Lead Counsel Corporate and Banking

The Team: 

Upstart’s Legal team partners across the business to help the company build scale and operate with sound legal judgment. This role will support Upstart’s proposed OCC-chartered bank by building and maintaining the corporate governance board support and affiliate transaction frameworks needed for a regulated national bank environment.

As the Lead Counsel Corporate and Banking at Upstart you will own core governance responsibilities for the bank including board and committee processes governance policies director and executive guidance intercompany agreements and Regulation W compliance. You will work closely with senior leaders across Legal Risk Treasury Accounting and Tax to help the bank operate in a way that is examination-ready practical and scalable.

How you’ll make an impact

• Lead corporate governance support for Upstart Bank including board and committee meeting preparation agendas pre-read materials minutes resolutions policies and committee charters
• Advise bank directors executives and internal partners on governance obligations bank structure director duties and corporate governance requirements applicable to an OCC-chartered national bank including management of conflicts between the bank and its affiliates and issues arising from dual-hatted employees.
• Provide guidance regarding the Bank Holding Company Act and related regulatory requirements and supervisory expectations for the bank’s parent company Upstart Holdings Inc. including Federal Reserve bank holding company reporting requirements (e.g. FR Y-series reports).
• Support the bank's engagement with its primary federal regulator (OCC) the FDIC and the Federal Reserve including preparation for and response to examinations and advising internal stakeholders on CAMELS ratings implications and strategies to maintain strong supervisory standing. 
• Support intercompany agreements and affiliate transaction processes including Regulation W analysis documentation monitoring and coordination with Treasury Accounting Tax and Regulatory Counsel.
• Build and maintain legal processes that support examination readiness including clear documentation durable operating rhythms and timely responses to regulatory or supervisory requests.
• Partner cross functionally to identify governance regulatory or affiliate transaction considerations related to new products business initiatives and bank operations.
• Manage special corporate and banking projects as needed including bank regulatory examinations governance enhancements internal policies and external counsel coordination.

Minimum Qualifications 

• J.D. degree and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 7+ years of banking law bank regulatory corporate governance or financial services legal experience at a law firm financial institution fintech or regulated bank.
• Working knowledge of OCC regulations the National Bank Act Bank Holding Company Act and Regulation W.  
• Experience advising on corporate governance matters for a bank bank holding company or other regulated financial institution including affiliate transaction monitoring intercompany agreement structures and bank governance controls.
• Experience supporting OCC examinations supervisory responses or other bank regulatory engagement.
• Experience with Federal Reserve bank holding company reporting and navigating supervisory frameworks such as CAMELS ratings.
• Experience identifying and managing conflicts of interest between a bank and its affiliates including issues arising from dual-hatted employees who hold positions at both the bank and a parent holding company.
• Experience drafting or reviewing board minutes committee charters governance policies resolutions or intercompany agreements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior in-house legal experience at a bank fintech or other regulated financial services company.
• Ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear practical guidance for business finance and executive stakeholders.
• Experience building governance processes playbooks or legal operating frameworks in a new or evolving regulated environment.
• Familiarity with de novo bank application processes OCC charter requirements or standing up legal and governance frameworks for a newly chartered bank.

Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote

Time zone requirements The 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.

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What We Do

Upstart is the leading AI lending marketplace connecting millions of consumers to more than 100 banks and credit unions that leverage Upstart’s AI models and cloud applications to deliver superior credit products. With Upstart's AI lenders can approve more borrowers at lower rates across races ages and genders while delivering the exceptional digital-first experience customers demand. More than 80% of borrowers are approved instantly with zero documentation to upload. Founded in 2012 Upstart’s platform includes personal loans automotive retail and refinance loans home equity lines of credit and small-dollar “relief” loans. If you are energized by the impact you think you could make at Upstart we'd love to hear from you!

Why Work With Us

Connection to our mission creates a special environment where people feel passionately about the impact they make in the world. Upstart is fast-paced and we encourage ownership at all levels of the organization. As a result culture at Upstart is driven by Upstarters. Upstarters are proactive talented multi-dimensional and collaborative.

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