Counsel, Leasing & Operational Professional Services

Stripe•Chicago, IL

About The Position

Stripe's TOPS Legal team (Tech, Ops & Partnerships) is responsible for structuring and negotiating engagements with Stripe's global professional services providers, technology partners, and operational vendors. We work on complex and business-critical transactions and cross-functional projects, always striving to enable the business's ambitious roadmap while upholding Stripe's compliance practices. In this role, you'll be a subject matter expert and key advisor across a broad range of commercial real estate leasing, facilities, and operational professional services transactions that support Stripe's global footprint and operational needs. You'll move with urgency, effectively advising clients with a pro-business perspective, to support their strategic objectives. The ideal candidate is passionate about Stripe's mission of helping businesses grow and thrives in solving complex legal and business issues in collaboration with others. We're looking for someone who is a team player and willing to jump in on tasks of any size. Experience in fintech is helpful, but not required, for you to be successful in this role. Experience in global leasing and operational procurement contracting is key.

Requirements

6–8+ years of relevant legal experience working at a law firm and/or in-house legal department supporting commercial real estate leasing and/or operational professional services contracting, including 3+ years of experience negotiating complex commercial leases or operational services agreements.
Deep working knowledge of commercial lease structures, landlord/tenant rights and obligations, and real estate transaction mechanics across one or more jurisdictions.
Proven ability to negotiate a broad range of operational professional services agreements (facilities management, outsourced services, staffing, consulting, and similar) with a practical, business-minded approach.
Sound and practical business judgment and the ability to make smart decisions in the face of ambiguity and imperfect information.
Ability to effectively prioritize and advance multiple deals happening simultaneously, often on tight deadlines.
A clear and concise communicator (in written and verbal form), who can distill the key risks and explain complex, nuanced issues in plain and simple terms.
Strong project management skills with attention to detail.
A strong sense of ownership where you proactively identify opportunities for our team and Stripe to improve; you're willing to jump in and do whatever needs to be done in an enthusiastic and resourceful manner.
You bring humility, genuine curiosity about an evolving industry, and a team-first attitude — with a terrific sense of humor.

Nice To Haves

History of advising high-growth companies on their real estate or operational expansion.
Experience managing a global or multi-jurisdiction commercial lease portfolio.
Experience working closely with a procurement, real estate, or facilities function.
Experience negotiating enterprise-level outsourced services or managed services agreements.
Familiarity with financial services, fintech, or technology company environments.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate commercial real estate leases, subleases, licenses to occupy, lease amendments, and ancillary real property agreements across global jurisdictions.
Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of operational professional services agreements, including facilities management, construction contracts, outsourced operations, financial services transactions, consulting, corporate security, and other operational vendor contracts.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders on legal, real estate, and operational vendor matters.
Partner closely with key client groups including Workplace, Real Estate, Finance, Corporate Security, and broader Operations teams.
Collaborate and build efficiencies with talented teams across Stripe, including Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Deal Management, Finance & Strategy, Tax, Security, and Third Party Risk Management.
Develop and implement continuous improvement of tools, processes, training, and playbooks to help manage high-volume workstreams and educate internal and external counsel and stakeholders.
Ensure Stripe's commercial relationships comply with applicable law, Stripe's data privacy and security policies, global privacy regulations, and global outsourced services guidelines.
Identify and evaluate business and legal risks across lease obligations, landlord/tenant matters, and operational service arrangements, and find creative ways to mitigate them while achieving business goals.
Effectively distill and explain complex issues to a variety of cross-functional stakeholders.
Manage competing priorities and workloads with skillful multitasking.
Spot issues, develop solutions, and counsel teams on issues relating to lease obligations, landlord/tenant matters, operational risk management, compliance, and vendor governance.
Manage global outside counsel relationships and act as a responsive point of escalation for outside counsel.