Senior Associate 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

Fascinated by the future and captivated by technology?

Smart, driven and want to make a difference in the world?

You’ll fit right in.

As the world's leader in digital payments technology, Visa's mission is to connect the world through the most creative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company's dedication to innovation drives the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device and fuels the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analogue to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce.

At Visa, your individuality fits right in. Working here gives you an opportunity to impact the world, invest in your career growth, and be part of an inclusive and diverse workplace. We are a global team of disruptors, trailblazers, innovators and risk-takers who are helping drive economic growth in even the most remote parts of the world, creatively moving the industry forward, and doing meaningful work that brings financial literacy and digital commerce to millions of unbanked and underserved consumers.

You're an Individual. We're the team for you. Together, let's transform the way the world pays.

What’s it all about?

This role is a position within a fun, supportive and hard-working Commercial Law Team, who manage a wide range of commercial, technology, intellectual property and product legal matters. This Team is part of a larger Legal and Compliance Department (including Competition law, Regulatory law, Corporate law, Data Privacy and Employment law and Compliance specialists), which has consistently had some of the highest engagement scores and prides itself on a creative, can-do approach.   

The role works closely with Visa’s Europe Region Product team based in the Paddington Hub and Product teams in Visa’s Regional offices around Europe.

The Commercial Law Team works at the cutting edge of new payment technologies, innovation and the fintech industry in an increasingly regulated environment, which brings unique and novel challenges in the commercial/technology law space.

What we expect of you day to day…

• Provide commercial/IP legal advice and support relating to matters such as strategic alliances, client agreements, technology licensing arrangements, pilot agreements, tokenisation, the roll out of new Products, the development of template contracts and other general commercial matters.
• Draft, review, negotiate and advise on a wide range of contracts and legal issues relating to the matters above, including supervision of other lawyers.
• Build a thorough understanding of the payments industry and Visa’s products and services while seamlessly incorporating them into decisions and advice.  
• Identify competition/anti-trust, data protection and other regulatory issues, and liaise when necessary with internal specialist members of the Legal & Compliance Department and/or external counsel.
• Identify the need for external legal advice and engage appropriate outside counsel on a range of legal issues across Visa’s European region. 
• Work with other Visa departments across the globe to ensure contracts and advice accurately reflects business needs and policies as they develop.
• Responsible for management of day-to-day legal queries and business deals, taking the lead on all relevant legal activities.
• Manage, develop and maintain relationships to facilitate the effective delivery of legal advice and assistance.
• Apply strong collaboration and partnership skills to foster multiple strong relationships with various Visa business contacts across Visa products, services and function areas.
• Provide training to identified business areas, on law, processes and policies.
• Proactively contribute to the Legal and Regulatory Department’s planning, cohesion, consistency in advice, and the general efficiency and effectiveness of the department as a whole.

What we’re after…

• Qualified lawyer in England & Wales with ideally 2-5 years PQE. We will consider candidates who have qualified in other jurisdictions.
• Previous experience of working with a regulated business.
• Demonstrable experience at a recognised law firm and/or in-house environment.
• Strong academics and training, including legal drafting and negotiating, and relationship management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills along with a demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Problem solver with proven experience in identifying emerging industry issues/trends and developing responses to help achieve business objectives
• Strong ability to partner, communicate, and navigate through multiple disciplines and organizational groups
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team context to facilitate achievement of shared goals in an inclusive and open manner
• Strong ability to partner, communicate, and navigate through multiple disciplines and organizational groups
• Positive attitude, high level of integrity and intellectual curiosity.
• Demonstrates global mindset, and the ability to work well in a dynamic and deadline-oriented environment
• Intrinsically motivated and navigates challenges and failure with growth mindset
• Willingness to approach difficult or complex issues to identify resolutions.
• Fluent in English.

Desirable Skills:

• Knowledge of the payments industry (and applicable regulation) or financial services environment.
• Previous experience of cross-border and multi-jurisdictional contracts.

This is a hybrid position. Hybrid employees can alternate time between both remote and office. Employees in hybrid roles are expected to work from the office 2-3 set days a week (determined by leadership/site), with a general guidepost of being in the office 50% or more of the time based on business needs.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in England & Wales with ideally 2-5 years PQE. We will consider candidates who have qualified in other jurisdictions.

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.