Legal Counsel

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Job Description

Team Summary

The Visa CEMEA Legal team manages Visa's legal affairs in the CEMEA region. Our team provides advice and services to ensure business goals are successfully met and that Visa's brand and reputation are protected while minimizing legal liability and regulatory risks. Our vision entails each legal professional living the guiding principles to be a proactive partner who never loses sight of his/her responsibility to protect the company.

Visa CEMEA Legal team includes subject matter expert group focusing on certain areas of Visa business, such as Value-added Services (VAS), Products, Commercial and Money Movement (CMS), Marketing and Sourcing SME Legal team.

What a Counsel in Legal does at Visa:

The position is for an experienced attorney to join Visa's legal team in CEMEA region to primarily support Visa's Value-Added Services (VAS) function as well as other Visa products, services and solutions and related matters in CEMEA markets.

The position will report to Visa attorney whose team is the Legal SMEs for VAS, Products and Solutions, CMS, Marketing and Sourcing in the CEMEA region. The applicant should ideally have experience in technology, payments, regulatory, advertising, IP, and commercial business law, be able to understand the specifics of Visa business model and technology, assess existing and new initiatives, conduct regulatory reviews, draft and review contracts to the highest standard. The applicant must have solid technical legal skills with good commercial/legal risk judgment, and be able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast paced and challenging, but rewarding, environment.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES/KEY RESULTS AREA

• Be a dedicated resource/go to lawyer for VAS function
• Provide counselling and advice as a strategic advisor to the business regarding assessment and structuring of solutions, regulatory requirements, and common approaches
• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts as well as develop and manage regional templates/standard documents or adapt Visa global or regional documents to CEMEA requirements
• Support VAS function in promotions, marketing and advertising matters, reviews and assessments
• Where required, coordinate and supervise outside counsels for timeliness, cost-effectiveness, and excellence of service and work product
• Monitor regulatory developments and advise on impact thereof on the business
• Streamline, optimize, improve the legal processes, automate, standardize legal routines, manage VAS contracting
• Assist Visa staff with approval of internal and external communications and presentations
• Some travel may be required

STRATEGIC NATURE, MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY & SCOPE

As part of the legal team actively participate in developing strategies, objectives, policies and procedures. 

Take a strong role and assist in developing initiatives to improve legal service.  Proactively move strategic thinking to operational concept and tactical deployment of service.  Proactively work with global, regional and functional colleagues on deployment of projects and developments.

As part of the team, actively participate in developing policies and processes to meet business objectives.

DECISION MAKING & COMPLEXITY

Advise on local legal matters whilst seeking to ensure legal and business objectives and requirements are effectively implemented. Manage assigned business divisions within complex geographical legislative environment and tight deadlines. Work collaboratively in a team context to achieve shared goals. Demonstrate good level of competency within the areas of responsibilities.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications
•8 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or at least 5 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) 

•Law degree and qualification which allows for in house practice in the applicable jurisdiction
•Minimum 8 years PQE with an international law firm or a multinational organization
•Experience in payment services, payment industry and advertising is advantageous (but not essential)
•Excellent legal analytical skills with the ability to integrate legal advice and business knowledge, while providing balanced advice regarding risks and benefits
•Excellent written and verbal English
•Skilled user of legal tools including AI
•Strong contract review drafting skills, as well as regulatory reviews
•Experience working in a US/multinational/ highly matrix organisation is preferred
•Ability to work cross-functionally within the organization to implement projects
•Strong communication skills
•Excellent organisation skills
•Have a global mindset and the ability to work well in a dynamic and deadline-oriented environment
•Must be able to work independently and interface with different level stakeholders with little or no supervision, but also be a good team player
•Excellent legal analytical skills with the ability to integrate legal advice and business knowledge, while providing balanced advice regarding risks and benefits

Additional Information

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.