Senior Counsel - Privacy, Data, AI and Cyber, Europe

Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. We are dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

The Senior Counsel role sits within a supportive, hard-working and committed Europe and International Privacy, Data, AI and Cyber Legal Team in Visa’s Global Privacy Office. Reporting to the Senior Managing Counsel and DPO, you will be a senior lawyer providing strategic legal advice, overseeing the effective operation of our Global Privacy Program and ensuring compliance with privacy, data, AI and cyber laws and regulations. You will be responsible for leading the delivery of efficient, effective and high-quality legal support to the business on privacy, data, AI and cyber matters. The position is hybrid with an expectation of 3 days in the office, and we will consider candidates based in London, Ireland and Poland.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direction, leadership and strategic legal advice on privacy and data protection laws, including GDPR, EU AI Act, and other relevant regulations.
• Provide legal guidance on privacy impacts assessments and new, innovative, complex data and AI use cases.
• Act as a subject‑matter expert on mergers and acquisitions and corporate ventures.
• Manage complex data subject rights requests.
• Monitor and respond to privacy‑related inquiries and complaints.
• Lead incident response efforts for data breaches and other privacy incidents, updating senior management as needed.
• Stay updated on emerging privacy laws and trends to ensure ongoing compliance and participate in external forums.
• Build relationships with key business partners, working closely with them to meet their business needs in terms of privacy legal support in an efficient way.
• Develop and maintain privacy policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage privacy‑related contracts and agreements.
• Partner with Government Engagement teams to assess new laws, regulations, regulatory consultations and guidance.
• Actively look for opportunities to streamline and improve the delivery of privacy legal support, regulatory change management and knowledge sharing.
• Play an active part in contributing to the development of the Global Privacy Program.
• Identify privacy, data, AI and cyber issues and liaise when necessary with internal members of the broader Legal, Ethics and Compliance Division, and/or external counsel.
• Proactively contribute to the Global Privacy Office planning, cohesion, consistency in advice, and the general efficiency and effectiveness of the Global Privacy Office as a whole.

Required Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in the U.K., Ireland or Poland with extensive PQE experience; candidates qualified in other EU jurisdictions are considered.
• Extensive demonstrable privacy and AI legal subject‑matter expertise.
• Knowledge of fintech and payments industry and applicable regulation.
• Strong academics and training, including legal drafting, negotiating and relationship management.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (in English) and a demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrable analytical capabilities and attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a team environment as well as on own initiative.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a varied and busy workload.
• Positive attitude, high level of integrity, and intellectual curiosity with a passion for novel and complex privacy, data, cyber and AI issues.

Desirable Qualifications

• In‑house experience (secondment or permanent role).
• Previous experience working within a technology and digital legal environment.
• Previous experience of cross‑border and multi‑jurisdictional privacy issues.
• Additional European language (French desirable).
• One or more CIPP qualifications.

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.