Legal Counsel/ Senior Legal Counsel (Payments), London

Overview

In this role you will counsel on payments compliance for TikTok, Bytedance and affiliates in Europe and the UK, partnering with product and business teams to navigate regulatory requirements. You will help scale legal review processes for new payment solutions and maintain subject-matter expertise on financial services regulations. As a trusted advisor, you will collaborate with global colleagues and regulators to support rapid product launches and compliance. This position offers the chance to shape payments governance in a fast-moving tech environment.

Responsibilities

• Counsel product teams on money transfer services, e-money, payment tokens, AML, gifts, stored value facilities and related region-specific issues
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (product, compliance, business development) on product development and commercialisation of global payment projects
• Advise on payment issues in connection with launches of features, projects or programs; work with the global legal team
• Guide the global payments business on licensing and regulator interactions
• Help build scalable legal review and launch processes for new payment solutions and products
• Maintain up-to-date expertise on EU/UK financial services regulations (AML, money transmission, virtual currency, KYC/KYB)
• Act as a proactive business partner and trusted advisor across TikTok product and global payments teams

Key requirements

• Qualified lawyer with at least 5 years in fintech/payments, including money service business compliance, AML and KYC rules, and stored value facilities
• Knowledge of sanctions and broader financial crime regulations
• Global or regional experience in fintech startups or creator economy is highly advantageous
• Experience advising on payment product compliance and managing regulatory risks for consumer-facing financial services/products
• Ability to interpret regulations and translate complex guidance into clear communications

• Stakeholder management and influence
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Proactive, entrepreneurial mindset
• Payments compliance advisory
• AML/KYC and sanctions knowledge
• Regulatory interpretation and communication

…