Head of Legal

About the role

Location: New York City, San Francisco

Type: Full-time, In office

About the Role

We’re looking for a Head of Legal to run day-to-day legal work at Atlas. You’ll report directly to the founder and CEO and work closely with Finance, People, product and compliance colleagues.

This is a senior, hands-on lawyer role. You’ll draft and negotiate agreements yourself, manage outside counsel, and turn legal questions into clear recommendations and completed work. You’ll be the person who keeps priorities, deadlines and decisions moving across the business.

This role is a great fit if you enjoy being close to the business, taking responsibility for the details, and doing the work directly. It is not a role built around managing an internal legal team. There are no direct reports, and specialist outside lawyers remain an important part of how the work gets done.

We move quickly, expect a lot from ourselves, and value people who take ownership of their work and get things done well. You’ll need to distinguish what needs a careful review from what can move forward with a practical, well-understood solution.

What You’ll Do

Litigation & Disputes

• Manage disputes and litigation with outside counsel, keeping the facts, deadlines, budgets and business decisions organized.
• Coordinate internal information and keep leadership informed with clear recommendations and next steps.
• Know when a matter needs specialist advice and make sure the right lawyer has what they need.

Financings & Capital Markets

• Manage legal work for fundraising, credit facilities and capital-markets transactions with Finance and outside counsel.
• Keep closing checklists, approvals and follow-up obligations current so work does not fall between teams.

Commercial & Partnerships

• Draft and negotiate partnership, vendor and other commercial agreements with terms that support the business and protect its downside.
• Build practical templates, negotiation guidance and approval rules that make routine work faster and more consistent.
• Help business owners understand their commitments before signing and carry them through afterward.

Regulatory

• Coordinate advice on card programs, bank partnerships and consumer-finance questions with compliance colleagues and specialist counsel.
• Keep applicable obligations, evidence requirements and escalation paths clear as products and partnerships develop.

Employment & Contractors

• Review contractor and consulting agreements, offer letters, confidentiality terms and IP protections with People and outside employment counsel.
• Identify gaps in existing agreements, agree a practical repair plan and follow it through.

What We’re Looking for

• A JD and active New York or California bar admission, with authority to practice in the work location confirmed before starting.
• Substantial legal experience, typically eight or more years, with hands-on ownership in fintech or another regulated business.
• Strong commercial drafting and negotiation skills, including the ability to offer workable alternatives.
• Experience managing outside counsel, budgets and complex matters through completion.
• Familiarity with card programs, bank relationships, consumer finance, credit facilities or fundraising.
• Clear, direct communication and good judgment about when to escalate.
• Discretion with sensitive information and a willingness to surface difficult facts early.
• The ability to prioritize and follow through without an internal team or constant direction.

What Success Looks Like

• Leadership trusts you to run legal work independently and bring clear decisions when needed.
• Outside counsel works to clear scopes, budgets and deadlines.
• Business teams have useful templates and straightforward guidance for negotiations and approvals.
• Contractor and consulting terms are current, consistent and properly documented.
• Financing work moves through agreed milestones, with closing and ongoing obligations tracked.
• Regulatory and bank-partner reviews are prepared, with clear owners and follow-through.

Compensation

The base salary range for this role is $240,000-$290,000, plus equity.