Sr. Associate Counsel

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

What a Senior Associate Counsel in Legal does at Visa:

The Visa CEMEA Legal team manages the legal affairs of Visa in the CEMEA region (Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa). Our team provides advice and services to ensure business goals are successfully met and the brand and reputation of Visa are protected, while minimizing legal liability and regulatory risks. Our vision entails each legal professional living the guiding principle of being a proactive partner to business functions who never loses sight of their responsibility to protect the company.

Visa CEMEA Legal team includes a number of subject matter expert groups who specialize in various areas of Visa business, including Localizations and Deals Support Legal team. Localizations and Deals Support Legal team supports the company on various special projects that are outside of the business-as-usual, with a particular focus on regulatory and contractual aspects of Visa payment infrastructure localization projects, local implementations of specific products, and bespoke deals.

The position is for a proactive product, business and commercial lawyer of at least 5+ PQE to join Localizations and Deals Support Legal team in the CEMEA region to support local implementation of innovative products, as well as more broadly support the projects of the team.

The position will report to the Senior Managing Counsel who is leading the Localizations and Deals Support Legal team for the CEMEA region. The attorney will work closely with other experienced Visa lawyers and compliance professionals and regularly engage directly with business clients.

Applicants must be skilled at (1) managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced and challenging environment, (2) have good judgment and strong analytical, client counseling, and negotiation skills, (3) be an adept issue spotter and creative problem solver, and (4) be a self-motivated, optimistic, curious, and collaborative team player.

The applicant should ideally have experience in technology, payments, money movement, IP, regulatory and commercial business law, and be able to conduct thorough regulatory reviews and draft and review contracts to the highest standard. The applicant must have solid technical legal skills with good commercial and legal risk judgment.

Principal Responsibilities

• Provide counselling and support to Visa Value Added Services, Network Processing, Government Engagement and other business teams regarding payment infrastructure localization projects, local implementations of specific products, and various other projects
• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts as well as develop and manage regional templates and standard documents or adapt Visa global or regional documents to CEMEA requirements
• Assist in regulatory assessments on various existing and potential Visa products and solutions and related matters across the region and be an effective strategic advisor to the business
• 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
• Assist Visa staff with approval of internal and external communications and presentations
• Participate in developing strategies, objectives, policies and procedures
• Take a strong role in developing initiatives to improve legal service
• Some travel may be required but is likely to be minimal
• Non-remote position, role to be located in one of the following Visa offices: Cairo (Egypt), Belgrade (Serbia). or Almaty (Kazakhstan)

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

Qualifications

• 6 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor's Degree or 4 or more years of relevant experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or up to 3 years of relevant experience with a PhD
• Law degree and qualification which allow for in-house practice in the applicable jurisdiction
• Minimum 5 years PQE with an international law firm or a multinational organization
• 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
• Strong contract drafting and regulatory review skills
• Experience in payments industry is advantageous (but not essential)
• Experience working in a US, multinational or highly matrix organisation is preferred
• Ability to work cross-functionally within the organization to implement projects
• Excellent organization and communication skills
• 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

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.