Senior Legal Counsel, Booking Holdings FinTech in London

Senior Legal Counsel, Booking Holdings FinTech in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Priceline

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Provide legal advice for innovative FinTech products and manage regulatory risks.
  • Company: Join Booking Holdings, a leader in travel and technology.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, 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.
Knowledge and Skills
  • 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.
Preferred
  • 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: Priceline

At Booking Holdings, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture. As a Senior Legal Counsel in our FinTech team, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with top-tier professionals across various disciplines, driving innovation in financial technology while enjoying comprehensive benefits and robust career development opportunities. Our commitment to employee growth, coupled with the excitement of working in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment, makes this role a unique chance to shape the future of travel experiences globally.

Priceline

Contact Details:

Priceline Recruitment Team

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 space, especially those who work at Booking Holdings or similar companies. Attend industry events, webinars, and meetups to make connections that could lead to job opportunities.

Tip Number 2

Show off your expertise! Prepare to discuss your experience with payments, digital wallets, and regulatory frameworks during interviews. Use real-life examples to demonstrate how you've tackled complex legal challenges in fast-paced environments.

Tip Number 3

Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to hiring managers or teams at Booking Holdings through our website. Express your interest in the Senior Legal Counsel role and share how you can add value to their FinTech initiatives.

Tip Number 4

Stay updated on industry trends! Follow FinTech news and regulatory changes to show your passion and knowledge during interviews. This will help you stand out as someone who’s not just looking for a job, but genuinely interested in shaping the future of financial technology.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Legal Counsel, Booking Holdings FinTech in London

Legal Advisory
Product Counseling
Payments Regulation
Embedded Finance
Digital Wallets
Regulatory Compliance
Risk Management

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Legal Counsel role. Highlight your experience in fintech, payments, and regulatory environments, as these are key areas for us at Booking Holdings.

Showcase Your Cross-Functional Experience:We love candidates who can work across different teams. In your application, mention any past experiences where you collaborated with product, engineering, or compliance teams to bring financial products to market.

Be Clear and Concise:When drafting your application, keep it straightforward. Use clear language to explain your legal expertise and how it relates to the fintech space. We appreciate candidates who can translate complex legal concepts into simple terms.

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.

How to prepare for a job interview at Priceline

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 Your Cross-Functional Experience

Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with product, engineering, and compliance teams in the past. Highlight specific projects where your legal advice helped shape product development or navigate regulatory challenges. This will demonstrate your ability to work effectively in a matrix structure.

Be Ready for Regulatory Questions

Expect questions about multi-jurisdictional regulatory assessments and how you've handled them before. Be prepared to discuss your understanding of various legal frameworks, such as PSD2 and AMLD, and how they apply to FinTech products. This will show that you can lead regulatory discussions and provide actionable guidance.

Communicate Clearly and Concisely

Practice translating complex legal jargon into simple terms. You might be asked to explain intricate legal concepts to non-lawyers, so being able to communicate clearly is crucial. Use examples from your experience to illustrate how you've done this successfully in the past.