Join a startup breaking through.

Chief Counsel, Litigation and Investigation Attorney

Circle

Circle

Legal
USD 235k-300k / year
Posted on Jul 15, 2025

Circle is a financial technology company at the epicenter of the emerging internet of money, where value can finally travel like other digital data — globally, nearly instantly and less expensively than legacy settlement systems. This ground-breaking new internet layer opens up previously unimaginable possibilities for payments, commerce and markets that can help raise global economic prosperity and enhance inclusion. Our infrastructure – including USDC, a blockchain-based dollar – helps businesses, institutions and developers harness these breakthroughs and capitalize on this major turning point in the evolution of money and technology.

What you’ll be part of:

Circle is committed to visibility and stability in everything we do. As we grow as an organization, we're expanding into some of the world's strongest jurisdictions. Speed and efficiency are motivators for our success and our employees live by our company values: High Integrity, Future Forward, Multistakeholder, Mindful, and Driven by Excellence. We have built a flexible and diverse work environment where new ideas are encouraged and everyone is a stakeholder.

What you’ll be responsible for:

As Chief Counsel, Litigation and Investigations, you will manage civil disputes, regulatory matters, and internal investigations across global jurisdictions in coordination with the Assistant General Counsel for Litigation and Assistant General Counsel for Investigations & Enforcement. You’ll serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, partnering with stakeholders across Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Business teams to resolve legal risk, drive strategy, and protect Circle’s reputation and interests.

What you’ll work on:

  • Manage global civil litigation matters and disputes, including commercial, consumer and class action disputes.
  • Support internal investigations involving potential legal or policy violations across jurisdictions.
  • Partner with outside counsel to efficiently and effectively defend Circle in litigation.
  • Develop and implement strategies to mitigate litigation risk and regulatory exposure.
  • Collaborate with stakeholders across Legal, Compliance, Risk, and People teams.
  • Advise senior leadership on potential risks and recommended resolutions.
  • Contribute to litigation readiness efforts, including document preservation and response protocols.

What you’ll bring to Circle:
Core Requirements

  • J.D. degree with strong academic credentials and active bar membership.
  • 12+ years of relevant legal experience including top-tier law firm and government-prosecutorial roles (preferably focusing on financial crimes).
  • Deep expertise managing civil litigation and complex disputes.
  • Experience conducting or overseeing internal investigations.
  • Strong judgment and ability to assess legal risk in ambiguous situations.
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Preferred Requirements

  • Experience in fintech, payments, and blockchain/crypto.
  • Familiarity with global regulatory enforcement frameworks and coordination with regulatory bodies and law enforcement.
  • In-house experience supporting litigation or investigations at a fast-paced technology company.

Circle is on a mission to create an inclusive financial future, with transparency at our core. We consider a wide variety of elements when crafting our compensation ranges and total compensation packages.

Starting pay is determined by various factors, including but not limited to: relevant experience, skill set, qualifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note that compensation ranges may differ for candidates in other locations.

Base Pay Range:
$235,000 - $300,000

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at Circle. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Additionally, Circle participates in the E-Verify Program in certain locations, as required by law.

Should you require accommodations or assistance in our interview process because of a disability, please reach out to accommodations@circle.com for support. We respect your privacy and will connect with you separately from our interview process to accommodate your needs.

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