Kevin Lefton

About Kevin Lefton

Strategic Legal Leader and Advisor with extensive experience navigating complex regulatory landscapes across the US, UK, EU, and Canada. I bridge the gap between aggressive business growth and rigorous compliance, serving as a trusted partner to CEOs and Boards in the Fintech and Technology sectors.Beyond traditional legal oversight, I am a seasoned advocate for industry-standard policy, having provided expert testimony before US Congress and State Legislatures to shape regulatory frameworks and represent corporate interests at the highest levels of government. Core areas of expertise include: • /: Direct engagement with Congress, State Legislatures, and agencies including the CFPB, DOJ, and FTC.• : Expertly scaling operations through M&A, Fintech innovation, and high-value technology partnerships.• : Designing and implementing robust compliance and risk frameworks across diverse international jurisdictions.• : Leading state and local procurement strategies and managing public-sector legal complexities.• : Mentoring high-performing legal teams and optimizing outside counsel spend to align with fiscal goals: In addition to my in-house legal leadership, I bring an academic foundation in business communication as a former adjunct professor at both the undergraduate and MBA levels. I taught future business leaders to write and speak with clarity, integrity, and impact - emphasizing tone, ethics, and the power of precise editing and proofreading. My approach is rooted in real-world application, helping others to draw clear lines between ethical and unethical behavior, and make principled decisions.

Experience

1. Global General Counsel

   Stream

   Jun 2024 — Present

   Lead the legal, regulatory, compliance and risk functions at Stream (formerly Wagestream) across the US, UK, Spain, and Canada. Initially hired as the company’s first attorney for North America, and subsequently promoted to Global General Counsel. Successfully established and scaled the legal and compliance function for North American operations, and designed and executed the company’s regulatory strategy.Provide strategic legal counsel across all business areas globally, including operations, sales, finance, human resources, and the board of directors. Key responsibilities include: • Leading a global team of attorneys, compliance and risk professionals• Managing financial services compliance and broader regulatory matters• Communicating with federal and state regulators• Handling employment-related legal issues• Selecting and managing outside counsel• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts with customers, vendors, and suppliers• Overseeing corporate governance and board matters

Education

• George Mason University

  Bachelor's degree, English

• Syracuse University College of Law

  Juris Doctor degree

• George Mason University

  Master's degree, Telecommunications Policy & Regulation

Skills

• Employment Law
• Licensing
• Strategy
• Business Strategy
• Risk Management
• Intellectual Property
• Leadership
• Corporate Law
• Analysis
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Teaching
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Due Diligence
• Contract Negotiation
• Start-Ups
• Management
• Joint Ventures
• Negotiation
• Strategic Planning
• Policy