Legal Counsel, ABU Product & Regulatory

About Us: At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We're the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you encounter. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the memories you make. Through our products, partners and people, we make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

Role: The Legal Counsel, ABU Product (Homes & STRs) is the primary point of contact in LPA for all Product initiatives relating to Homes, and is a key member of the team providing support with regulatory compliance relating to Homes (i.e. Short Term Rental regulations, or STRs). This role sits within the Accommodation Business Unit (ABU).

The Legal Counsel is responsible for coordinating and managing the assessment and applicability of regulatory communications, helping to inform the company strategy in this area, and to enable successful compliance. The Legal Counsel will interact directly with STR regulators in order to clarify, interpret and understand requests that they have made. An important element of the role is to maintain an accurate and comprehensive record of interactions, formal responses, and regulatory obligations across all STR regulatory engagements.

The Legal Counsel will have support and guidance from more senior members of the team in doing so, and will work closely with colleagues across Public Affairs and LPA. The Legal Counsel will need to effectively collaborate with other members of LPA, and identify matters that require escalation, collaboration or further analysis - and manage them appropriately.

In this role, the Legal Counsel will also be comfortable working independently within the ABU Legal team, and liaising directly with business and operational counterparts in the Home/Segments ABU teams in order to provide hands-on support in assessing, responding to and supporting inquiries. As such, the Legal Counsel will be responsible for coordinating subject matter experts within LPA and distilling their advice into practical and actionable instructions for the Product teams. They will also assist the Senior Managing Counsel and other members of the team in identifying ways to make product initiative risk assessments more efficient and scalable by actively piloting new methods and frameworks.

This is a unique role, with the opportunity to combine the skills of a product lawyer and a regulatory compliance lawyer, bridging the gap between the business and legal subject matter experts and working closely with the Public Affairs team as the regulatory and political framework surrounding STRs rapidly evolves.

The role is global in scope, so a truly international perspective is key, as is the ability to source, analyse and manage input from a range of internal and external stakeholders. This role is a key part of the successful partnership between LPA and ABU, and you will be an important contributor to Booking.com's continued growth, innovation and success.

This role is based in the Netherlands.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:

• Liaising with business units as a reliable and commercially minded first point of contact within legal for specific types of queries
• Assess and interpret regulations relating to STRs globally by completing Legal Impact Assessments of these regulations.
• Support the Segments Compliance and local teams in the implementation of new STR requirements, drafting partner communications when necessary.
• Manage external counsel within a specified budget to support the interpretation of local legislation and horizon scan for new applicable legislation.
• Be well structured, clear and organised, and enjoy working within a very fast paced environment
  The LPA point of contact for Homes Product initiatives completing Product Risk Assessments and co-ordinating subject matter expert advice.
• Work closely with Public Affairs, the wider LPA team, Homes Product teams and other business units when required.
• Support the wider ABU Legal team in establishing effective ways of working with business stakeholders.
• Support with the creation and implementation of efficient and scalable ways of working to enable sustainable business growth.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor degree and admission to practise in at least one jurisdiction
• 2 - 4 years experience in a reputable law firm or in-house team
• Qualified to practice law in the EU, UK, or US.
• Native or fluent English speaking and writing skills.
• Adaptable, with a growth mindset, ready to embrace change in order to meet evolving business needs, work in ambiguous situations and under pressure, and learn from mistakes
• Experience negotiating commercial agreements
• Confident self-starter with excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral)
• Curious, flexible, and a creative & pragmatic problem solver
• Excellent drafting skills and attention to detail
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to meet deadlines, prioritising appropriately, and an understanding of the need to balance risk with business objectives.
• Strong collaborative, professional approach.
• Ability to thrive within a dynamic, multidisciplinary and multicultural team located in diverse locations, and get things done
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Google Suite (Sheets, Docs), and AI platform usage, with a commitment to continuous improvement
• Aligned with Booking.com's Values (Think Customer First, Succeed Together, Own It, Learn Forever, Do the Right Thing).

Why join the Legal & Public Affairs Team now?

This is a pivotal moment in e-commerce and travel, and joining Booking.com's Legal & Public Affairs (LPA) team provides you with opportunities to shape the future. The LPA team plays a key role in enabling Booking.com to become a one-stop solution for all travel-related needs, from accommodation to rental cars, flights and attractions, and beyond. This offers travellers what we like to call the 'connected trip' - enabling them to book every aspect of their travel experience seamlessly through our familiar, easy-to-use website or mobile app. As a member of the LPA team you will partner with the business to navigate complex regulations, build new products, and negotiate key deals-while driving ethical, sustainable growth.

Who we are?

We are an award winning team of around 200 professionals from 36+ nationalities, with lawyers qualified in multiple jurisdictions and non-lawyers specializing in public policy, economics, compliance, and risk. We have been recognised and shortlisted individually and as a team by the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Assoc. of Corp Counsel, Global Competition Review, The Lawyer GC of the Year (shortlisted), Compliance Week and the Financial Times. We encourage active participation in the industry, with board membership and representation at industry bodies at multiple levels, starting with our Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer, who is currently ACC President for Europe. We also engage with stakeholders on policy issues impacting travel and tech innovation, including through our new public affairs blog, "A World Worth Experiencing."

As a team, we believe in:

• Being integral to decision-making, shaping Booking.com's future.
• Supporting Booking's mission to make travel accessible, fostering openness and curiosity.
• Offering opportunities for team members to explore new areas or specialize.
• Providing holistic, integrated legal and public affairs advice.
• Continuously improving Legal Operations, innovating, and sharing best practices.
• Learning from mistakes and embracing growth.
• Working collaboratively with a sense of humor and enjoying the journey together!

Benefits & Perks - Global Impact, Personal Relevance:

Booking.com's Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, as well unique-to-Booking.com benefits which include:

• Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parent, grandparent, bereavement, and care leave
• Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country)
• Industry leading product discounts - up to 1400 per year - for yourself, including automatic Genius Level 3 status and Booking.com wallet credit

Inclusion at Booking.com:

Inclusion have been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations.

Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: "At Booking.com, the diversity of our people doesn't just build an outstanding workplace, it also creates a better and more inclusive travel experience for everyone. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. It's a place where you can make your mark and have a real impact in travel and tech."

We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Application Process:

This section should provide:

• Let's go places together: How we Hire
• Detailed instructions on post-application requirements including any required application materials, deadlines, portfolios, coding challenges, or other assessments as defined by BU or department.

This role does not come with relocation assistance.

Booking.com is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We strive to move well beyond traditional equal opportunity and work to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive.

Pre-Employment Screening

If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.

Client-provided location(s): Amsterdam, Netherlands

Job ID: booking-20761

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2025-09-12T18:34:16