At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide legal advice for innovative FinTech products and manage regulatory risks.
- Company: Join Booking Holdings, a leader in travel technology and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work arrangements, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborate globally and thrive in a fast-paced, tech-driven environment.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of financial technology in travel.
- Qualifications: Qualified lawyer with 5-8 years' experience in FinTech and payments.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Booking Holdings is seeking a business-minded FinTech Product Legal Counsel to join our international Fintech legal team. This role is critical in supporting the design, development, launch, and scaling of innovative financial technology products across multiple jurisdictions and Booking Holdings Brands. This role will partner closely with Product, Engineering, Compliance, Risk, Partnerships, Privacy, and Commercial teams to enable innovative financial products and payment solutions while managing legal and regulatory risk.
The ideal candidate combines strong product counseling capabilities with experience in payments, embedded finance, digital wallets, fintech partnerships, and regulated financial services environments. This opportunity represents an exceptional chance to embed yourself within one of the world's most exciting groups, work with top class Brands and help define the future for accessing travel experiences across the world. This is an excellent opportunity for a lawyer who thrives in fast-paced, technology-driven environments and enjoys working cross-functionally to bring customer-centric financial products to market globally.
Key Responsibilities- Advisory: Provide high quality and commercial legal advice to enable the compliant delivery of the FinTech/Payments product strategy, supporting stakeholders through the end-to-end product journey from the design "drawing board" to launch and beyond.
- Product Enablement: Serve as a legal partner for Fintech and payments product teams, advising on the design, structure, implementation, operation and lifecycle management of all FinTech/payment product initiatives globally.
- Regulatory Leadership: Lead and coordinate multi-jurisdictional regulatory assessments for Fintech products and payments flows. This includes identifying and interpreting applicable global regulatory requirements, such as licensing, privacy, payments regulation, consumer protection, and AML/CTF. You will scope and instruct external counsel, and translate complex advice into clear, actionable guidance.
- Risk and Compliance: Work closely with our regulated entities and internal risk stakeholders to ensure products are designed and operated within licence and regulatory perimeter.
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate effectively in a matrix structure with Legal, Product, Engineering, Finance, and Commercial teams.
- Guidance and Governance: Support governance and documentation, including product legal reviews and risk assessments. Help develop and maintain playbooks, templates, and guidance for recurring payments topics to drive consistency and speed of execution.
- Qualified lawyer with 5–8 years' PQE (or equivalent experience) with a mix of in-house and big firm experience preferred.
- Law degree from a top law school, and excellent academic credentials.
- Experience advising on Fintech products within fast-paced technology companies.
- Proven track record working in complex, multi-jurisdictional environments.
- Good understanding of key legal and regulatory frameworks including international money transfer, foreign exchange, outsourcing, open banking, e-money, payment services, e-commerce and online platforms for the EU (e.g. PSD2, AMLD, CBPR2, MTRs, DORA, SCA), US or another key jurisdiction or other rapidly evolving and developing regulatory (e.g. GenAI) contexts are beneficial.
- Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience supporting payments and financial services for a global online marketplace or travel/e-commerce platform.
- Understanding of the operational and regulatory complexities of cross-border travel transactions.
- Excellent communication skills, capable of translating complex legal concepts into concise, actionable insights for non-lawyers.
- Experienced in exercising sound commercial judgment to propose pragmatic legal solutions that balance risk, speed, and strategic goals.
- Comfortable making recommendations in ambiguous, fast-evolving regulatory and business environments.
- Flexible in adjusting approaches as new regulatory, market, or operational realities emerge.
- Comfortable collaborating across multiple time zones, cultural contexts, and regulatory environments.
- A passion for fintech and payments. Eager to learn new technologies and ideas. Comfortable navigating complicated and nuanced issues.
- Native or fluent English speaking and writing skills.
- Regular travel to Amsterdam is required.
Senior Legal Counsel, Booking Holdings FinTech in London employer: Booking Holdings
At Booking Holdings, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, particularly for our Senior Legal Counsel role in the FinTech sector. Our employees benefit from unparalleled opportunities for professional growth while collaborating with top-tier teams across various disciplines to drive innovative financial solutions. With a commitment to employee well-being and a vibrant international environment, we empower our team members to thrive in their careers and make a meaningful impact in the world of travel technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Legal Counsel, Booking Holdings FinTech in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the fintech and legal sectors on LinkedIn or at industry events. Building connections can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Prepare a portfolio of your past work, especially any projects related to fintech or payments. This will help you stand out during interviews and demonstrate your hands-on experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers, especially around complex legal concepts. The more comfortable you are discussing your experience, the better you'll perform.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team. Tailor your application to highlight your fintech passion and relevant experience to catch our eye.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Legal Counsel, Booking Holdings FinTech in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for FinTech:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for FinTech shine through! We want to see how your experience aligns with our innovative approach and how you can contribute to our exciting projects.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Highlight your relevant experience in payments and regulatory environments, and don’t forget to mention any cross-functional collaboration you've done – we love teamwork!
Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate straightforward communication, so keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity with Booking Holdings.
How to prepare for a job interview at Booking Holdings
✨Know Your FinTech Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and regulations in the FinTech space. Understand key concepts like embedded finance, digital wallets, and payment services. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just a lawyer, but a business-minded legal counsel who gets the industry.
✨Showcase Cross-Functional Collaboration
Prepare examples of how you've successfully worked with product, engineering, and compliance teams in the past. Highlight your ability to translate complex legal advice into actionable insights for non-lawyers. This will demonstrate your capability to thrive in a matrix structure and support innovative product development.
✨Be Ready for Regulatory Challenges
Familiarise yourself with multi-jurisdictional regulatory frameworks relevant to FinTech products. Be prepared to discuss how you've navigated these complexities before. Showing that you can lead regulatory assessments and provide clear guidance will set you apart as a strong candidate.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your thoughts on legal concepts in a straightforward manner. You’ll need to convey complex ideas to various stakeholders, so being concise and clear is key. Consider doing mock interviews to refine your communication skills and ensure you come across as approachable and knowledgeable.
