Counsel

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Team Summary

The Visa Asia Pacific Legal team manages Visa's legal affairs in the Asia Pacific region. Our team provides advice and services to ensure business goals are successfully met and that Visa's brand and reputation are protected while minimizing legal liability and regulatory risk. Our vision entails each legal professional living the guiding principles to be a proactive partner who never loses sight of his/her responsibility to protect the company.

What a Counsel in Legal does at Visa:

The position is for a seasoned business/commercial attorney to join Visa's growing legal team that supports Visa's businesses responsible for our Malaysian and other Southeast Asian markets including in the areas of sales contracts, corporate matters,  products, marketing agreements and routine Legal business and contracts enquires. The position will report to the Senior Managing Counsel who is the head of Southeast Asia for Visa Legal in the Asia Pacific region. The applicant should ideally have experience in commercial business law and management and be able to draft robustly and to a high standard. The applicant must have solid technical legal skills with good commercial/legal risk judgment, and be able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast paced and challenging, but rewarding, environment. 

We are looking for a strong legal advisor and commercial lawyer rolled into one with excellent communication and analytical skills, who is self-motivated and willing to work reasonably hard. Prior payments experience is not required, although the applicant must be willing to learn Visa's business model and the payments industry.

In this role, you are expected to:

• Work closely with business teams to review and advise on commercial and contractual enhancements and/or new business initiatives, as well as day to day commercial related matters
• Be an effective representative/ stakeholder for the AP Legal team in the global legal office and Country management, and liaise with/cooperate with other members of the global and regional Visa legal team
• Draft, negotiate and drive to completion complex commercial, technology, and strategic partnership agreements that achieve business objectives
• Provide counseling and advice to business and technology teams regarding deal structures and common approaches to addressing issues
• Assist in regulatory and government engagements/consultations on payment regulations in Malaysia and across the AP region and be an effective strategic advisor to the business and government engagement teams
• Some travel may be required

Why this is important to Visa

The Counsel provides legal advice, counsel and support to Visa’s business operations in Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region and serves as a trusted and respected advisor to senior management and a variety of business units. The Counsel has responsibility for enabling Visa’s business and protecting Visa, through drafting agreements, assisting with negotiations, and advising on diverse areas of law for strategic partnerships, commercial transactions, technology and intellectual property-related matters as well as daily operations of the business.

Projects you will be a part of:

You will be a member of a regional legal team that works at the cutting edge of new payment technologies, innovation and the fintech industry in an increasingly regulated environment, which brings unique and novel challenges in the commercial/technology law space.

This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.

Preferred Qualifications
9 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or 7 or more relevant years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 3 or more years of experience with a PhD

What you will need:
We are looking for a strong leader who brings of breadth of experience and knowledge of the industry and our business. As a candidate, you should have:

• Minimum 8+ years legal experience, some of which must be at a top tier law firm or MNC
• Strong academic credentials, including a degree from a well-recognized and reputable law school
• Must be able to work independently and interface with executive level stakeholders with little or no supervision, but also be a good team player
• Must be a practical and proactive problem-solver, must have a strong business acumen and be confident, mature and calm under fire
• Demonstrated ability to manage and drive complex commercial and technology transactions, including internationally driven deals
• Strong understanding of complex legal issues in multi jurisdictions
• Excellent legal analytical skills with the ability to integrate legal advice and business knowledge, while providing balanced advice regarding risks and benefits
• Admission to a recognized legal body is preferred, and can work in Malaysia

What will also help (Optional):

• Legal practice experience of any other Southeast Asian market an advantage

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.