(Senior) Legal Counsel

About Us

Hawk is the leading provider of AI-supported anti-money laundering and fraud detection technology. Banks and payment providers globally are using Hawk’s powerful combination of traditional rules and explainable AI to improve the effectiveness of their AML compliance and fraud prevention by identifying more crime while maximizing efficiency by reducing false positives. With our solution, we are playing a vital role in the global fight against Money Laundering, Fraud, or the financing of terrorism. We offer a culture of mutual trust, support and passion – while providing individuals with opportunities to grow professionally and make a difference in the world. 

YOUR MISSION 

Your mission is to provide expert legal guidance that empowers our organization to achieve its strategic goals while mitigating risk. You will lead complex legal matters, offer actionable insights, and ensure regulatory compliance across all business functions. As a trusted partner to leadership, you are passionate about safeguarding the company's interests, driving its growth, and fostering a culture of ethical and informed decision-making. You will contribute directly to our success by anticipating legal challenges, crafting innovative solutions, and supporting the company’s long-term vision. 

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Own a wide range of legal matters, and become a contact person for all legal matters of the company and its subsidiaries, including the requirements of international financial regulations, corporate law, IP and IP law, labor law, data protection law, regulatory and banking law as well as other areas of law and legal operations, 
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements, including commercial, partnership, employee and vendor contracts. 
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations, both domestically and internationally. 
• Lead risk management initiatives to proactively identify and mitigate legal risks. 
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality legal support. 
• Provide legal support in labor and employment matters, ensuring alignment with the company’s policies. 
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure legal best practices across departments. 
• Collaborate cross-functionally to educate and train teams on legal and regulatory requirements. 
• Keep the company up-to-date on changing laws, regulations, and industry standards. 

YOUR PROFILE 

• 3+ years of legal experience, ideally in both corporate and law firm settings in the banking or tech industry, with a focus on commercial and or financial regulatory law. 
• German Second State Exam or equivalent legal degree; admission to the bar in relevant jurisdictions. 
• Fluent in English and German (written and spoken). 
• Proven track record of advising on complex legal matters in fast-paced, international environments. 
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to drive favorable outcomes in high-stakes situations. 
• Deep understanding of the banking and tech industry, contract and IT law, financial regulations, and corporate governance 
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. 
• Adept at working autonomously and leading legal strategies with limited oversight. 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative, team-oriented mindset. 
• Passion for contributing to a dynamic, growing company where your legal expertise will have a direct impact on success. 

Perks & Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Personal development budget up to €1,000/year. (e.g., online courses, coaching, German classes, certifications)
• Gym membership subsidy
• 27 paid holidays annually + 1 day per each additional full year of remaining in the company, up to a maximum number of 30 days of holidays per year
• 4 weeks “working from anywhere” per year in selected countries
• MVG monthly commuting ticket subsidy (public transportation)
• Flexible working hours and home office possibilities
• Healthy drinks, snacks, and a weekly fruit basket in the office

Why Us

• the “World’s Top 100 AI Fintechs” and “Top EU Startups to Watch.”
• You will be at the center of a fast-growing, high-tech startup using the latest Cloud technology, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and machine learning.
• You will be part of an incredibly diverse and international team of 20+ nationalities across offices in Europe, the USA, and beyond.
• You will have a high degree of collaboration, ownership, and autonomy. Your work matters! 
• Your work will drive innovation and positively impact our society globally. We fight financial crime and aim to prevent 1.6 trillion USD from being money-laundered worldwide annually. 
• Our modern tech stack includes Kafka, Elasticsearch, AWS, MongoDB, Kubernetes, ArgoCD, Java 11, Spring, Python, React, and others.