(Senior) Legal Counsel - Investment Products (f/m/d)

Upvest

At Upvest, we are on a mission to make investing as easy as spending money. Upvest empowers businesses to offer a wide range of investment products and the best experience in the field of capital market investment and retirement planning. Upvest’s Investment API is easy to integrate so that fintechs and financial institutions can save resources and fully focus on their core business. We are proud to partner with Europe’s leading Fintechs and financial institutions such as DKB, Revolut, N26 and Raisin. Founded in 2017 by Martin Kassing, Upvest now brings together over 270 talented professionals from more than 70 nationalities. Upvest is backed by €280M in total funding from world-class investors, including BlackRock, Tencent, Sapphire Ventures, and Bessemer Venture Partners, Earlybird, Notion Capital, and Motive. Our latest €105M funding round in March 2026 - led by Sapphire and Tencent - serves as a massive catalyst for our growth, allowing us to offer premier investment experience. YOUR MISSION AT UPVEST: As (Senior) Legal Counsel – Investment Operations, you are part of the legal infrastructure that keeps Upvest's post-trade engine running. You bring a granular understanding of clearing, settlement, and custody — and you use it to ensure that every transaction Upvest processes is legally sound, operationally resilient, and regulatorily defensible at scale. Your mission is to safeguard Upvest's operating business as it scales across the EEA, UK, and Switzerland. Working within a high-performing legal team, you will be the go-to legal voice for everything that happens after a trade is executed — ensuring our post-trade infrastructure remains compliant, our counterparty relationships are properly governed, and our operational processes can absorb the demands of rapid growth. Key Responsibilities: * Post-Trade Legal Coverage: Be the legal authority on Upvest's post-execution infrastructure. Advise on the legal framework governing clearing, settlement, and custody operations, ensuring our processes remain compliant with applicable regulation at every step of the transaction lifecycle. * Custody & Safekeeping: Own the legal framework around client asset protection and safekeeping obligations. Ensure Upvest's custody arrangements, including sub-custodian relationships. are structured, documented, and monitored to the highest regulatory standard. * Counterparty & Operational Contracting: Lead the negotiation and ongoing management of agreements with CCPs, CSDs, custodians, and other post-trade infrastructure providers. Maintain a contractual framework that is robust, scalable, and commercially sound. * Regulatory Navigation: Serve as the internal expert on post-trade regulation across EU and German law. Monitor and interpret developments across MiFID, WpDVerOV, CSDR, and MaRisk, and translate their implications into actionable guidance for Operations, Compliance, and Finance. * Operational Risk & Incident Support: Partner with Operations and Compliance to assess and respond to post-trade incidents, settlement failures, and operational risk events from a legal perspective. Develop playbooks that enable fast, legally defensible responses. * Legal Ops & Automation: Drive the modernisation of Upvest's legal function. Champion scalable contracting processes, AI-assisted review workflows, and documentation standards that keep pace with operational growth without sacrificing rigour. What You'll Bring: * Qualification: At least 3–5 years post-qualification experience (PQE) in the financial services industry. At least one German legal qualification (Erste Juristische Prüfung). * Post-Trade Depth: Hands-on understanding of clearing, settlement, and custody mechanics across a range of investment products — at the level of a seasoned practitioner who has worked directly with CCPs, CSDs, or custodians. * Industry Background: Experience in a regulated investment firm, custodian bank, CSD, infrastructure provider, or fintech with a meaningful post-trade operating footprint. * Regulatory Expertise: Strong command of EU and German financial law relevant to post-trade operations (MiFID, CSDR, WpDVerOV, MaRisk). Exposure to UK (FCA) regulation or other European NCAs is a strong plus. * International Mindset: Familiarity with adapting legal frameworks across European markets, particularly where post-trade infrastructure and regulation diverges by jurisdiction. * Automation Advocate: Enthusiasm for streamlining the legal function through technology — whether tooling, AI-assisted review, or smarter process workflows. * Pragmatic and Direct: You focus on keeping the business running through clear-eyed legal judgement. You identify risk without creating paralysis, and give Operations and Compliance answers they can act on. * Languages: Professional fluency in English and German — essential for regulatory filings, custodian negotiations, and day-to-day stakeholder management. HOW WE UPVEST IN YOU: * Impact-driven work: We’re building the infrastructure that will power the future of investing in Europe. It’s complex, ambitious, and meaningful. You’ll work with modern technologies and create something entirely new. No legacy systems, no limits. * Wellbeing: Recharge with 30 days of annual leave and maintain a healthy lifestyle with sports benefits. Access confidential professional coaching and enjoy the flexibility to work remotely abroad for up to 183 days a year. Recharge with UpRest, a one-month fully paid sabbatical after every 4 years of working at Upvest. * Development: Growth is in our DNA. Each Upvenger has access to a personal development budget and the freedom to decide how to use it. * Flexible work environment: Work from any of our hubs in Berlin, London or Tallinn hybrid or remotely across Europe, depending on the role. We give you the choice and budget to work where you’re most comfortable and productive, either at home or in the office. You choose. * Compensation and equity: We believe that all Upvengers contribute to our success and deserve a competitive, above-market salary and a participation in our employee equity program. * Team celebrations: Participate in company-wide events, such as UpFest, dinners, offsites and our Holiday party, to connect with colleagues and celebrate our achievements. * Inclusion: We’re committed to a culture where everyone belongs and thrives. Our Employee Resources Groups foster inclusion and connection, like Upfem for our female Upvengers, or UpVergent supporting neurodivergent Upvengers and allies. OUR VALUES: * Make it easy for others. We simplify the complex and act with the best intentions. * Own the outcome. We are proactive, fast and confident to get the job done, valuing progress over perfection. * Rise to the challenge. We aim high and push the boundaries. We stay curious, learn and celebrate our wins together. * Tell the story. We start with the Why to align on purpose. We are transparent and share knowledge to empower and inspire others. Upvest is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

FREENOW

Location: Hamburg or Berlin! At Freenow by Lyft, we’re not just moving people - we’re empowering smarter mobility decisions to help people move freely and make cities thrive.  We are pioneers in the tech-driven mobility space, building the future of urban transportation. As we scale our operations and pioneer autonomous vehicle technologies across the EU, we face a sophisticated landscape of regulatory challenges that require a world-class compliance framework. We’re seeking a Senior Legal Counsel (Corporate & M&A) to lead our legal strategy across two primary pillars: comprehensive corporate governance and M&A transactions throughout Europe. In this role, you will act as the primary legal architect for M&A activities while simultaneously overseeing the corporate lifecycle and governance of our international subsidiaries. You will manage complex negotiations, draft transactional and corporate documentation, and ensure that our corporate structure and M&A initiatives are executed with precision to protect the company’s global interests. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- YOUR DAILY ADVENTURES WILL INCLUDE: * Oversee entity lifecycle management, corporate secretarial matters, and board support across European subsidiaries. * Draft and manage intercompany agreements and support internal group reorganizations. * Provide ongoing legal counsel to internal business units on corporate law matters. * Lead the full M&A lifecycle, including strategic deal preparation, drafting LOIs, performing legal due diligence, and negotiating transactional documentation (SPAs, TSAs) with rigorous risk protection. Guide on regulatory approvals and bring the deal to completion. * Architect legal integration plans for acquired businesses and ensure harmonized post-close entity governance and regulatory compliance. * Direct outside counsel globally, managing engagement, budgets, and deliverables across multi-jurisdictional matters to ensure high-quality output and cost efficiency. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE: * A qualified lawyer with 5+ years of PQE specializing in both Corporate law and M&A, ideally gained through a combination of top-tier law firm and in-house experience within a fast-paced, tech-driven environment. * Fluent in English, with professional proficiency in German as a significant advantage. * A strong project manager capable of coordinating complex, multi-jurisdictional deal workstreams and balancing competing priorities under tight deadlines. * A master communicator with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and translate legal complexity into crystal clear, actionable business guidance. * Highly diligent, proactive, and collaborative, with a proven track record of building effective relationships across cross-functional teams. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFITS & PERKS IN A NUTSHELL: * Flexible working arrangements * LinkedIn Learning * Sabbatical & special leave policies * WeRoad partnership * Birthday, 24th + 31st December off * Short term EU work policy * Mobility Credit   * Employee assistance program     Plus more local benefits depending on your work location!   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION: Freenow is an equal opportunity employer and we consider qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or age. We want you to grow and evolve, bring your true self to work.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT FREENOW: Freenow by Lyft empowers smarter mobility decisions, helping people to move freely and cities to thrive. Through our multi-mobility app, we feature broad options for everyone across 9 European markets and over 180 cities. Millions of passengers can access services including taxis, private hire vehicles, carsharing, car rental, e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds, and public transport within a single app.  In July 2025 Freenow was acquired by Lyft, a global mobility platform, which connects riders and drivers for billions of rides across North America and Europe. Together, Freenow and Lyft are creating a more caring and connected world, with transportation for everyone. We are a global, diverse, highly motivated, and collaborative team that strives for excellence and likes to have fun. Ready for your next ride?

JetBrains

At JetBrains, code is our passion. Ever since we started, back in 2000, we have been striving to make the strongest, most effective developer tools on earth. By automating routine checks and corrections, our tools speed up production, freeing developers to grow, discover, and create. We are now looking for a Senior Legal Counsel – Employment Law, based in Germany, to provide expert legal support on German employment law and contribute to employment-related matters across JetBrains’ global operations. The role involves supporting HR in managing sensitive workplace situations, contributing to the development and implementation of employment practices that align with legal standards and business needs, and advising on employee representation structures. Responsibilities: * Serve as a trusted advisor to HR on sensitive and complex employee matters, providing strategic guidance that takes into account legal requirements, organizational context, and reputational considerations. * Provide strategic legal support and pragmatic counsel to the Group Counsel – Labor Law, General Counsel, and the HR team, with a primary focus on German labor law and broader support across JetBrains’ operations. * Handle a wide range of employee matters, including complex and sensitive cases in Germany, and assist with such matters in other jurisdictions by developing sound legal strategies, reviewing documentation, and helping the business confidently stand behind its decisions. * Assess and respond to complex or nuanced internal communications and reports, supporting the development of thoughtful and well-balanced strategies aligned with legal and organizational considerations. * Draft, review, and continuously improve employment agreements, contractor agreements, and HR-related templates and policies tailored to Germany and other applicable jurisdictions. * Conduct in-depth, group-wide analyses on employment and labor law topics, and lead or contribute to cross-functional projects, including the harmonization of employment policies and documentation across countries. * Act as a senior advisor to HR teams on employment practices and workplace policies, including remote work, employee benefits, disciplinary procedures, and work safety matters, particularly for the German entities of the JetBrains group. * Take a lead role in providing legal support in relation to employee representation structures with a focus on Germany. Advise on their operations and management interactions in compliance with local legislation and best practices. * Stay abreast of legislative changes in German labor law and provide legal training and knowledge-sharing sessions to internal stakeholders, particularly HR and management. * Represent JetBrains in communications with German regulatory and government bodies on employment-related matters. * Collaborate with legal colleagues across the global team on projects and issues that intersect with employment and labor law. Requirements: * Fluency in German and English, both written and spoken. * A law degree with excellent academic credentials. German bar admission is an advantage. * Senior-level post-qualification experience in employment and labor law, typically gained through 6+ years of relevant legal practice with demonstrated hands-on experience in employment dispute resolution. Experience in both in-house and reputable international law firm environments is an advantage. * In-depth knowledge of German employment law, with practical experience advising on complex workplace matters, procedures, and collaboration with employee representation structures. * The ability to provide clear, solutions-oriented guidance in complex or evolving legal contexts. * Demonstrated ability to assess sensitive employee-related matters, distill key issues, and develop clear, effective legal and communication approaches. * Excellent skills in legal drafting, negotiation, dispute resolution, and managing emotionally sensitive situations involving employees. * A proactive, collaborative, pragmatic, and adaptable solutions-oriented approach, with strong interpersonal skills and business awareness. * The ability to work independently in a fast-paced, international environment with multiple stakeholders and shifting priorities. * Willingness to provide support for employment law matters in other countries with the help of external counsel and internal legal colleagues. Why join JetBrains?  * Strong base salary. We offer competitive pay that reflects your skills and experience. * Flexible work location. Enjoy the freedom to work from home or from the office. * Remote work. Spend up to 30 days per year working remotely from abroad. * Extra time off. More days to relax, recharge, and do the things you love. * Medical insurance allowance. Enjoy peace of mind for you and your family * Learning and development opportunities. Access to conferences, courses, and language classes. * Relocation support. We help make your move as smooth and stress-free as possible. (keep if relevant for the role) * Language classes. Pick up the local language or sharpen your English skills. * Fuel your day. Enjoy a hot meal or receive a lunch allowance on workdays. * Mental health support. To help you feel your best, we provide easy access to professional mental health services. * Sports benefit. Enjoy an on-site gym or sports club stipend. * Internal events. Join company-wide celebrations and team gatherings. *Some benefits may vary depending on location. #LI-HYBRID #LI-MH1 We are an equal opportunity employer We know great ideas can come from anyone, anywhere. That’s why we do our best to create an open and inclusive workplace – one that welcomes everyone regardless of their background, identity, religion, age, accessibility needs, or orientation. We process the data provided in your job application in accordance with the Recruitment Privacy Policy.