VCs Look For FinTech Firms With Strong Governance Frameworks: Deepak THM, General Counsel, CredAble

What are your roles and responsibilities in your current role as General Counsel, CredAble? What is the team size of the in-house legal department at the company?

In my role as the General Counsel of CredAble, I will be in charge of all legal, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance areas for CredAble. I will work alongside key stakeholders across various functions within the business to advise on the legal implications of new markets, products, and contracts.

Apart from overseeing CredAble’s legal strategy, I will work closely with the leadership team to foster a culture of compliance and ensure the highest standards of governance. I will also be involved in strengthening CredAble’s in-house legal department, which is currently a team of 5. 

How do you view the role of the General Counsel evolving from traditional legal advisors to key business enablers in the current business and regulatory environment?

The entire legal function has evolved from being a traditional facilitator to a business enabler influencing key strategic decisions, while building a culture of legal responsibility across the organisation.

GCs need to be on the ground, agile, close to the business, and involved  with their company’s business and technology teams.

With the regulatory climate becoming more stringent, today's General Counsels play a crucial role in helping companies build resilience by ensuring that policies align with compliance requirements while meeting core business objectives. GCs need to be well-versed in both legal frameworks as well as business operations to be able to assess risks that impact long-term goals and anticipate how new regulations and laws affect the business. This way, a General Counsel can transform from an advisor to a business enabler and become a proactive contributor to the organisation's success, rather than being a mere legal gatekeeper.

How do you see the role of technology transforming in-house legal functions, particularly at fintech firms?

FinTech startups are shaking up traditional financial services models with innovations that are defining the next generation of solutions. Given the fast-paced markets that they operate in—FinTechs need to tap into the benefits of technology to transform the operation of in-house legal functions.

Automated systems will also help FinTech legal teams process large volumes of data and save time and resources when it comes to managing routine tasks like document review, contract management, and compliance tracking. Further, it will help standardise and simplify contract lifecycle management right from the point of drafting to implementation .

How is the fintech sector evolving from an investor's perspective, particularly in the context of VC-backed platforms?

The FinTech sector has gained even more prominence with VC firms displaying keen interest in new-age FinTech firms, driving the growth in investments and funding activity towards this sector in recent years.

FinTechs are attractive to VC’s if they demonstrate a clear path to profitability and build sustainable revenue models, while  complying with regulatory requirements .

With regulatory scrutiny intensifying for the FinTech industry, VCs are looking for FinTech firms with strong governance frameworks and proactive approaches to regulatory changes. 

Legal teams are building scalable compliance systems and introducing strong policies that cover risk management, global expansion, data privacy, and corporate governance. VCs find this level of groundwork appealing as it signals FinTechs’ readiness to thrive in complex regulatory landscapes.

What unique legal and regulatory challenges do fintech companies face compared to other VC-funded businesses?

Considering how FinTechs handle sensitive financial data, they must comply with strict privacy laws compared to other startups. Consequently, FinTech firms are also held to a high standard regarding customer protection, given their access to personal information. Clear guidelines and consumer-focused practices need to be in place.

This is a high-risk industry subject to increased regulatory expectations and stricter enforcement of laws and regulations. FinTech companies need to adhere to a number of laws, such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirements.

Non-compliance with these obligations can lead to severe sanctions and heavy penalties. This regulatory burden is resource-intensive and calls for tech-enabled tracking systems.

How does your experience of working in top law firms prime you for an in-house role? What advice would you offer young lawyers aspiring to transition from law firms to in-house legal roles, especially in fintech?

I have over 25 years of experience having advised domestic and international marquee clients in M&A, joint ventures, private equity transactions, and venture capital investments.

My career spans a wide range of legal functions and corporate transactions, with experience across sectors including technology, finance, manufacturing, infrastructure, FMCG, retail, and healthcare. I have also advised clients on corporate structuring and matters of general corporate and regulatory nature.

Working with top law firms has given me a strong foundation for leading an in-house legal team. This experience has helped me develop a deep understanding of complex legal issues and build a client-centric mindset, which is essential to helping a leading global FinTech company like CredAble keep pace with fast-changing regulations. 

For anyone looking to break into or transition into an in-house legal role, my advice is to invest time in understanding regulations and their underlying purpose. It's important to take time out to evaluate risks from both legal and business perspectives and cultivate business acumen around the various products in the space. It is also important that you present legal advice in clear, actionable terms—breaking it down for cross-functional teams to apply legal frameworks.