Legal Counsel

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Team Summary

The Visa CEMEA Legal team manages Visa's legal affairs in the CEMEA region. Our team provides advice and services to ensure business goals are successfully met and that Visa's brand and reputation are protected while minimizing legal liability and regulatory risks. Our vision entails each legal professional living the guiding principles to be a proactive partner who never loses sight of his and her responsibility to protect the company.

What a Legal Counsel in Legal does at Visa

The position is for a seasoned business and commercial attorney to join Visa's growing legal team in CEMEA region to primarily support Visa's businesses in our CIS and Southeast Europe CISSEE sub-region, including support with partnership and collaboration in the areas of contracting, regulatory, products and services launches, day-to-day Legal inquires as well as support to legal teams in other sub-regions in CEMEA on a need basis.

The position will report to Visa attorney who is leading Legal function in the CISSEE region. The position will provide legal advice within Visa’s CEMEA region with particular focus on supporting other members of legal team in CISSEE region, to enable the organisation to operate within applicable legal and regulatory parameters. The applicant should ideally have experience in commercial business law and corporate law and be able to draft contracts robustly and to a high standard. The applicant must have solid technical legal skills with good commercial and legal risk judgment, and be able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast paced and challenging, but rewarding, environment.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES and KEY RESULTS AREA:

• Acting as regional contact for the Marketing teams to support them in implementation and launch of campaigns, promotions and sponsorship activities, and company  and commercial agreements
• Providing support to the Sourcing team in the preparation and negotiation of contracts with suppliers and vendors and managing Visa’s internal approval processes
• Advising teams in Visa CEMEA, primarily in CISSEE region about applicable legal requirements, managing advice from external counsel where appropriate
• Advising on arrangements with partners for product development  initiatives and other arrangements including drafting and negotiating relevant agreements
• Supporting Visa subsidiaries within the region with respect to corporate filings, fulfilling compliance requirements and advising on proposals for new entities or changes to existing entities
• Monitoring regulatory developments and advising of impact thereof on the business as well as assisting with advising government engagement and other team on any suggestion from Visa in relation to new regulatory initiatives and draft regulations
• Providing legal advice to local HR teams on policy issues and employee relations
• Assisting local staff with approval of internal and external communications and presentations
• Some travel may be required
• Role to be located in Almaty, Kazakhstan

STRATEGIC NATURE, MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY & SCOPE

• As part of the legal team actively participate in developing strategies, objectives, policies and procedures.
• Take a strong role and assist in developing initiatives to improve legal service.  Proactively move strategic thinking to operational concept and tactical deployment of service.  Proactively work with global, regional and functional colleagues on deployment of projects and developments.
• As part of the team, actively participate in developing policies and processes to meet business objectives.

DECISION MAKING AND COMPLEXITY

Advise on local legal matters whilst seeking to ensure legal and business objectives and requirements are effectively implemented. Manage assigned business divisions within complex geographical legislative environment and tight deadlines. Work collaboratively in a team context to achieve shared goals. Demonstrate good level of competency within the areas of responsibilities.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

• Ability to work cross-functionally within the organization to implement projects
• Strong communication skills
• Excellent written and verbal English
• Strong contract drafting skills
• Excellent organisation skills
• Generalist and commercial lawyer
• Experience in banking, information technology and payment industry advantageous but not essential
• Experience working in a US and multinational and highly matrix organisation is preferred
• Have a global mindset and the ability to work well in a dynamic and deadline-oriented environment
• Must be able to work independently and interface with different level stakeholders with little or no supervision, but also be a good team player
• Excellent legal analytical skills with the ability to integrate legal advice and business knowledge, while providing balanced advice regarding risks and benefits

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.