The Company
Payrails is an innovative technology company with a team that has many years of experience in the payment industry and a real-life understanding of the merchants’ needs. We have seen the complexity firsthand and we have learned from all the challenges we've faced. Now we want to help leading technology companies around the world accept payments and build financial services with minimal upfront investments.
Our vision at Payrails is to reimagine payments. We do this by removing heavy reliance on Engineering efforts using composable building blocks that put the control firmly in the hands of our customers. We exist to help our customers become more productive and flexible, impacting directly on their ability to grow.
We are joined in our mission by top-tier investors Andreessen Horowitz, HV Capital, EQT and General Catalyst alongside a great cast of knowledgeable angel investors to enable us to solve the growing complexity of payments.
At Payrails, we are committed to building a team full of the most talented people. Excellence is part of our values and we understand that in order to achieve this, we need to build an environment where skilled people can work openly, collaboratively, and with the utmost trust in one another. We believe people thrive the most when they are fully aware of what the business is trying to achieve, why it is important to the market, and what challenges lie in the way to reaching our goals. In such an environment we believe people can truly excel, grow and enjoy working together. We try hard to be a company where everyone is inspired and feels a sense of responsibility to do the right thing to help us bring our vision to life. Succeeding with us is about finding solutions to the most pressing problems and executing them effectively.
Your Team
At Payrails, we are on a mission to empower high-growth companies to design seamless payment experiences and financial services on a global scale. As our Director of Legal, you will take a strategic leadership role in shaping our legal function, overseeing all legal matters, and driving compliance across the business. Acting as a key advisor to senior leadership, you’ll collaborate with external counsel and cross-functional teams to navigate complex regulatory landscapes, negotiate high-impact commercial agreements, and proactively manage legal risks. This is a rare opportunity to build and scale a best-in-class legal framework from the ground up, influencing the trajectory of a fast-growing fintech startup.
What You Will Be Doing
* Act as the key legal advisor to senior leadership, shaping Payrails’ legal strategy and ensuring regulatory compliance.
* Lead negotiation and execution of complex commercial agreements, balancing business goals with risk management.
* Oversee compliance with German, EU, and global fintech/payment regulations, proactively addressing regulatory changes.
* Drive corporate governance, investor relations, and risk management, mitigating legal exposure across the business.
* Partner with teams on legal matters related to product, marketing, employment, and strategic initiatives.
* Build and scale a high-impact legal function, implementing efficient processes, policies, and compliance frameworks.
You'll be great for this role if
* You are a qualified legal professional with a German 2nd State Exam and 10+ years of experience in commercial law, financial services, or broad in-house roles.
* You have deep expertise in German and EU laws, particularly in contract law, data protection, and financial services regulations.
* You are fluent in German and English, with a strong ability to draft, negotiate, and manage complex contracts.
* You have a strategic mindset, aligning legal advice with business objectives to drive pragmatic, scalable solutions.
* You are a proactive leader, comfortable making high-stakes decisions and influencing senior stakeholders.
* You are collaborative and business-savvy, with excellent communication skills to engage across all levels of the organization.
* You are eager to build and scale a legal function that supports Payrails’ rapid growth and global expansion.
Why You should join Payrails
* You can truly create your own path by taking responsibility and implementing your own ideas.
* We offer visa and relocation support to you and your family where required.
* We offer a hybrid working environment.
* You have 27 annual vacation days.
* We get together regularly for team lunches and events.
* You help us shape the future of payments.
#J-18808-Ljbffr