Senior Counsel, Open Banking & API

MasterCard Europe

London, United Kingdom

Overview

We are looking for an experienced lawyer to join our legal team, providing support and advice to the global Open Banking and Open API team, with a particular focus on European and international development of open banking products and solutions.

The ideal candidate is highly motivated, intellectually curious and analytical, dedicated to delivering strategic and hands-on legal support and partnership to develop the next generation of Mastercard product solutions, whilst ensuring that we remain compliant with laws and regulatory requirements, as well as industry best practices.

Role

This role handles legal product development and support matters for the business on a day-to-day basis, identifying and analysing relevant issues and helping the business effectively navigate legal and regulatory risks and implement appropriate controls, policies and processes. You will:

Focus on legal support for the strategic development and daily operations of Mastercard’s global Open Banking and Open API product solutions and services
- ensuring alignment and compliance of products and services with Mastercard’s policies, procedures and processes and with European and global regulatory and commercial laws;
- covering a broad range of commercial and contractual matters, including partnerships and referral arrangements, product and marketing legal review, non-disclosure agreements and bid process support; and
- drafting templates and reviewing contracts and manage complex contract negotiations with customers, partners and key suppliers
Instruct and manage external counsel within agreed policy and budget
Develop strong relationships with partners across product development, engineering, business strategy, sales and senior management within Mastercard’s business
Work in close collaboration with external and internal specialists (including Franchise, regulatory, data privacy and intellectual property counsel and compliance teams)
Provide training as appropriate to legal, franchise, sales and product colleagues

Please note that roles within Mastercard evolve with the needs of the business and department. Therefore, the above is a guideline and by no means comprehensive.

All About You

Qualified Lawyer, licensed to practice in England, with a strong academic background.
Analytical Skills: Ability to identify core legal issues and explain technical problems clearly.
Commercial and Technology Law: Experience with commercial contracting and technology law.
Product Development Support: Experience in supporting new product development, even if in a different industry, considered a strong asset.
Other Technical Knowledge: Working knowledge of data privacy and intellectual property issues.
Communication Skills: Strong drafting, writing, oral communication, and negotiating skills, with ability to communicate your vision and roadmap effectively to a variety of stakeholders.
Interpersonal Skills: Proven experience in relationship building and partnering.
Adaptability and Solution-Oriented: Comfortable working collaboratively or individually and flexibly under pressure, with excellent time management, planning, and organizational skills.
Business Acumen: Ability to quickly understand and maintain knowledge of complex products, services, and legal frameworks.
Interest in Payments and Financial Services: Interest in financial services and payment technologies; experience in this space is a plus.
Multinational Experience: Experience as an in-house lawyer in a multinational company is desirable but not essential.