Fractional Legal Counsel

About VoPay International Inc.VoPay's Fintech-as-a-Service platform allows any business to embed financial services and payment capabilities into their existing applications, products, or services through a single, scalable API. Our integrated technology enables product managers and developers the flexibility and speed to build innovative financial products.

The OpportunityVoPay is looking for a Fractional Legal Counsel to serve as our Head of Legal. This engagement is expected to require a minimum of 20 hours per week, with flexible scheduling and additional availability required during critical business milestones.

We seek an experienced legal leader who possesses deep expertise in payments, financial services, and technology, specifically in managing and identifying applicable FinTech risks. The Counsel will be responsible for providing strategic, commercially-minded legal advice to the executive team and overseeing the company's entire legal framework. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Fractional Legal Counsel will be accountable for establishing, operating, and maintaining a scalable legal function that directly supports VoPay's aggressive growth strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Legal Counsel: As the owner of VoPay's legal function, provide strategic and pragmatic guidance to the CEO and executive leadership team on all corporate legal matters.
• Commercial Transactions: Review, draft, and negotiate complex commercial agreements (e.g., Master Services Agreements, sales/partnership agreements, platform/technology licensing agreements, and data processing agreements) to facilitate market expansion and rapid product development.
• FinTech and Technology Focus: Provide specialized counsel on core technology and FinTech areas, including intellectual property (IP) strategy, data privacy (e.g., PIPEDA, GDPR, PSD2), information security, and terms of service for new products and services.
• Corporate Governance: Manage general corporate matters, including employment and human resources issues, finance activities, and M&A diligence/integration as required.
• External Counsel Management: Strategically collaborate and coordinate with external legal counsels in various jurisdictions to ensure cost-effective and integrated legal coverage globally.
• Policy Development: Develop and maintain internal legal policies, processes, and playbooks to ensure scalable and consistent adherence to laws, regulations, and corporate standards across all business units.
• Other Duties: Perform other duties and projects assigned by the Chief Executive Officer

Skills and Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited Canadian / US / UK law school, and in good standing to practice law in Canada
• 8+ years of progressive experience in technology and corporate law, preferably in-house at a growth-stage company in the technology or financial services sector
• Significant experience operating as the lead or sole counsel in a high-growth startup environment, specifically within banking/FinTech/payments, is an advantage
• Substantial, hands-on experience drafting, negotiating, and closing complex commercial transactions, including partnerships and vendor agreements, that are essential for scaling a SaaS platform
• Up-to-date on fintech/digital payments industry innovations and developments, and prepare the legal point of view to adapt to current and upcoming changes
• Exceptional ability to operate efficiently and effectively by prioritizing tasks, managing external counsel, and delivering results that align with fast-paced business requirements
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, commercial risk assessments for the executive teams
• A collaborative, commercially-minded approach and comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy