Commercial Lawyer, Payments

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. As part of Team Amex, you'll experience this powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career. Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express. 

We're looking for an energetic, creative, and pragmatic lawyer to join our Sydney legal team and take on the role of supporting our Global Merchant and Network Services business for a 12-month contract. This role suits a lawyer with broad, general commercial experience, ideally with some payments practice thrown in. Above all, we need a self-starter who is intellectually curious, collaborative and can be relied upon to get the job done.

What does the job look like? 

This is a role supporting our Global Merchant and Network Services (GMNS) business in Australia and New Zealand. This is an exciting role You can expect to work with various internal business colleagues that will look to you for support as they navigate an evolving payments landscape. While the role is largely contract and advice driven, it can include everything from customer disputes management to new product development, and it will often crossover into other parts of our business. One of the great things about working in our team, is that you'll get to try your hand at almost everything. We like people who put their hand up. 

About your role: 

• Drafting, negotiating, and advising on commercial contracts and Terms and Conditions – in particular large partnership agreements with regional and global merchants, acquiring, sponsorship, and marketing agreements, and payment facilitator agreements 
• Supporting the launch of new products, services, and payments capabilities in Australia as well as internationally 
• Providing general legal and regulatory advice across a range of commercial matters (with support from senior lawyers) – including on novel legal issues 
• Monitoring, researching, and providing clear and succinct advice to the business on legal and regulatory changes that impact American Express, and assisting with strategies to deal with them 
• Coordinating and managing legal matters on multi-jurisdictional projects (including liaising with our lawyers in other countries) 

What you'll need to succeed: 

• 3+years PQE and a current Practising Certificate
• Solid foundation in relation to commercial contract drafting and negotiation, and the development of commercial advice 
• Great communication skills, both written and verbal (i.e. the ability to communicate complex things in a concise way) 
• Confidence working in the grey and sufficient nous and resourcefulness to thrive in areas where you have limited or no experience 
• Great collaboration skills with demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and efficiently while using initiative 
• Highest standards of ethics and professional integrity 

It's a plus if you have: 

• Experience working in-house
• Have some relevant regulatory experience in payments, financial products, privacy, AML/KYC, competition, and other financial industry regulation 
• Some big deal and negotiation experience and passion for getting the deal done
•  Experience managing a diverse workload with multiple stakeholders 

We back you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

• 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

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