Lawyer / Attorney / Counsel - Catalyst Labs - Chicago, Illinois, United States

About Us

Catalyst Labs is a leading talent agency with a specialized vertical in Legal, Regulatory Compliance, and Corporate Governance. We operate deeply inside our clients’ hiring processes not as an external vendor, but as an embedded extension of their executive and in-house legal teams.

We collaborate directly with General Counsels, Chief Compliance Officers, Partners, and Heads of Legal across Tier 1 Law firms, VCbacked startups, high-growth technology firms, investment entities, financial institutions, and global corporations and consultancies. Our clients are shaping the next decade of regulatory risk management, data governance, fintech compliance, cross-border structuring, and digital asset regulation.

We take pride in facilitating conversations that align with your technical legal expertise, your risk judgment, and your long-term trajectory in an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. This is a general / expression of interest therefore by submitting your CV, you will be considered for upcoming roles with our clients.

Locations: Most of our client base is concentrated in California, New York, Washington D.C., London, and select hubs across Europe.

Who Can Apply: We are looking for pre / post bar Legal and Compliance professionals with demonstrated experience within reputable law firms, in-house legal departments, regulatory bodies, or top financial/technology institutions.

Experience: From early-career associates, compliance analysts, paralegals to senior counsels, leads, and director-level professionals.

General Requirements by Role:

• Proven experience advising, interpreting, or executing legal and compliance frameworks in live business environments (beyond purely academic or theoretical exposure).

• Background in a respected law firm, a top-tier corporate legal team, a regulated financial institution, or a high-caliber compliance function.

• Strong understanding of core legal fundamentals such as regulatory interpretation, contract structuring, governance controls, and risk assessment.

• Hands-on experience with at least one major area of specialization:

  • Corporate / Commercial

  • Real Estate

  • Venture capital / Private equity / M&A

  • Employment & Labor

  • Finance / Fintech / Payments Compliance

  • Regulatory Compliance

  • Data Privacy (GDPR / CCPA / global privacy)

  • Securities & Investment Regulation

  • Digital Assets / Web3 Regulatory (SEC, CFTC, FCA, MAS frameworks)

  • Anti-Money Laundering / KYC / Sanctions

  • Internal Investigations / Litigation

• Familiarity with modern compliance and legal operations workflows:

  • Policy drafting & governance frameworks

  • Risk assessment methodologies

  • Compliance monitoring systems

  • Contract lifecycle management

  • Regulatory reporting

  • Cross-border entity compliance

• Experience interacting with regulators, auditors, external counsel, or internal leadership is highly valued.

• Professionals with experience in emerging regulatory areas such as AI governance, algorithmic transparency, digital identity, or cybersecurity law are also welcome.

• Strong research, drafting, and advisory skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory obligations into actionable guidance for business teams.

• Experience mentoring junior staff, leading cross-functional compliance initiatives, or partnering with executive stakeholders is an advantage.

• Candidates with a track record of impactful cases, regulatory submissions, process improvements, policy frameworks, or crisis-management contributions will stand out.

Why Work With Us?

• Take advantage of strong relationships we’ve built with General Counsels, CCOs, and executive leadership.

• Work with recruiters who understand the difference between regulatory interpretation and regulatory implementation.

• We prioritize your confidentiality and privacy throughout the recruitment process.

• No spamming.

• Support refining your resume for the roles we shortlist you for.

• Direct communication channels: bypass gatekeepers and speak directly with actual hiring managers and decision-makers.

• Insight on compensation structures across jurisdictions, including equity-linked roles, regulatory premium roles, and hybrid legal-compliance leadership tracks.