Senior Managing Counsel, ABU Product

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 Senior Managing Counsel, ABU Product provides leadership in assessing, interpreting, advising on and applying laws governing global platform and intermediation services offered by Booking.com across accommodations and other segments within the Accommodation Business Unit (ABU) and US Growth Business Unit (US Growth). It directly supports Product teams within ABU and US Growth to develop and expand their offerings. The role requires deep expertise in platform and travel-related services regulation, coupled with strong commercial and product acumen to provide practical and actionable guidance and advice.

The Senior Managing Counsel's team serves as the central point of contact between Product ABU, Engineering & Data ABU, and LPA. The role partners with the business and with the various functions across LPA, ensuring that the strategic goals of the ABU teams are well understood and supported, and the risks are recognised and appropriately managed. The Senior Managing Counsel works closely with other members of LPA to provide oversight, guidance and support for a broad variety of strategic initiatives and legal and operational challenges and opportunities throughout the company. This is a hands-on role, embedded within the business, working closely with Product teams globally to identify, define, prioritise, support and implement Product legal strategies. The role requires applying business-focused legal analysis to translate business needs into practical solutions, including developing playbooks and improving processes.

Success requires creative problem-solving and efficient advancement of product initiatives. A strong international perspective is essential, with the ability to synthesise input from diverse stakeholders and provide confident guidance, even beyond direct expertise. This role is critical in enabling Booking.com to launch product initiatives for our Customers that drive ongoing growth and innovation.

As a manager of approximately three lawyers (and potentially additional team members in the Centre of Excellence), this role includes direct coaching and professional development.

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 to form a view and advise even outside of your direct experience. This role is a critical component in the successful partnership between LPA and ABU, and you will be a vital contributor to Booking.com's continued growth, innovation and success.

This role is based in the Netherlands.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:

• Serve as the primary LPA point of contact for ABU Product and Engineering & Data leadership. Provide reliable and commercially focused legal guidance on a wide array of issues, including product development, impact on commercial contracts, disputes, competition/consumer law, intellectual property, and relevant regulations. Collaborate with LPA experts to ensure ABU's activities, policies, business practices, and transactions adhere to all applicable laws and regulations.
• Lead, manage, and develop a high-performing ABU Product Legal team through collaborative and inclusive leadership.
• Manage the ABU Product Legal team's annual budget and support the Senior Director with broader Legal & Public Affairs budget management.
• Coordinate collaboration between key business stakeholders, ABU Product Legal and wider LPA teams, and across other Booking Holdings brands.
• Identify and implement best practices to enhance efficiency through improved systems, processes, and resource allocation. Develop and deliver training as needed.
• Continuously review and update legal precedents, playbooks and guidelines to foster innovation and ensure suitable risk management.
• Take ownership of planning and providing legal support and leadership for relevant Company Priorities (e.g. US Growth), liaising with senior stakeholders across the business and LPA colleagues to ensure excellent communication and efficient execution.
• Effectively manage multiple projects and deadlines by applying strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Oversee the analysis and implementation of relevant case law and legislative/regulatory developments impacting ABU Product and its growth. Facilitate the implementation of necessary changes to meet regulatory requirements.
• Manage engagement with external counsel, seeking opportunities to streamline processes and improve controls.
• Promote best practices and collaboration within the legal team, supporting knowledge sharing and effective work methods. Ensure that all relevant perspectives (e.g., privacy, competition & consumer law, public affairs, fintech legal and compliance) are integrated into relevant initiatives.

• Bachelor degree (Master's Degree / Specialised Diploma is an advantage) and admission to practise in at least one jurisdiction.
• 8-12 years experience in a reputable law firm or in-house team.
• As set out at Senior Managing Counsel level in the Legal Career Framework
• 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.
• Strong ability to lead and inspire a team.
• Experience is translating company and department strategy into team objectives for yourself, and your team members.
• Experience in management of and impactful communication with senior stakeholders, effectively communicating complex ideas and projects simply and succinctly.
• In-depth understanding of the legal issues that commonly arise in the industry, along with ability to quickly learn and grasp the importance of new and emerging issues and manage processes from inception to completion.
• Experience negotiating complex and high value commercial agreements.
• Excellent drafting skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects or a portfolio of projects whilst meeting deadlines and prioritising appropriately.
• Demonstrated cross-functional project leadership and commercial acumen, with ability to balance risk with business objectives.
• Strong collaborative, professional approach; able to succeed in and lead diverse, multidisciplinary, multicultural teams.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Google Suite (Sheets, Docs), and AI platform usage, with a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Alignment with Booking.com's values (Customer First, Succeed Together, Own It, Learn Forever, Do the Right Thing).
• Curiosity, flexibility, and a creative, pragmatic approach to problem-solving.
• Confidence with collaboration.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proactivity, resilience, and a drive to deliver results.
• Strong judgment with attention to both the big picture and key details.
• Courage to take a stance and make tough decisions.
• Team-oriented, self-aware, and a good listener.
• Agility in prioritizing and meeting deadlines.
• Forward-thinking, with a focus on emerging legal and policy issues.

• 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!

• 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

• 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.