Senior US Legal Counsel

ARQ•New York, NY

About The Position

ARQ is a fast-growing fintech building infrastructure to move value seamlessly across borders. The Senior US Legal Counsel will play a pivotal role in supporting that mission, serving as a strategic right hand to the Chief Legal Officer. The role leads regulatory, licensing, technical legal, and privacy matters; oversees bank partnership agreements; and supports US product launches, including savings accounts and US investment offerings across ARQ’s US entities. The position also involves managing external legal counsel, advising on complex legal issues related to US expansion, and helping develop the US legal function as the company grows. ARQ describes its Operations culture as taking on work beyond defined scope and priorities to help the company succeed.

Requirements

Senior-level legal experience at top fintechs, banking institutions, technology companies, or law firms relevant to the role.
Demonstrated expertise in US fintech regulations, licensing, bank partnership agreements, privacy frameworks, and investment product launches.
Experience working with or a strong cultural understanding of Latin American cross-border dynamics.
Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active New York state bar admission in good standing.
Proactive mindset and ability to independently manage complex legal tasks across multiple entity types.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
Project management skills, including the ability to work independently, manage conflicting priorities, and meet established project deadlines.
Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment when navigating ambiguity.

Nice To Haves

Experience advising high-growth fintechs or startups on cross-border US/LatAm transactions.
Spanish or Portuguese language skills.

Responsibilities

Lead regulatory strategy, licensing setup, and privacy compliance across US products.
Support the launch of US offerings, savings accounts, and bank agreements, managing external legal counsel.
Advise on complex technical legal matters, investment laws, product agreements, and regulatory frameworks required for US expansion.
Negotiate and structure financial institution partnerships and bank agreements, and develop legal structures for investment products.
Serve as strategic counsel to leadership and the Chief Legal Officer.
Manage US mid-level legal team members as the US legal function expands.