General Counsel (5-Month Fixed-Term Contract)

**Great to Meet You! We are Ascenda** Ascenda powers the growth of leading financial services brands worldwide with premium rewards programs that differentiate their products, drive profitable customer behaviors, and create sustained engagement. We are behind the world-class rewards propositions of major banks and fintechs around the globe, including brands like American Express, Capital One, Brex, Revolut, Ramp, HSBC, Bank of New Zealand, Virgin Money (Australia), Bradesco (Brazil), ANZ (Australia), HDFC (India) and many others. We are a thriving global Loyalty as a Service company and experiencing rapid expansion. Join our dynamic finance team as one of its earliest leaders, contributing to the development of our financial planning strategies as we strive for hypergrowth. Our team spans 20 cities worldwide, with dual headquarters in Singapore and New York, totaling 250 team members. **The Role** Ascenda is seeking an experienced, business-minded lawyer to serve as Interim General Counsel during a parental leave period. This individual will provide strategic legal leadership and hands-on support across commercial, regulatory, and corporate matters, ensuring continuity of legal operations and alignment with business objectives in a fast-growing fintech environment. **This is a full-time, fixed-term contract covering parental leave from October 2026 through March 2027.** **Key Responsibilities** **Legal Leadership & Strategic Advisory** - Act as the primary legal advisor to senior leadership on day-to-day legal matters and strategic initiatives - Provide practical, solutions-oriented guidance balancing legal risk with commercial objectives - Operate as a hands-on generalist who can roll up their sleeves and connect the dots across commercial, product, partnerships, finance, and HR teams **Commercial & Transactional Work** - Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including: - MSAs with banks and card issuers - Strategic partnership agreements with airlines, loyalty partners, content providers and other complementary partners - DPAs, IDTAs and data sharing agreements - Advise on structuring complex global partnerships and revenue-generating arrangements - Review and maintain customer-facing product terms, participation agreements, and service-specific terms **Regulatory & Compliance** - Oversee legal and regulatory compliance across relevant jurisdictions (payments, data privacy, loyalty frameworks as applicable) - Provide guidance on emerging regulatory developments impacting fintech and data-driven platforms - Advise on AI governance, including responsible AI policies and contractual restrictions on AI/ML model training using company or client data **Employment & HR** - Support global employment matters, including employment agreements, workplace policies, and workforce actions across multiple jurisdictions **Corporate & Governance** - Support corporate governance matters, including board materials, shareholder agreements, resolutions, and entity management - Advise on international expansion, entity structuring, and cross-border considerations - Engage and manage external counsel on an as-needed basis for specialized matters, including litigation, dispute resolution, and jurisdiction-specific regulatory advice **Operational Continuity** - Step into ongoing matters and ensure seamless continuation of legal workflows - Assess and triage litigation and pre-litigation matters, including conducting initial investigations and managing responses to counterparty claims - Identify and prioritize key legal risks and urgent issues during the coverage period - Maintain and improve legal processes, templates, intake workflows, and playbooks; leverage legal technology tools where appropriate **Who You Are** - JD or equivalent; Admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state - 10+ years of legal experience, including: - Prior General Counsel, Deputy GC, or senior in-house leadership role - Strong background in B2…