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About Upstart
Upstart is the leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. By leveraging Upstart's AI marketplace, Upstart-powered banks and credit unions can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates across races, ages, and genders, while simultaneously delivering the exceptional digital-first lending experience their customers demand. More than 80% of borrowers are approved instantly, with zero documentation to upload.
Upstart is a digital-first company, which means that most Upstarters live and work anywhere in the United States. However, we also have offices in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.
Most Upstarters join us because they connect with our mission of enabling access to effortless credit based on true risk. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Upstart, we’d love to hear from you!
The Team
Upstart’s legal team is a key component of the company, helping Upstart innovate in the fintech space across multiple products and supporting its mission of expanding access to credit based on true risk. We are a team of savvy, hardworking and genuinely nice individuals collaborating closely with the business in achieving its objectives.
The capital markets legal team is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel, who is able to lead and negotiate complex capital markets transactions, as well as support the rest of the capital markets legal team in day-to-day matters as they arise (including on asset-backed securitizations, warehouse financings, investment funds, and investor services support). This role requires someone who is adaptable and can think outside of the box, while having a strong transactional and finance background (experience in private credit, debt finance, structured finance, securitizations, debt capital markets or structured lending strongly preferred).
Position Location - This role is available in the following locations: Remote
Time Zone Requirements - This team operates on the East/West Coast time zones.
Travel Requirements - As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.
How you’ll make an impact:
- Lead and support legal negotiations on complex structured financing transactions
- Work closely with our capital markets and finance teams to structure novel deals with key investors in order to ensure capital commitments for Upstart
- Support other team members in structuring, drafting and negotiating securitizations and warehouse financing deals with sophisticated counterparties
- Provide legal and strategic guidance to assess and mitigate legal risk by building a deep understanding of the business and collaborating with internal clients, including accounting, data analytics, product, treasury, operations and tax
- Assist in general commercial transactions and agreements as needed
What we’re looking for:
- Minimum requirements:
- J.D. degree with solid academic credentials and a state bar membership (CA or NY preferred)
- 5+ years of experience with a minimum of 3 years at a top-tier law firm; experience in debt finance, investment funds, capital markets, private credit or structured finance
- Self-starter who thrives under limited direction and is excited by challenges
- Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to effectively and proactively provide quick, concise, and practical legal advice
- Eager to develop expertise in new or unfamiliar areas of law
- Adaptability: willingness to be flexible and excited to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
- Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with asset-backed securitizations, secured and unsecured lending
- Experience setting up joint ventures, co-investments or funds; experience negotiating against or working with large private equity/credit funds
- Strong law firm training and some in-house experience at a fintech company preferred
What you'll love:
- Competitive Compensation (base + bonus & equity)
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart
- 401(k) with 100% company match up to $4,500 and immediate vesting and after-tax savings
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
- Life and disability insurance
- Generous holiday, vacation, sick and safety leave
- Supportive parental, family care, and military leave programs
- Annual wellness, technology & ergonomic reimbursement programs
- Social activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates, employee resource groups (ERGs), and other interest groups such as book clubs, fitness, investing, and volunteering
- Catered lunches + snacks & drinks when working in offices
#LI-REMOTE
At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k).
Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to ensuring that underrepresented classes receive better access to affordable credit, and are just as committed to embracing diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices. We celebrate all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, and know that we can only become better together.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email [email protected]
https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy
Upstart Austin, Texas, USA Office
Upstart's office in Austin overlooks a waterfront park, Auditorium Shores, in the trendy Bouldin Creek neighborhood. With views of the Austin skyline, the office serves as a hub for our sales teams. The workspace is also available to ATX Upstarters seeking an in-office experience.
What you need to know about the Austin Tech Scene
Key Facts About Austin Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 180,500; 13.7% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Dell, IBM, AMD, Apple, Alphabet
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, hardware, cloud computing, software, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.5 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Live Oak Ventures, Austin Ventures, Hinge Capital, Gigafund, KdT Ventures, Next Coast Ventures, Silverton Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: University of Texas, Southwestern University, Texas State University, Center for Complex Quantum Systems, Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Texas Advanced Computing Center
