Senior Legal Counsel - Fintech (Partnerships)
Role Description:
About Us: At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We’re the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you encounter. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the memories you make. Through our products, partners and people, we make it easier for everyone to experience the world.
Role Description: Booking.com is therefore looking for a Sr Legal Counsel - Fintech (Partnerships) to join the growing Fintech legal team in the Legal & Public Affairs (LPA) department and be responsible for assessing new product proposals, identifying Fintech regulatory and other legal implications and working with the other team members to chart our path in this growing area for the business.
Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:
- Supporting the negotiation and drafting of critical third party payment service provider contracts, ensuring compliance with laws, regulations and card scheme requirements and optimising for commercial outcomes whilst protecting the company from foreseeable risks and consequences
- Coordinating support across different specialisms and areas to support the strategic assessment of critical vendor partnership proposals and the delivery of contractual and related workstreams including subject matter experts from the Legal & Public Affairs team (such as Consumer Law, Privacy & Data Protection, the Digital Markets Act and/or Digital Services Act, Financial Crime and Compliance) and other functions (e.g. tax, treasury, product)
- Participating in projects and tasks to enhance the effectiveness of the Fintech legal team and the wider Legal & Public Affairs team
- Coordinating with BHI, Booking Holdings Financial Services and other group companies on cross brand payment agreements and commercially strategic payment initiatives.
Qualifications & Skills:
- Qualified to practice law in a European country, UK and/or another key jurisdiction
- Strong experience in procurement contracts, commercial contracting, tech agreements (SAAS), and/or regulatory technology contracting
- Experience working for a Fintech, Payment Service Provider, Card Scheme, Alternative Payment Provider, E-Wallet, Online Marketplace (or for these clients whilst in Private Practice) is an advantage
- Knowledge in Payments, Privacy, AI/GenAI and/or Intellectual Property Law is an advantage
- Native or fluent English speaking and writing skills (additional languages a plus)
- Excellent communication skills (written and oral), attention to detail, organisational and project management skills and ability to meet deadlines, prioritising appropriately
- Excellent legal drafting and negotiation skills
- Able to demonstrate commercial awareness and understanding of the business requirements enabling provision of pragmatic and solution oriented advice
- Professional and collaborative approach and ability to influence stakeholders
- A high standard of knowledge and use of productivity tools in the work environment, including Microsoft applications, Google Suite, Zoom, Glean, Jira, etc (or a willingness to learn!)
- Experience in working as an individual contributor in a ‘hands-on’ legal advisory support role, embedded in the business and working closely with the product and commercial teams - or close client contact with equivalent commercial exposure in private practice
- Experience in a role with global or regional scope
- the lawyer in this role should equally have a global worldview
- and be capable of sourcing, critiquing and managing input form a range of internal and external stakeholders to form a view even outside of their direct experience.
Further traits look for:
- Alignment with Booking.com’s values (Customer First, Succeed Together, Own It, Learn Forever, Do the Right Thing).
- Curiosity, flexibility, and a creative, pragmatic approach to problem-solving.
- Confidence with collaboration.
- Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Proactivity, resilience, and a drive to deliver results.
- Strong judgment with attention to both the big picture and key details.
- Courage to take a stance and make tough decisions.
- Team-oriented, self-aware, and a good listener.
- Agility in prioritizing and meeting deadlines.
- Forward-thinking, with a focus on emerging legal and policy issues.
Why join the Legal & Public Affairs Team now?
This is a pivotal moment in e-commerce and travel, and joining Booking.com’s Legal & Public Affairs (LPA) team provides you with opportunities to shape the future. The LPA team plays a key role in enabling Booking.com to become a one-stop solution for all travel-related needs, from accommodation to rental cars, flights and attractions, and beyond.This offers travellers what we like to call the ‘connected trip’ – enabling them to book every aspect of their travel experience seamlessly through our familiar, easy-to-use website or mobile app. As a member of the LPA team you will partner with the business to navigate complex regulations, build new products, and negotiate key deals—while driving ethical, sustainable growth.
Who we are?
We are an award winning team of around 200 professionals from 36+ nationalities, with lawyers qualified in multiple jurisdictions and non-lawyers specializing in public policy, economics, compliance, and risk. We have been recognised and shortlisted individually and as a team by the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Assoc.of Corp Counsel, Global Competition Review, The Lawyer GC of the Year (shortlisted), Compliance Week and the Financial Times. We encourage active participation in the industry, with board membership and representation at industry bodies at multiple levels, starting with our Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer, who is currently ACC President for Europe.
We also engage with stakeholders on policy issues impacting travel and tech innovation, including through our new public affairs blog, "A World Worth Experiencing."
As a team, we believe in:
- Being integral to decision-making, shaping Booking.com’s future.
- Supporting Booking's mission to make travel accessible, fostering openness and curiosity.
- Offering opportunities for team members to explore new areas or specialize.
- Providing holistic, integrated legal and public affairs advice.
- Continuously improving Legal Operations, innovating, and sharing best practices.
- Learning from mistakes and embracing growth.
- Working collaboratively with a sense of humor and enjoying the journey together!
Benefits & Perks - Global Impact, Personal Relevance:
Booking.com’s Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, as well unique-to-Booking.com benefits which include:
- Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parent, grandparent, bereavement, and care leave
- Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country)
- Industry leading product discounts
- up to 1400 per year
- for yourself, including automatic Genius Level 3 status and Booking.com wallet credit
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Booking.com:
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion have been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations.
Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: “At Booking.com, the diversity of our people doesn’t just build an outstanding workplace, it also creates a better and more inclusive travel experience for everyone. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do.It’s a place where you can make your mark and have a real impact in travel and tech.”
We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.
Application Process:
This section should provide:
- Let’s go places together: How we Hire
- Detailed instructions on post-application requirements including any required application materials, deadlines, portfolios, coding challenges, or other assessments as defined by BU or department.
This role does not come with relocation assistance.
Booking.com is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.We strive to move well beyond traditional equal opportunity and work to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive.