General Counsel (5-Month Fixed-Term Contract)

Ascenda•New York, NY

7d•$196,000 - $264,000

About The Position

Ascenda powers the growth of leading financial services brands worldwide with premium rewards programs that differentiate their products, drive profitable customer behaviors, and create sustained engagement. We are behind the world-class rewards propositions of major banks and fintechs around the globe. We are a thriving global Loyalty as a Service company and experiencing rapid expansion. Join our dynamic finance team as one of its earliest leaders, contributing to the development of our financial planning strategies as we strive for hypergrowth. Our team spans 20 cities worldwide, with dual headquarters in Singapore and New York, totaling 250 team members. Ascenda is seeking an experienced, business-minded lawyer to serve as Interim General Counsel during a parental leave period. This individual will provide strategic legal leadership and hands-on support across commercial, regulatory, and corporate matters, ensuring continuity of legal operations and alignment with business objectives in a fast-growing fintech environment. This is a full-time, fixed-term contract covering parental leave from October 2026 through March 2027.

Requirements

JD or equivalent; Admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state
10+ years of legal experience
Prior General Counsel, Deputy GC, or senior in-house leadership role
Strong background in B2B fintech, SaaS, or technology-driven businesses
Demonstrated experience handling complex commercial transactions and global partnerships
Working knowledge of international data protection frameworks, including GDPR, and experience negotiating DPAs, IDTAs, and cross-border data sharing agreements
Familiarity with APAC regulatory environments, particularly Singapore (PDPA) and Australia (Privacy Act, APRA prudential standards); UK exposure is a plus
Experience with data privacy programs, including GDPR, CCPA, and PDPA compliance
Comfortable managing workflows and stakeholder communications across multiple time zones (US, APAC, EU)
Proven ability to operate independently in a lean, fast-paced environment
Strong executive presence with the ability to advise senior stakeholders

Nice To Haves

CIPP/US or CIPP/E certification
Experience in loyalty, rewards, or points-based ecosystems
Familiarity with financial services regulatory standards (e.g., APRA CPS 230/234, PCI DSS)
Experience advising on AI/data governance for product launches

Responsibilities

Act as the primary legal advisor to senior leadership on day-to-day legal matters and strategic initiatives
Provide practical, solutions-oriented guidance balancing legal risk with commercial objectives
Operate as a hands-on generalist who can roll up their sleeves and connect the dots across commercial, product, partnerships, finance, and HR teams
Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including MSAs with banks and card issuers, strategic partnership agreements with airlines, loyalty partners, content providers and other complementary partners, DPAs, IDTAs and data sharing agreements
Advise on structuring complex global partnerships and revenue-generating arrangements
Review and maintain customer-facing product terms, participation agreements, and service-specific terms
Oversee legal and regulatory compliance across relevant jurisdictions (payments, data privacy, loyalty frameworks as applicable)
Provide guidance on emerging regulatory developments impacting fintech and data-driven platforms
Advise on AI governance, including responsible AI policies and contractual restrictions on AI/ML model training using company or client data
Support global employment matters, including employment agreements, workplace policies, and workforce actions across multiple jurisdictions
Support corporate governance matters, including board materials, shareholder agreements, resolutions, and entity management
Advise on international expansion, entity structuring, and cross-border considerations
Engage and manage external counsel on an as-needed basis for specialized matters, including litigation, dispute resolution, and jurisdiction-specific regulatory advice
Step into ongoing matters and ensure seamless continuation of legal workflows
Assess and triage litigation and pre-litigation matters, including conducting initial investigations and managing responses to counterparty claims
Identify and prioritize key legal risks and urgent issues during the coverage period
Maintain and improve legal processes, templates, intake workflows, and playbooks; leverage legal technology tools where appropriate