Key skills
GoAINegotiation
About this role
Role Overview
- Own the Legal Function
- Be our legal authority on every legal matter across all functions
- including but not limited to internal legal ops, contracts, data privacy, equity, governance, IP strategy, fundraising
- Build & own the legal function from scratch
- processes, templates, playbooks, and risk frameworks that scale
- and be the trusted advisor to execs on legal risk & strategy
- Manage primary outside counsel strategically, knowing what to handle in-house, when to escalate, and when to go direct to local counsel
- Leverage & implement AI tools within legal as appropriate
- Own all vendor contract negotiation and management such as those covering data licensing, API access, and third-party AI infrastructure
- Build contract frameworks and playbooks to strategically manage vendor relationships
- Partner with engineering to ensure contractual terms align with how data is ingested, processed, and attributed
- Lead negotiation and drafting of complex institutional client agreements
- MSAs, data processing agreements, and deployment contracts with banks and financial institutions
- Partner with the commercial team to structure deals, resolve blockers, and close quickly
- Advise on liability, indemnification, IP ownership, and data rights
- Own Monstro’s compliance & regulation posture across all areas: financial services, data privacy, AI governance, and consumer protection in every jurisdiction
- Monitor the regulatory landscape for AI in financial services and action as needed
- Liaise with regulators and ensure Monstro remains audit-ready
- Build frameworks & strategies to remain legal/compliant as we scale to new jurisdictions
- Manage the process of hiring, partnering with or managing outside counsel in new areas
- Advise on cross-border data transfers, local licensing, and jurisdiction-specific contract requirements
- Define and own Monstro's IP strategy
- focused on structuring and documenting proprietary technology, not defaulting to patent filings
- Advise on trade secret protection, confidentiality frameworks, and what makes Monstro's technology distinct and protectable
- Manage existing trademark filings and partner with engineering and product to embed IP thinking into how the company builds.
Requirements
- 10-12+ years of legal experience, with meaningful in-house experience at a fintech, AI company, or financial institution
- or a combination of top-tier law firm and in-house
- JD required; New York bar admission strongly preferred
- Deep familiarity with the legal and regulatory landscape for AI and data-driven products in financial services
- Proven negotiator on complex commercial contracts with banks or similar regulated counterparties
- Hands-on experience with data licensing, API agreements, and third-party vendor contracts
- Experience supporting international expansion
- entity structuring, local counsel management, multi-jurisdictional compliance
- Commercially minded
- finds solutions that protect without stalling momentum.
Benefits
- Comprehensive Compensation Package: Competitive salary, equity, and robust benefits package, including paid health, vision, dental, and disability coverage.