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We’re thrilled to welcome Rebekah Punak as Faire’s new General Counsel. In this role, Rebekah will lead our Counsel team and play a critical role in navigating the evolving legal and regulatory landscape as we continue to grow Faire’s global platform.
We’re thrilled to welcome Rebekah Punak as Faire’s new General Counsel. In this role, Rebekah will lead our Counsel team and play a critical role in navigating the evolving legal and regulatory landscape as we continue to grow Faire’s global platform.
Rebekah brings over a decade of experience guiding fast-moving, high-impact teams at the intersection of technology, product innovation, and public policy. Most recently, she served as Director and Associate General Counsel at Meta, where she led a 50-person legal team supporting the Central Products Org on all legal issues impacting product development. Prior to Meta, she spent five years at Instacart as Vice President of Legal and Policy, helping the company scale during a pivotal chapter of growth.
Rebekah brings over a decade of experience guiding fast-moving, high-impact teams at the intersection of technology, product innovation, and public policy. Most recently, she served as Director and Associate General Counsel at Meta, where she led a 50-person legal team supporting the Central Products Org on all legal issues impacting product development. Prior to Meta, she spent five years at Instacart as Vice President of Legal and Policy, helping the company scale during a pivotal chapter of growth.
Rebekah’s depth and experience scaling teams, advising on complex legal issues, and supporting product development in regulated industries makes her an exceptional addition to our leadership team. Her perspective will be invaluable as we continue expanding our tools to serve independent brands and retailers around the world.
Rebekah’s depth and experience scaling teams, advising on complex legal issues, and supporting product development in regulated industries makes her an exceptional addition to our leadership team. Her perspective will be invaluable as we continue expanding our tools to serve independent brands and retailers around the world.
Read on to learn more about Rebekah.
Read on to learn more about Rebekah.
I joined Faire because I’m deeply inspired by its mission to empower brands and retailers. Whether I’m at home or traveling, I’ve always been drawn to neighborhoods filled with small, local shops. I spent countless hours during college working from neighborhood cafes, and developed a real appreciation for how local businesses shape the character of a community — they bring energy, creativity, and a sense of place. So when the opportunity arose to apply my background in online marketplaces to supporting the entrepreneurs behind those businesses, I leapt at the chance.
I joined Faire because I’m deeply inspired by its mission to empower brands and retailers. Whether I’m at home or traveling, I’ve always been drawn to neighborhoods filled with small, local shops. I spent countless hours during college working from neighborhood cafes, and developed a real appreciation for how local businesses shape the character of a community — they bring energy, creativity, and a sense of place. So when the opportunity arose to apply my background in online marketplaces to supporting the entrepreneurs behind those businesses, I leapt at the chance.
When I moved from a law firm to my first in-house role, I had to reorient my understanding of what it means to be a lawyer. At a firm, you’re an advisor — often a trusted and valuable one, but ultimately an outside expert helping a company navigate specific issues. Going in-house, I got to roll up my sleeves and become part of the team building and launching new things.
When I moved from a law firm to my first in-house role, I had to reorient my understanding of what it means to be a lawyer. At a firm, you’re an advisor — often a trusted and valuable one, but ultimately an outside expert helping a company navigate specific issues. Going in-house, I got to roll up my sleeves and become part of the team building and launching new things.
That shift meant developing knowledge outside of pure legal expertise, like gaining a deep understanding of our products, our customers, the market we operate in, and our overall business strategy. It also meant beginning to incorporate some of the skills of product management into the practice of law, like clearly articulating the team’s vision, setting priorities, and supporting fast, effective decision-making.
That shift meant developing knowledge outside of pure legal expertise, like gaining a deep understanding of our products, our customers, the market we operate in, and our overall business strategy. It also meant beginning to incorporate some of the skills of product management into the practice of law, like clearly articulating the team’s vision, setting priorities, and supporting fast, effective decision-making.
In-house lawyers aren’t just advisors or issue spotters, we’re builders. And that’s ultimately what I love about the work.
In-house lawyers aren’t just advisors or issue spotters, we’re builders. And that’s ultimately what I love about the work.
Lawyers are trained to think in terms of risk. We spend a lot of time analyzing what could go wrong. But looking back, I’ve never regretted taking a risk when it meant learning something new and doing work that I enjoyed.
Lawyers are trained to think in terms of risk. We spend a lot of time analyzing what could go wrong. But looking back, I’ve never regretted taking a risk when it meant learning something new and doing work that I enjoyed.
Early in my career, I wrote a lot of legal briefs. I think I was a decent brief writer, and for many lawyers, that kind of work is deeply rewarding. But it wasn’t for me. I didn’t find it fulfilling. So when the opportunity came to join a startup as their second in-house lawyer, it felt like a leap but it turned out to be the moment where my career clicked. I discovered how much I love helping companies build.
Early in my career, I wrote a lot of legal briefs. I think I was a decent brief writer, and for many lawyers, that kind of work is deeply rewarding. But it wasn’t for me. I didn’t find it fulfilling. So when the opportunity came to join a startup as their second in-house lawyer, it felt like a leap but it turned out to be the moment where my career clicked. I discovered how much I love helping companies build.
So, the advice I’d give myself is: be brave. Don’t overvalue comfort or prestige. Seek out excellent people, lean into what energizes you, and choose the path that lets you grow — even if it feels risky in the moment.
So, the advice I’d give myself is: be brave. Don’t overvalue comfort or prestige. Seek out excellent people, lean into what energizes you, and choose the path that lets you grow — even if it feels risky in the moment.
What excites me most is the sense that we’re still just at the beginning of this journey. Faire began as a marketplace to help brands and retailers connect — but over time, it’s grown into something much more. We’re now tackling a much broader set of challenges faced by brands and retailers, from discovery and payments to marketing and order management. As someone who loves solving problems alongside great teams, I find it incredibly energizing to be part of a company that’s still evolving, with so many opportunities to create real impact.
What excites me most is the sense that we’re still just at the beginning of this journey. Faire began as a marketplace to help brands and retailers connect — but over time, it’s grown into something much more. We’re now tackling a much broader set of challenges faced by brands and retailers, from discovery and payments to marketing and order management. As someone who loves solving problems alongside great teams, I find it incredibly energizing to be part of a company that’s still evolving, with so many opportunities to create real impact.
While I spend most of my professional life in front of a screen, I have a deep love for the physically printed word. I’m especially drawn to unusual books with beautiful illustrations, pop-ups, sweeping double-page photographs, or poems where the shape of the words on the page is integral to its meaning.
While I spend most of my professional life in front of a screen, I have a deep love for the physically printed word. I’m especially drawn to unusual books with beautiful illustrations, pop-ups, sweeping double-page photographs, or poems where the shape of the words on the page is integral to its meaning.
If I could open a shop, it would be a cozy space dedicated to those kinds of special books. Ideally, it would have a small espresso bar and some squashy chairs, so visitors could settle in with a warm mug and lose themselves in a book for a little while.
If I could open a shop, it would be a cozy space dedicated to those kinds of special books. Ideally, it would have a small espresso bar and some squashy chairs, so visitors could settle in with a warm mug and lose themselves in a book for a little while.
