Sr. Associate Counsel

About Us
Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world.

Join Visa and do work that matters – to you, to your community, and to the world. Progress starts with you.

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 (also known as VPCM team).

What a Senior Associate Counsel in Legal does at Visa:

The position is for an attorney to join Visa's legal team in CEMEA region to support Visa's VAS, Products, Marketing, CMS and Sourcing functions in CEMEA.

The position will report to Visa VP Legal heading the VPCM legal team. The applicant should ideally have experience in technology/payments, marketing/advertising, IP/technology, and commercial business law, be able to understand the specifics of Visa business model, technology, contracting model, assess existing and new initiatives, conduct regulatory reviews and country assessments, draft, negotiate and review contracts to the highest standard. The applicant must have solid technical and drafting legal skills with good commercial/legal risk judgment, excellent utilization of AI tools, and be able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast paced and challenging, but rewarding, environment.

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.

Principal Responsibilities/ Key Results Area:

• Be a go to lawyer for VAS, Products, Marketing, CMS, and Sourcing matters in CEMEA
• Provide counselling and advice as a strategic advisor to business regarding assessment and structuring of solutions, legislative requirements, and common approaches
• Efficiently leverage AI tools and capabilities on daily basis to increase work efficiency and resources optimization
• 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 business teams in CEMEA in relation to regulatory assessments, marketing activities, new product and service offerings, money movement, structuring and contracting matters
• 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 contracting
• Review publicly facing external materials, communications and presentations
• Some travel may be required

Qualifications

Key Competencies & Requirements:

• Law degree and qualification which allows for in house practice in the applicable jurisdiction
• Minimum 5 years PQE with an international law firm or a multinational organization
• Experience in payment industry and advertising is advantageous
• Excellent core legal 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 AI tools (including legal)
• Strong contract review / drafting skills, as well as legal assessments
• Experience working in a 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

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.