Counsel

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
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.
At Mastercard Services, we go beyond payments. We deliver cutting-edge solutions that help businesses, financial institutions, and governments unlock growth and manage risk. By combining deep industry expertise, advanced technology, and data-driven insights, we enable smarter decisions and better outcomes worldwide. Security Solutions ("SSO") is part of Mastercard Services and provides products that help customers prevent fraud, strengthen identity, enhance cybersecurity resilience, detect financial crime, and protect the integrity of digital commerce. SSO includes product families such as Identity, Fraud & Financial Crimes, Cybersecurity, Payment Resiliency, Decisioning, and related security offerings delivered globally.
Title and Summary
Counsel - Product
Mastercard is looking for an energized, strategic, business-minded product attorney to join its dynamic legal team as Counsel supporting the Security Solutions business across the EEMEA region. Under the direction of Senior Counsel, this position will provide regional product legal support for the SSO Product Development and Product Management functions in EEMEA.
This is a client-facing role and will require regular interaction with SSO product managers, engineers, business and sales teams, customer delivery personnel, regional leadership, and other internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be comfortable communicating with internal clients and establishing strong business rapport.
The position may be based in Mastercard's office in Johannesburg or Turkey.
Role• Serve as regional product counsel for SSO offerings in the EEMEA region, providing support across all SSO verticals, including Identity, Fraud & Financial Crimes, Cybersecurity, Payment Resiliency, Decisioning, and related products.• Support SSO product leads on product design, deployment, regulatory considerations, operational readiness, and go to market strategies for the EEMEA region.• Advise on legal, regulatory, reputational, and liability considerations for new and existing SSO products delivered to Mastercard customers in region.• Support handover and transition processes between originating/ global product counsel and EEMEA execution, ensuring product requirements, risk mitigations, and legal considerations are properly implemented in region.• Research and interpret local laws, conduct jurisdictional reviews, and collaborate cross-functionally with subject-matter experts (SMEs) on privacy, regulatory, cybersecurity, intellectual property, antitrust, and compliance considerations relevant to SSO products.• Structure, draft, and negotiate technology related agreements (including pilot agreements, statements of work, platform terms, proof of concept agreements, SaaS agreements, vendor and partner agreements, and reseller agreements) relating to the deployment and use of SSO products.• Participate in EEMEA and global SSO governance forums, processes, and workflows, including product review assessments, pricing initiatives, commercialization approaches, and related operational frameworks.• Provide early issue spotting and deliver practical, business oriented solutions to stakeholders navigating regulatory complexity, technical constraints, or evolving product requirements.• Act as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to fast moving product and business teams, helping balance legal risk with Mastercard's innovation and regional growth objectives.• Assist Senior Counsel with various projects relating to legal operations, process improvement, or product enablement in EEMEA.• Provide back-up support to other legal colleagues in the team as and when needed.• Develop, assist with, and execute global and regional initiatives in region to support the evolution of the regional SSO legal team in EEMEA and the support it provides.• Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the successful candidate may be required to undertake additional duties from time to time to ensure the smooth support of the SSO business.
All About You• Strong experience supporting product development, product management, or technology-driven environments, with sound business judgment and ability to guide product teams through complex issues.• Solid transactional training and experience (in-house or at an established, reputable law firm), with strong drafting and negotiation skills to address complex commercial matters.• Ability to operate effectively in an environment with incomplete information, thoughtfully weighing risk and taking a pragmatic, "yes if" approach to lawyering.• Business-minded, collaborative, and solutions-oriented approach to problem solving; comfortable providing clear, practical guidance.• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage internal client relationships and influence cross-functional stakeholders.• Able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment with short turnaround times and shifting market needs.• Strong communication skills and comfort expressing a point of view to senior stakeholders.• Collegial and intellectually curious team member willing to take on additional responsibilities to support business goals.• Familiarity with technology, product development, cybersecurity, identity, or fraud-related domains is an advantage.• Working knowledge of data privacy, cybersecurity, and intellectual property issues preferred.• Must possess a Juris Doctorate (or non-U.S. equivalent) and be admitted to practice (or non-U.S. equivalent).• Experience working across multiple jurisdictions and time zones is a strong plus.• Positive, flexible team player committed to Mastercard's values of decency, inclusion, and innovation and willing to take on responsibilities that support the legal team, region, and Company.
Why Join Us?• Work on products that impact millions globally.• Collaborate with diverse teams across regions.• Be part of a culture that values innovation, inclusion, and growth.• Access continuous learning and development opportunities to advance your career.
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.