Lead Counsel, International

About the role

Ramp is seeking a strategic Lead Counsel, International to establish and lead the legal function for our European operations from a base in London. In this pivotal role, you will own the end to end legal strategy for Ramp's fintech operations across the United Kingdom and European Union, ensuring robust compliance and enabling scalable growth. You will serve as the primary legal advisor to commercial, product, and engineering leaders, translating complex regulatory landscapes into clear business strategies. The position requires deep collaboration with our U.S. legal and compliance teams to maintain regulatory consistency and operational excellence globally. You will own high impact initiatives that directly influence our market entry timelines and commercial outcomes. This role offers the opportunity to shape the legal foundation of a rapidly scaling fintech during a critical phase of international expansion. You will be instrumental in building durable legal frameworks that support innovation while rigorously managing risk.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Orchestrate the legal and regulatory strategy for Ramp's UK and EU fintech operations, with a primary focus on payment services directives, e-money frameworks, and data protection obligations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial contracts, including customer terms and conditions, merchant agreements, and strategic bank partnership arrangements.
• Partner closely with product, finance, risk, and marketing teams to assess legal implications and facilitate the launch of new features across international markets.
• Design and implement scalable legal processes, training programs, and escalation frameworks to support business growth without compromising compliance.
• Oversee corporate governance matters, including entity formation and maintenance, while efficiently managing external counsel relationships and budgets.
• Provide day to day legal advice on employment matters and oversee local employment compliance, ensuring alignment with UK and EU labor regulations.
• Lead regulatory engagement where appropriate, interpreting evolving rules for financial services and technology, and articulating their business impact.
• Develop and maintain legal playbooks and risk assessments that translate intricate regulatory rules into actionable guidance for commercial teams.
• Coordinate due diligence and transactional workflows, ensuring that all legal documentation supports business objectives and risk appetite.
• Serve as a cross functional problem solver, addressing commercial, operational, and regulatory challenges with pragmatic and timely solutions.

Requirements

• Must be a qualified attorney licensed to practice law in the United Kingdom.
• Bring significant experience working either in house within a fintech environment or at a law firm serving regulated financial services clients.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of United Kingdom and European Union financial services law, e-money regulations, and technology related compliance obligations.
• Show a proven ability to deliver cross functional legal advice on commercial transactions, product initiatives, and operational matters.
• Exhibit strong project management capabilities and exceptional drafting skills, with a talent for converting complex regulatory requirements into clear business guidance.
• Possess sound judgment and integrity, with the ability to manage sensitive matters discreetly and professionally.
• Communicate effectively in English, both in writing and verbally, to engage with senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Thrive in a fast paced, dynamic environment where priorities evolve and demand proactive problem solving.

Nice to have

• Prior experience scaling a fintech business across multiple European jurisdictions and navigating varied national regulatory approaches.
• Proficiency in additional European languages to facilitate stronger relationships with local teams and regulators.
• Demonstrated experience managing relationships with regulators and coordinating external legal teams across diverse jurisdictions.

Practical notes

This role is based in London and is a full time position. Compensation for this role ranges from 154,000 GBP to 212,000 GBP annually, complemented by equity grants. Ramp provides UK employees with a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance through Freedom Elite, virtual general practitioner and at home medical services via eMed x Livi, and a workplace pension via Penfold with salary sacrifice options. The company also offers 16 weeks of paid parental leave for birthing or bonding and 8 weeks of paid leave for bonding partners. If you are being referred for this role, please ensure your contact submits the application on your behalf, as internal referrals are managed through this process. Ramp only communicates with candidates using official @ramp.com email addresses, and any correspondence from alternative domains should be regarded as unofficial. Please note that Ramp is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates.

About the company

Ramp is a corporate card and spend management platform that helps businesses save money and close their books faster. Founded by Eric Glyman and Karim Atiyeh in 2019, Ramp was valued at 7.65 billion USD in its 2023 Series D round and processes tens of billions in annualized payments globally. The company builds products that simplify financial operations, from spend controls to bill pay and expense management. Ramp's mission is to modernize how businesses manage cash flow and vendor relationships through intelligent software and data driven insights. The organization is built around values of ownership, transparency, and rigorous analytical thinking. As Ramp continues to expand internationally, the London office will play a central role in driving adoption and compliance across European markets.