Senior Legal Counsel - IP and Marketing in Manchester

At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We’re the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you encounter. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the memories you make. Through our products, partners and people, we make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

Booking.com’s Senior Legal Counsel, IP and Marketing is a commercially embedded, IP-first legal adviser to Marketing and the wider business. The role covers trademark, copyright, content, brand protection and related IP, with additional responsibility for triaging Growth Marketing, Performance Marketing, AI-enabled content and emerging technology matters. The role will lead Booking.com’s approach to IP and innovation, coordinate specialist support where needed, and develop practical playbooks that enable lower-risk matters to be managed efficiently. You will directly support a dynamic organisation of marketing, security and operations specialists to provide on-the-ground support and identify potential legal issues.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop, implement and oversee trademark clearance and registration including portfolio management, review of trademark watch notices, file/defend against opposition/cancellation actions for all legal entities and sub-brands of the company globally.
• Develop, implement and oversee the company’s brand protection strategy including the appointment and management of the lead agency tasked with online monitoring of (infringements of) the company’s brands, draft cease and desist communications etc.
• Support legal aspects of the company’s domain name portfolio.
• Analyse and resolve (third party) trademark and copyright claims/litigations.
• Manage cooperation with external IP counsel and IP service providers.
• Implement processes and strategies to drive efficiency and consistency in the company’s trademark and copyright practice in close cooperation with internal clients such as the Marketing, Security, Risk and Tax teams.
• Counsel business stakeholders on IP issues in consumer, partner and vendor contracts and (new) products.
• Ensure an accurate reflection of the current status of the associated IP portfolios and litigation matters by maintaining (or overseeing the maintenance of) a database.
• Collaborate with and support other subject matter experts within the Marketing Legal team and divide tasks as required and appropriate, with the purpose of enabling all team members to broaden their impact in their roles while preserving the highest quality advice for the company.
• Advise on copyright and content licensing; image, video, music, voice and talent rights; AI-generated and AI-assisted content; trade mark use, bidding and enforcement; brand impersonation and spoofing; agency and media agreements; and data use, targeting and attribution.
• Act as the first legal point of contact for content and marketing IP issues and manage contentious IP and litigation. Advise Marketing teams on campaign strategy, paid search, media buying, attribution and platform relationships.
• Develop practical playbooks, decision trees, risk tiers and self-service guidance for common Marketing and IP issues, reducing reliance on bespoke legal review.
• Coordinate legal support on AI-related patent issues, including monitoring relevant developments, assessing third-party AI patents, advising on Booking.com’s AI-related innovations, and determining when patent protection or specialist patent counsel is appropriate.
• Work with Cybersecurity, Fraud, Trust & Safety and Communications on brand impersonation, spoofing, phishing, fake domains, account misuse, AI-enabled scams, content takedowns, incident response and evidence preservation.
• Plug gaps across Marketing by coordinating with the relevant risk teams and supporting risk decisions where appropriate.

Key skills and experience required:

• 5 - 8 years practising law, either in-house or in private practice.
• Experience advising on intellectual property and marketing, including digital content, advertising platforms, AI-enabled content and emerging technology.
• Ability to provide legal guidance on IP issues involving trademark and copyright (registration/enforcement), proactively identify associated risks and recommend mitigation strategies, document guidance for consumption by attorneys and non-attorneys, and help improve processes for review.
• Demonstrated experience managing/structuring international IP portfolios involving a wide range of (internal/external) stakeholders, cultures and working styles.
• Law degree from a top law school, and excellent academic credentials.
• Ability to tolerate change and ambiguity in the law.
• Creative thinker with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple assignments simultaneously and effectively manage conflicting priorities.
• High degree of business acumen.
• Excellent drafting skills, communication both oral and written, and organisational skills.
• Eagerness to learn new technologies and ideas.
• Comfortable navigating complicated and nuanced issues.
• Great interpersonal skills and ability to work well in a fast-paced team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to advise on AI-generated and AI-assisted content, model and platform terms, training data, output ownership, digital replicas, provenance, deepfakes and AI-related patent strategy, with sound judgement on when specialist IP support is required.
• Experience negotiating or supporting technology, agency, media, content, talent, influencer and platform agreements, including rights ownership, licensing, data use, training restrictions, indemnities, liability, audit, monitoring, suspension, exit and post-launch governance.
• Ability to identify cyber-related legal risk early and coordinate an appropriate specialist response across Cybersecurity, Fraud, Trust & Safety and Communications.
• Proven ability to turn complex legal issues into practical playbooks, decision trees, risk tiers and self-service guidance, and to act as a senior partner to Marketing, Product, Data, Privacy, Cybersecurity, Corporate Development and executive stakeholders with strong judgement on escalation and prioritisation.

Further traits look for:

• Alignment with Booking.com’s values (Customer First, Succeed Together, Own It, Learn Forever, Do the Right Thing).
• Curiosity, flexibility, and a creative, pragmatic approach to problem-solving.
• Confidence with collaboration.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Proactivity, resilience, and a drive to deliver results.
• Strong judgment with attention to both the big picture and key details.
• Courage to take a stance and make tough decisions.
• Team-oriented, self-aware, and a good listener.
• Agility in prioritizing and meeting deadlines.
• Forward-thinking, with a focus on emerging legal and policy issues.

This is a pivotal moment in e-commerce and travel, and joining Booking.com’s Legal & Public Affairs (LPA) team provides you with opportunities to shape the future. The LPA team plays a key role in enabling Booking.com to become a one-stop solution for all travel-related needs, from accommodation to rental cars, flights and attractions, and beyond. This offers travellers what we like to call the ‘connected trip’ – enabling them to book every aspect of their travel experience seamlessly through our familiar, easy-to-use website or mobile app. As a member of the LPA team you will partner with the business to navigate complex regulations, build new products, and negotiate key deals—while driving ethical, sustainable growth.

We are an award winning team of around 200 professionals from 36+ nationalities, with lawyers qualified in multiple jurisdictions and non-lawyers specializing in public policy, economics, compliance, and risk. We have been recognised and shortlisted individually and as a team by the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Assoc. of Corp Counsel, Global Competition Review, The Lawyer GC of the Year (shortlisted), Compliance Week and the Financial Times. We encourage active participation in the industry, with board membership and representation at industry bodies at multiple levels, starting with our Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer, who is currently ACC President for Europe. We also engage with stakeholders on policy issues impacting travel and tech innovation, including through our new public affairs blog, "A World Worth Experiencing."

As a team, we believe in:

• Being integral to decision-making, shaping Booking.com’s future.
• Supporting Booking's mission to make travel accessible, fostering openness and curiosity.
• Offering opportunities for team members to explore new areas or specialize.
• Providing holistic, integrated legal and public affairs advice.
• Continuously improving Legal Operations, innovating, and sharing best practices.
• Learning from mistakes and embracing growth.
• Working collaboratively with a sense of humor and enjoying the journey together!

Booking.com’s Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, as well unique-to-Booking.com benefits which include:

• Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parent, grandparent, bereavement, and care leave.
• Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country).
• Industry leading product discounts - up to 1400 per year - for yourself, including automatic Genius Level 3 status and Booking.com wallet credit.

Inclusion has been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations. We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Local candidates will be prioritised. Relocations will not be considered for this role. Booking.com is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We strive to move well beyond traditional equal opportunity and work to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive.

If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.