Counsel - Core Payments

Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Title and Summary
Counsel - Core Payments
Our Purpose
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we are helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payment choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Overview
Mastercard is seeking an experienced lawyer to join the EEMEA legal team and provide comprehensive, end-to-end legal support to the Core Payments business across Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EEMEA). The role will support the development, regional assessment, commercialization and ongoing management of core payment, network, authentication, digital payment and card product offerings.
The successful candidate will be a technology- and payments-minded lawyer who combines strong commercial judgment with product development and transactional experience. The candidate will be expected to manage a diverse workload, provide pragmatic and proactive advice, and work effectively with regional and global product teams and specialist legal and control functions.
The Role
Provide strategic and day-to-day legal support throughout the product lifecycle, from concept and product design through regional assessment, market testing, launch, commercialization, enhancement and discontinuation.
Partner with product, sales, technology, franchise, regulatory, compliance, privacy, intellectual property, public policy, finance, marketing and other stakeholders to enable responsible and timely delivery of core products across EEMEA.
Advise on product constructs, customer journeys, commercial models, contracting structures, go-to-market plans and allocation of legal and operational responsibilities.
Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of product and technology arrangements, including customer agreements, enrollment forms, product terms, addenda, partnership agreements, vendor agreements, statements of work and related documentation.
Draft, lead or coordinate regional legal assessments, legal scans and product approval processes, including collaboration with local counsel and relevant specialist teams where required.
Identify, assess and communicate legal and business risks, and develop practical, risk-balanced solutions that support commercial objectives while protecting Mastercard.
Provide clear, concise and actionable advice to business stakeholders and senior legal and business leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Support Core Payments business and related initiatives across EEMEA, including core products, network products, digital payment experiences, authentication, tokenization, card products, card holder solutions, processing solutions and associated customer-facing documentation.
Advise on laws and regulations relevant to payments and technology products, and coordinate input on regulatory, competition, anti-money laundering, sanctions, data protection, cybersecurity, consumer protection, intellectual property and other specialist matters.
Collaborate with global product counsel and regional legal teams to clarify ownership, ensure consistent legal positions and adapt global frameworks and templates for regional use.
Support customer engagements and negotiations, including complex or non-standard matters, and explain legal positions in a commercially constructive manner.
Develop, maintain and improve scalable templates, guidance, playbooks and legal processes that enhance consistency, speed and ease of doing business.
Provide training and practical guidance to business and legal stakeholders on product legal issues, contracting requirements, approval processes and Mastercard policies.
Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting Core Payments and help translate developments into practical product and commercialization guidance.
Manage external counsel efficiently, including scoping, instruction, quality oversight and budget management, in line with applicable policies.
Take ownership of strategic and high-profile projects while managing a steady stream of day-to-day matters and competing priorities.
Ensure compliance with Mastercard policies and procedures and support appropriate governance, escalation and record keeping.
All About You
Qualified lawyer in one or more jurisdictions, with a strong academic and professional training background.
Significant experience in product, technology and commercial legal matters, preferably in the payments, financial services, fintech or technology sector.
Demonstrated experience supporting product development and commercialization, including drafting and negotiating sophisticated commercial and technology agreements.
Sound understanding of legal and regulatory issues relevant to payment products and digital commerce. Familiarity with privacy, intellectual property, competition, consumer protection and financial services regulation is advantageous.
Ability to understand complex products, technologies, customer journeys and business models, identify material issues and communicate practical solutions clearly.
Strong business acumen, legal judgment and attention to detail, with the confidence to advise and influence stakeholders at different levels of seniority.
Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively across functions, jurisdictions, cultures and time zones in a fast-paced matrix environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication, drafting, negotiation, stakeholder management and organizational skills.
Proactive, accountable and solutions-oriented, with the ability to prioritize effectively, manage ambiguity and deliver under tight deadlines.
Fluency in English is required. Additional EEMEA country language capability is an advantage.
Working Style and Scope
This role is based in Istanbul and supports stakeholders across EEMEA. The role may require collaboration across time zones and occasional business travel. Mastercard roles evolve with the needs of the business, and the responsibilities above are intended as a guide rather than an exhaustive list.
Corporate Security Responsibility
All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.