# Legal Counsel

> First Circle · Taguig, Philippines (Hybrid) · Full-time · Posted 2026-09-16

**Workplace:** hybrid

**Department:** PH Hiring

## Description

First Circle is the leading and fastest growing, technology-led financial service business for SMEs in the Philippines. We've already transformed access to credit for thousands of businesses, and now we're building a full service digital-first small business bank offering multi-currency bank accounts, payments, FX, corporate credit cards, and payroll. As we enter this next phase of growth, we're hiring exceptional talent with a track record of excellence to join us in shaping the next chapter.

The **Legal Counsel** supports the General Counsel and handles the day-to-day legal operations of the business. This role is well suited to a mid-level lawyer who wants hands-on exposure across a broad range of legal matters, with direct mentorship from the GC. The role covers three core areas of support: general legal advice for daily operations, assistant corporate secretary/housekeeping support, and general support to the GC as needed.

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### Key Responsibilities:

**1\. General Legal Advice**  
Performance Objective: Legal is never the reason a transaction or project slips. Positions taken are commercial but defensible. Escalation is timely: material issues are escalated to the CEO/CIO.

-   Provide general legal advice and support for all FCGFC daily operations
-   Review, draft, and negotiate contracts and other legal documents in the ordinary course of business
-   Provide legal support across departments on day-to-day operational questions and requests
-   Escalate matters to the GC where legal or business risk requires senior input

**2\. Assistant Corporate Secretary & Housekeeping Support**  
Performance Objective: Zero late or deficient statutory filings. Full corporate record set maintained. Any corporate record producible same day as requested.

-   Act as assistant to the GC in the Corporate Secretary function
-   Support the preparation and safe-keeping of board and stockholders' meeting minutes and corporate records
-   Assist in the preparation and filing of SEC certificates, GIS, and other corporate housekeeping submissions
-   Help ensure ongoing SEC compliance, including tracking statutory deadlines

**3\. General Support to the GC**

-   Provide general support to the GC on strategic, transactional, compliance, and other workstreams as needed
-   Assist on ad hoc/special projects assigned to Legal
-   Help maintain corporate records, filings, and documentation in good order

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A successful candidate is:

-   Able to balance commercial mindedness with legal best practice.
-   Able to drive progress across multiple workstreams in a fast paced environment.
-   Comfortable voicing their opinions to strong-minded stakeholders.
-   Able to balance urgency with thoroughness.
-   Comfortable working in an expat-led organization.

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### **Team construct**

The Legal counsel is supported by a team of five: General Counsel, a paralegal, Head of Compliance, a Compliance Assistance and a general administrative assistant.

## Requirements

-   3–5 years of relevant legal experience.
-   Experience in a startup or fintech environment.
-   Admitted to the Philippine bar and in good standing.
-   Experience supporting business operations legal needs (contracts, day-to-day legal questions).
-   Exposure to corporate secretarial/housekeeping work (minutes, SEC filings) is an advantage.
-   Strong drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
-   Ability to work independently while knowing when to escalate to the GC.

## Benefits

-   **Hybrid work set-up:** 2 days per week in our BGC office; remote the rest of the time.
-   **Additional perks & benefits:** HMO coverage from week one, free catered lunches, monthly fitness allowance, transportation & accommodation allowance, and more.
-   **Join a team with a deeply collaborative culture!** Learn more here: [https://www.firstcircle.ph/careers](https://www.firstcircle.ph/careers)

## Apply

[Apply at First Circle](https://apply.workable.com/first-circle/j/2BCA60DA15/apply)

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