Lead Legal Counsel – HELOC

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Act as the primary legal advisor for Upstart’s Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) product.

• Offer strategic legal guidance to the Product, Engineering, Risk, Compliance, and Operations teams.

• Assist in the transition from a state-licensed lender to a national banking institution.

• Provide legal advice on federal and state consumer lending regulations, secured lending products, mortgage laws, and regulatory updates.

• Counsel on future product offerings, which may include purchase-money mortgages.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop compliant product features, customer experiences, operational workflows, and servicing capabilities.

• Direct legal support for new product initiatives, regulatory changes, and expansion in the home-lending market.

• Work in conjunction with Product & Regulatory Legal and other legal teams, including Privacy, Fair Lending, Capital Markets, and Commercial Contracts.

• Engage with regulators, banking partners, external legal counsel, and internal stakeholders.

• Recognize and convey significant legal risks to business partners and senior management via clear, actionable recommendations.

⛳️ Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a recognized law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.

• Over 7 years of legal experience advising financial services, fintech, or mortgage lending entities.

• Extensive experience acting as the primary legal advisor for complex product organizations, particularly those focused on real estate secured products.

• Profound knowledge of consumer financial services laws and mortgage regulations, including TILA, RESPA, ECOA, FCRA, HMDA, UDAAP, relevant state lending laws, and federal banking regulations.

• Experience guiding cross-functional product development teams.

• History of supporting the launch or growth of regulated financial products.

• Availability during East/West coast time zones.

• Must reside and work in the U.S.; Upstart is currently unable to hire in Quebec for Canada-based roles.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive salary, including base pay, bonus potential, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly.

• 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year.

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (U.S. only).

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and wellness benefits.

• Supplemental health coverage available for Canada.

• Contributions to Health Savings Accounts for eligible plans (U.S. only).

• Life insurance and disability coverage provided.

• Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays.

• Paid family and parental leave.

• Family-oriented benefits for fertility, parenthood, and caregiving.

• Employee Assistance Program offering mental health support and life-centered resources.

• Financial planning tools and concierge services available (U.S. only).

• Annual wellness allowance.

• Annual productivity allowance for relevant work tools and resources.

• Team-building events, company-wide updates, and employee resource groups.

• Onsite amenities, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens at company offices.