Associate 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 ourcompany valuesand 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 let's lead the way together.
As part of the General Counsel's Organization (GCO) of American Express, this role will be part of the Legal Team in India and is a fantastic opportunity for a talented legal professional to make key contribution to fast growing businesses of American Express. 
Job Description: 
Support with translating business priorities into action and working closely with business and other key stakeholders to support India ICS (corporate) business, other special projects, and initiatives. 
The role requires working closely with business clients to provide legal advice on wide range of matters related to American Express banking and credit card business in India and rendering proactive legal support to key stakeholders such as Compliance, Controllership, Treasury, Finance, Risk etc., on matters pertaining to banking, credit card, merchant services, network, payments industry laws and regulations, strategic initiatives, and projects.  
The position will require resilience to deliver prompt advice without handholding and minimal support from the leader. The candidate should showcase and be able to drive excellent performance at his/her end with or without the support of team, under pressure and with stringent timelines.
Assist and support leaders in the team, proactively for any assignments, advisory, interpretation and presentations.
Strong presentation skills, relationship management and influencing skills.
Thorough understanding of banking laws (particularly credit card business) and regulatory environment of the financial services sector in India, including current and emerging issues and regulations for the banking, payments, and financial service sector in India. 
Continuously upskill, update, build and maintain a strong working knowledge of laws and regulatory themes relating to banking, payments, insurance, network, information security and technology, data protection, data privacy, anti-money laundering and IT enabled services industry regulations, and the regulatory environment of the financial services sector in India (including current and emerging issues and regulations that may impact American Express in India).
Provide legal advice, win confidence and trust of business clients as well as colleagues from supporting functions by demonstrating high quality legal work, personal excellence, integrity, credibility, and excellent communication ability. 
Proactively support colleagues in Compliance and all other support functions such as Controllership, Treasury, Finance, Risk, IAG etc., with clear and accurate legal and regulatory interpretation.  Advise the business and management about the impact of new and existing laws and regulations on current or proposed business activities and initiatives. 
Excellent drafting, reviewing and negotiation skills with respect to all types of business and commercial contracts, product, facility, process related documentation and terms and conditions pertaining to various products, processes and business activities.  
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. 

Qualifications: 
Qualified lawyer from a premier law Institute in India having 6+ years post qualification quality work experience (with stability, consistency, and proven track record).  
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.   
Ability to work in a highly fast paced environment and support business (that operates 24*7) and respond with agility to ensure that the needs and requirements of business clients, colleagues and senior leaders are met across different time zones. Effective time management skills including the ability to prioritize and handle conflicting priorities.  
Strong collaboration skills and proven ability to adjust quickly to shifting priorities and maintain serenity, resilience, and clear thinking through fast-changing and fast-paced situations. 
Excellent legal drafting skills. 
Experience of working in Banking/NBFCs/Payments/ ITES industry, including sound awareness of credit cards business and its regulations would be an added advantage.  
Must have relevant experience in corporate transaction and corporate advisory work including structuring of transactions, preparing transaction documents, and negotiations up to 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 business clients and colleagues.  
Ability to work sensitively and effectively in diverse multi/cross-cultural environments. Maintain serenity, resilience, and clear thinking through stressful, confrontational, and fast-changing and 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.  
Actively participate in colleague engagement initiatives and be a team player. 
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 and be accountable for end-to-end work and assignments. 
Strong 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 knowledge of MS word and Power point presentations. 

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.