Manager & Counsel

You Lead the Way. We ve Got Your Back.

With the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and each other. Here, you ll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that s unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally.

At American Express, you ll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company s success. Together, we ll win as a team, striving to uphold our company values and powerful backing promise to provide the world s best customer experience every day. And we ll do it with the utmost integrity, and in an environment where everyone is seen, heard and feels like they belong.

Join Team Amex and lets lead the way together.

Reporting to:

As part of the General Counsel s Organization (GCO) of American Express, this role will be intrinsic part of the Legal Team of American Express in India.

Description:

• The incumbent should have sound knowledge of legal and regulatory frameworks pertaining to banking, credit card, merchant services, network, payments industry, anti-money laundering, data protection privacy to be able to lead and advice business clients and other internal stakeholders such as Compliance, Controllership, Treasury, Finance, Risk etc.
• Provide legal advice and win confidence and trust of business clients and colleagues from supporting functions by demonstrating high quality legal work, personal excellence, integrity, credibility, and excellent communication ability.
• Proactively support colleagues in Compliance and other support functions such as Controllership, Treasury, Finance, Risk etc., with clear and accurate legal and regulatory interpretation in a high growth fast paced regulatory environment.
• Advise the business and management about the impact of new and existing laws and regulations on current or proposed business activities.
• Excellent drafting, reviewing and negotiation skills with respect to all types of business/commercial contracts, product/facility, process related documentation and terms and conditions pertaining to various products/processes/business activities of the company.
• Represent the company with credibility, advance preparedness, and persuasiveness in external forums such as regulatory and industry meetings and during contract negotiations.
• Provide strategic, tactical, and other general guidance and advice to management, whether on specific projects or transactions or in relation to standard business processes/practices.
• Review and advice on product development, marketing programs and its execution.
• Drafting, reviewing and approval of internal policy documents.
• Proactively protect the brand and reputation of American Express by providing high quality legal advice and guidance to management supported by energetic internal advocacy.
• Efficiently manage external counsel engagement for the company and keep the legal expenses to budget for allocated markets and projects.
• Continuously upskill, update, build and maintain a strong working knowledge of laws and regulatory themes relating to banking, credit card, payments, network, data protection, data privacy, anti-money laundering and any regulation that may impact American Express in India.

Qualifications:

• Qualified lawyer from a premier law Institute in India having 8 + years post qualification quality work experience (with stability, consistency, and proven track record).
• Excellent legal drafting skills. Candidates having worked in law firm as well as corporates having experience of drafting and negotiations of varied contracts will be given preference.
• Must have relevant experience on corporate transaction and corporate advisory work including structuring of transactions, preparing transaction documents, and negotiations upto closure.
• Excellent legal and regulatory interpretation and advisory skills.
• Excellent English speaking and writing skills, in particular the ability to explain complex legal matters clearly and concisely to non-specialists in a MNC environment and the ability to gain credibility and trust of senior leaders and demanding colleagues.
• Ability to work sensitively and effectively in diverse multi/cross-cultural environment. Maintain serenity, resilience, and clear thinking through stressful, confrontational, and fast-changing/fast- paced situations.
• Ability to work as an individual contributor and at the same time ability to work with cross-functional teams both internally and externally in an efficient manner
• Ability to see connections and wider implications for American Express at an enterprise level with respect to individual line-of-business specific strategies and activities.
• High intellectual curiosity and ability to think quickly and decisively with the ability to understand new concepts quickly, deal with ambiguity and solve complex problems. Most importantly a positive attitude, highest level of integrity and work/professional ethics, growth mindset, will-to-win, and ability to work as a team player.
• Strong relationship and collaboration skills with the ability to influence a broad group of stakeholders across the organization, at all levels and interest in developing a deep understanding of business needs and objectives with close partnership with business clients and anticipate the nature and magnitude of issues that could arise in various settings. Excellent working understanding of Excel, MS word and PPTs

We back our colleagues and their loved ones with benefits and programs that support their holistic well-being. That means we prioritize their physical, financial, and mental health through each stage of life. Benefits include:

• Competitive base salaries
• Bonus incentives
• Support for financial-well-being and retirement
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits (depending on location)
• Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need
• Generous paid parental leave policies (depending on your location)
• Free access to global on-site wellness centers staffed with nurses and doctors (depending on location)
• Free and confidential counseling support through our Healthy Minds program
• Career development and training opportunities

American Express is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law.

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.