Sr. Counsel (Payments or fintech experience)

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.

What’s it all about?

This role is a key leadership position within Visa’s growing and dynamic Commercial & Money Movement Solutions (CMS) Legal Team. The CMS Legal 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 and opportunities every day.

What we expect of you day to day:

• Provide counsel and legal advice to Visa’s CMS team, including Visa Direct and Visa Commercial Solutions, across a variety of legal areas related to commercial, product, regulatory, privacy, and IP, to help the CMS team achieve key business objectives.
• Serve as a trusted partner and strategic thinker to the business on matters related to regulatory engagement and expansion of the business.
• Draft, review, negotiate and advise on a wide range of contracts, including pilot agreements, and developing forms.
• Build a thorough understanding of the payments industry and Visa’s products and services while seamlessly incorporating them into strategic decisions and advice.  
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and speed to contract e.g., through self-serve and contract automation capabilities, where appropriate.
• Provide expert advice on regulatory, data protection, and other issues, and liaise 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 and globally. 
• Manage outside counsel, including budgets.
• Work with other Visa departments across the globe to ensure contracts and advice accurately reflects business needs and policies.
• 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 business teams on key legal issues, 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.

This is a hybrid position. This requires 3 days per week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) attendance in the London office.

• Qualified lawyer in England & Wales with ideally 8+ years PQE. We will consider candidates who have qualified in other jurisdictions.
• Previous experience of working within 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.
• 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.
• 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, including non-card payments.
• Previous experience of cross-border and multi-jurisdictional products and services.

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.