Associate Counsel

Description:

The Legal Services Team (LST) is part of American Express General Counsel’s Organisation (GCO). We deliver legal support to colleagues and to clients, globally, across all business lines. We are looking to add a team member in the UK, who will report to a senior lawyer also based in the EMEA region.

As a diverse and inclusive employer, we are very open to applications from people returning to the workforce and/or seeking flexible working arrangements or the option to work remotely (please talk to us about this when you apply).

The LST’s mission is to provide efficient, consistent, innovative, and high-quality, legal support across business units, staff groups and jurisdictions. We are looking for a motivated, proactive, junior lawyer, experienced in commercial contracts, who will be part of this lively team.

Interested candidates will have commercial awareness and experience of working in a commercial contract space. Candidates must be able to use their legal skills to work closely with key business clients around the globe, the LST leadership team and colleagues within the LST team on a day to day basis. In addition, candidates should possess a strong ability to lead partners and be able to demonstrate a track record of client care.

How will you make an impact in this role?

Contribute as an independent, trusted legal advisor to GCO and to the wider Amex business by:
 

• Identifying and effectively handling legal risk
• Taking instructions from and supporting your team leader, other lawyers, or legal teams in GCO, primarily across the EMEA region, and beyond as required
• Providing sound, commercial, legal advice and support across all business units, including drafting, reviewing, analysing and negotiating a wide range of agreements and legal documents such as procurement, marketing and sponsorship agreements
• Supporting internal governance and approval processes, including coordinating internal partners as appropriate
• Instructing and collaborating closely with outside counsel to obtain, challenge and finalise legal advice/opinions on projects and agreements
• Carrying out legal research on behalf of GCO colleagues
• Handling company secretarial matters and other LST workstreams, as required
   

Working with other LST team members, including:
 

• Improving methods for legal knowledge management and supporting LST training and upskilling programme
• Ensuring LST’s adherence to any company-wide and GCO-specific processes and procedures
   

Minimum Qualifications:
 

• Junior UK-qualified solicitor (or hold an equivalent qualification from a common law jurisdiction, provided you have some experience advising on English law matters)
• Experience of drafting and advising on commercial contracts in a practical and commercial manner with strong research and analytical skills
• Fluency in German/ Italian /Spanish would be beneficial but not required
• In-house experience in financial services is preferred
• Ability to effectively multi-task, prioritise and work as part of a team or autonomously under time pressure to meet deadlines and manage clients’ expectations
• Cross-jurisdictional experience is preferred, but not required (e.g. EMEA, APAC, LAC)
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, reliably, and persuasively with clients, senior business people, legal management and external regulators, both orally and in writing
• Commitment to integrity and American Express value