solutions, such as acquiring, payment gateway agreements, and dynamic currency conversion.
• Agility & Leadership: Proven track record of managing multiple stakeholdersand navigating multiple high-priority projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, ambiguous, and high-growth environment.
• Preferred Background: Prior experience as a senior leader and/or contributor within a major Global Acquirer, Card Network, or ISV, Payfac, or similar PSP.

 

Preferred Attributes:

• Highly effective communicator and collaborator, at ease to address and influence appropriately at different levels in the organization and to voice alternative perspectives and viewpoints.
• Demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit, exhibits sound judgment and a strong sense of initiative, and is a self-starter who confidently takes ownership of their workload.
• Good team player (within the legal department as well as cross-functional)
• Interest in innovation, technology, and financial services.