Do the right thing for our customers, our company and your career.

This role is for a senior level lawyer to join the General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) at American Express to act as Director & Counsel in a multi-disciplinary Global Legal Policy and Strategy function. The role will (i) advise on competition law in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, (ii) support the efforts of a global Centre of Excellence for payment systems regulation, which leverages experience responding to payments regulatory developments across the global and (iii) contribute to the broader work of the Global Legal Policy and Strategy function, in which this role sits.

The role will support all lines of business within American Express globally. Key business areas relevant to this role include consumer and commercial card issuing and payments generally, merchant acquiring and payment networks, all with the overlay of a dynamic environment involving emerging and evolving digital/mobile and data-driven technologies and capabilities.

The role will interface with other GCO lawyers, business colleagues, Compliance, Government Affairs, external bodies and regulators.

The ideal candidate would be a strategic thinker with strong analytical skills who has experience in competition law, market studies, managing regulatory enquiries (competition law or otherwise), managing related litigation, and who has demonstrated an aptitude for interpreting and applying technically complex regulation.

Experience dealing with payments systems regulation, managing matters involving the UK Payment Systems Regulator or regulation in other network industries or other two-sided markets is desirable but not a pre-requisite as this can be learnt on the job. You will need to be confident and able to build relationships, work closely and communicate effectively with business clients on a day to day basis managing conflicting priorities and tight deadlines.

You will also need to be confident in interacting with and helping American Express to deepen its relations with regulators.

The role will be based in London in the Global Legal Policy and Strategy team, which comprises both competition law and financial services lawyers and is responsible for dealing with competition law, global payments systems regulation and global legal policy and strategy. You will report to the Group Counsel, who leads the team.

Primary Responsibilities

Regulatory and policy advice and support with an emphasis on (i) a wide range of competition law and payments systems regulatory matters and (ii) other materially relevant policy developments affecting payments globally, such as digital, data and consumer policy developments;
Advising on compliance with the requirements of key payments legislation such as the Interchange Fee Regulation (IFR) and the Payment Services Directive 2;
Monitoring regulatory and competition law developments relating to financial services, payment services, and payment schemes through internal, external and desktop resources and reporting these developments internally;
Advising on emerging legal and policy developments affecting the company and also competition law driven payments regimes;
Partnering with colleagues in Government Affairs and across the GCO on external engagement efforts at national, EU level and globally to ensure regulation is proportionately tailored according to different business models;
Assisting in the development of American Express strategy in response to and anticipation of regulatory developments in the payments industry;
Building positive working relationships with relevant competition law and payment services regulators through attending meetings with regulators and participating in legal and industry groups;
Responding to public policy consultations and supporting regulatory engagement at European and national level on key EU developments;
Liaising with other industry participants on regulatory developments and providing competition law advice relating to participation in trade associations and industry bodies;
Competition law and related regulatory advice and training for senior management, boards and committees;
Carrying out legal research;
Implementing and improving methods for legal knowledge management within the team. Suggesting process improvements;
Briefing colleagues and clients on significant developments and projects;
Preparing and supporting with delivery of internal training as appropriate;
Requesting, obtaining, probing and finalising legal opinions/advice from outside counsel as needed and managing related budgets;
Leading projects, assisting more senior lawyers and potentially supervising junior team members;
Attending relevant training courses;
Supporting the work of the Global Legal Policy and Strategy function, as required.

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

Qualifications

Specific Experience Required

Minimum 5 and ideally 5-10 yrs PQE (with a significant portion of this in Competition Law);
Qualified to practice law and provide legal advice in an EU jurisdiction with ability and willingness to qualify in UK (if not already so qualified). Material body of relevant post-qualification experience ideally in competition law matters;
Familiarity with one or more of the following areas would be helpful: payment services, payment schemes, EU Payments Package. Willingness to learn and become an expert in these fields;
Fluency in English; other European languages or local law competency helpful;
Solid drafting, research and negotiation/influencing skills;
Solid analytical skills and high attention to detail.

Required Personal Attributes

High engagement – passionate about payments and regulatory matters;
Skilled at multi-tasking - able to manage and prioritise a wide variety of matters and client contacts at once;
Commercial focus – able to interpret and apply regulation in a practical, hands-on, common sense manner;
Communication skills – personable, able to communicate clearly, concisely, effectively and persuasively with clients, all levels of business, legal management and external regulators;
Prepared to take the lead and make appropriate recommendations to management;
Comfortable with speaking up in meetings and briefing stakeholders orally and in writing;
Process-management skills - strong knowledge-management and organisational skills, and willingness to help identify and implement improvements in work process to enhance efficiency and productivity;
Adaptable and collaborative - able and willing to work both as part of a team and independently;
Willingness to learn and grow - willing to learn about business sectors relevant to American Express as well as the applicable regulatory environment and to leverage experience gained in this position to expand skill set for future career growth at American Express;
Strong relationship focus - able to build solid working relationships with clients, colleagues and external parties. Enjoys getting to know people;
Commitment to integrity and American Express values, with high personal work standards;
Strategic thinker with good analytical skills, attention to detail even under time pressure;
Intellectually strong - rapid grasp of key issues.

Why American Express?

There’s a difference between having a job and making a difference.

Amex have been making a difference in people’s lives for over 160 years, backing them in moments big and small, granting access, tools, and resources to take on their biggest challenges and reap the greatest rewards.

We’ve also made a difference in the lives of our people, providing a culture of learning and collaboration, and helping them with what they need to succeed and thrive. We have their backs as they grow their skills, conquer new challenges, or even take time to spend with their family or community. And when they’re ready to take on a new career path, we’re right there with them, giving them the guidance and momentum into the best future they envision.

Because we believe that the best way to back our customers is to back our people.

The powerful backing of American Express.
Don’t make a difference without it.
Don’t live life without it.

To complete your application please click on the links below. However, if you require any assistance with the completion of this process – or need any reasonable adjustments to be made – then please contact the Recruitment Team on recruitment.support.uk@aexp.com or 00800 83 000038 (free phone, subject to individual carrier charges). For Russia based candidates on 810 800 83 000038.

this job offer is not open for applications