Don’t just work for a market leading global company. Help grow one.
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 the LST Vice President & Senior Counsel 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).
Role Purpose
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, senior 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/GCO 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.
Primary responsibilities
Contribute as an independent, trusted legal advisor within GCO and the wider Amex business by:
- Identifying and effectively managing legal risk
- Taking instructions and supporting other lawyers or legal teams in General Counsel’s Office (GCO) globally
- 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
- Supporting internal governance and approval processes, including coordinating with compliance, risk, finance and other internal stakeholders as appropriate
- Instructing and liaising with various outside counsels to obtain, challenge and finalise legal advice/opinions on various projects, legal advice and agreements
- Carrying out legal research on behalf of our GCO colleagues
- Supporting company secretarial matters as required
- Providing training workshops as required
Lead and supervise the work of other legal workflow team members, including:
- Coaching, mentoring and supervising direct reports in the LST team
- Promoting the success of direct reports by acknowledging and rewarding achievements
- Identifying areas that need increased leadership focus
- Implementing and improving methods for legal knowledge management
- Contributing to LST’s training and development programme
- Ensuring LST’s adherence to any company-wide and GCO-specific processes and procedures
- Preparing and delivering internal training as required
Supporting budgeting and expenses control tasks; and performing other duties as assigned by the LST Vice President & Senior Counsel from time to time.
Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.
Amex Flex
At American Express, we know that with the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. Whether we’re supporting our customers’ financial confidence to move ahead, taking commerce to new heights, or encouraging people to explore the world, our colleagues are constantly redefining what’s possible — and we’re proud to back each other every step of the way.
When you join #TeamAmex, you become part of a diverse community of over 60,000 colleagues, all with a common goal to deliver an exceptional customer experience every day. We back our colleagues with the support they need to thrive, professionally and personally. That’s why we have Amex Flex, our enterprise working model that provides greater flexibility to colleagues while ensuring we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person culture. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite, in a hybrid model (combination of in-office and virtual days).
Qualifications
- Qualified to practice in UK
- Significant experience in PQE although strong candidates with less experience will also be considered
- In-house experience in financial services is preferred but not mandatory
- Quality experience in advising on commercial contracts
- Solid drafting, research and negotiation/influencing skills
- Solid analytical skills and high attention to detail
- Solid understanding of general principles of law applicable to commercial practice
- Intellectually strong with ability to rapidly grasp key issues
- Ability to work under time pressure to meet tight deadlines and clients’ expectations
- Proven track record in leading, supervising and developing other professionals
- Fluency in an additional language other than English is preferred but not mandatory
Why American Express?
There’s a difference between having a job and making a difference.
Amex have been making a difference in people’s lives for over 160 years, backing them in moments big and small, granting access, tools, and resources to take on their biggest challenges and reap the greatest rewards.
We’ve also made a difference in the lives of our people, providing a culture of learning and collaboration, and helping them with what they need to succeed and thrive. We have their backs as they grow their skills, conquer new challenges, or even take time to spend with their family or community. And when they’re ready to take on a new career path, we’re right there with them, giving them the guidance and momentum into the best future they envision.
Because we believe that the best way to back our customers is to back our people.
The powerful backing of American Express.
Don’t make a difference without it.
Don’t live life without it.
To complete your application please click on the links below. However, if you require any assistance with the completion of this process – or need any reasonable adjustments to be made – then please contact the Recruitment Team on recruitment.support.uk@aexp.com.