Sr Legal Counsel

Job Summary

As a Senior Commercial Counsel in London, you will play a pivotal role in steering complex legal projects and advising on critical legal issues, empowering PayPal’s business growth and global innovation. You will proactively shape the company’s risk management strategies and legal processes, often leading initiatives that result in significant, global‑scale improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Negotiate merchant and partner deals in collaboration with the Global Markets Sales organization, focusing on commercial opportunities in Europe and the United Kingdom.
• Manage escalations, collaborate across teams, and develop solutions that enable teams and business partners to close deals.
• Build strong relationships with business counterparts across the enterprise to drive effective legal services.
• Work with the global Commercial Legal team to improve processes and contracting, creating consistency and efficiency (e.g., automation enhancements, contract standardisation).
• Support initiatives that enable business expansion, innovation, and operational scalability for PayPal’s global payments and financial products.
• Provide high‑level regulatory, contractual, and commercial guidance, translating legal requirements into actionable business solutions.
• Advise on compliance with UK, EU, and international regulations relevant to fintech, payments, data privacy, AML, consumer protection, and AI.
• Engage on the adoption of new legal technologies and automation tools to support scalable growth.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide clear, pragmatic, solution‑oriented legal advice to enable business strategy while managing legal risk.
• Participate in complex problem resolution, offering expert legal advice on high‑stakes issues and disputes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Partner with business counterparts across the enterprise to deliver effective legal services.
• Develop comprehensive risk management frameworks to safeguard PayPal’s legal interests.
• Escalate complex issues to senior legal leadership when appropriate.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant experience and a Juris Doctorate degree OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Qualified to practice law in the United Kingdom or have an equivalent international legal qualification with eligibility for UK practice.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant post‑qualification experience, preferably in payments, fintech, or financial services, with prior in‑house and/or top‑tier law firm experience.
• Experience negotiating and advising senior business leaders on commercial deals, including in the financial services sector.
• Strong background in commercial, corporate, and regulatory law, with hands‑on experience in contract negotiation, compliance frameworks, and cross‑border legal issues in fintech or payments.
• Excellent drafting, written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to translate legal requirements into balanced, pragmatic solutions.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with a pragmatic, business‑oriented approach to provide concise advice under pressure.
• Proven ability to work effectively within and across multifunctional teams, managing multiple concurrent projects in a fast‑paced environment.

Desired Skills & Attributes

• Knowledge of the payments/financial services regulatory environment (FCA and EU regulations).
• Track record of leading high‑value transactions and enabling legal innovation in technology‑driven organisations.
• Experience with commercial contract standardisation and process improvements.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and influencing skills.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off.
• Healthcare coverage for you and your family.
• Resources to create financial security and support mental health.
• Choice‑based programs supporting physical, emotional, and financial well‑being.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

PayPal provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. In addition, PayPal will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact paypalglobaltalentacquisition@paypal.com.