About the General Counsel’s Organization (GCO):
The General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) of American Express is where great legal minds influence global business strategy.
The GCO’s mission is to protect and strengthen American Express through legal expertise and strategic advice that helps business partners manage risk, identify opportunities, and deliver on the company’s promise of exceptional products and services. As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience comprehensive support for your well-being, opportunities to grow as a leader, and an environment where your voice and ideas matter and your work makes an impact.
Role Summary:
We have an exciting opportunity for a Director & Counsel within the General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) at American Express. The Director & Counsel will report to the Vice President & Senior Counsel, U.S. Insurance Services and will be a member of the U.S. Consumer Services Team (USCS).
This role requires a highly strategic, solution-oriented legal advisor who can think creatively, operate effectively in gray areas, and provide practical, timely, strategic, and commercial legal advice that balances legal risk while advancing business objectives. The successful candidate will bring expertise in consumer financial services, embedded insurance products, and/or insurance law, including U.S. Insurance and Credit Card Add-On Product laws and applicable consumer protection frameworks, such as UDAAP/UDAP and state unfair trade practices. This attorney must have strong communication and negotiation skills, work with a high degree of autonomy, and collaborate closely with stakeholders across American Express, including Legal, Compliance, Government Affairs, Risk, and business teams.
Responsibilities
How will you make an impact in this role?
Design, structuring, and launch of new and innovative products and pilots, including serving as the primary lawyer on strategic growth initiatives, product fulfillment, servicing and claims frameworks.
Continuously identify opportunities to improve complex commercial arrangements with insurers and third-party partners, keeping abreast of evolving regulatory requirements and business priorities, and answering day-to-day questions about commercial and business partner agreements.
Provide legal support for regulatory change management, including capturing and analyzing regulatory changes, legal entity and corporate governance support, as applicable.
Lead engagement with insurance regulators, including oversight of regulatory filings and support for internal and regulatory approval of filed insurance rates, rules and forms.
Partner directly with business teams, risk management, compliance, technology, and operational teams, providing clear, reasoned, and pragmatic advice in real-time.
Perform novel legal analysis, including practical risk identification and risk mitigation.
Contribute to the development and evolution of the company’s insurance legal strategy over time.Mentor, influence, and support other team members, with the ability to take on increasing leadership responsibility when needed.
Minimum Qualifications:
Qualified to practice in the U.S. and admitted in one U.S. jurisdiction.
Eligible for admission to the N.Y. Bar.
6+ years of relevant legal experience in highly regulated industries.
Strong solutions-oriented mindset, with the ability to deliver and document concise, legally grounded, and practical guidance under tight timelines.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and partner effectively with senior business stakeholders; strong analytical, drafting, and negotiation skills.
Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and sound judgment while collaborating effectively and bringing others along in a matrixed environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience analyzing compliance implications and risks under U.S. state insurance statutes and regulations, including adjacent state laws.
Meaningful exposure to insurance and/or consumer financial services law.
Familiarity with credit card products and applicable federal and state consumer protection laws, including UDA(A)P.
Experience advising on product development and operations within financial services or another regulated environment, including strategic product differentiation through product wording, legal drafting, and/or implementation rules.
Prior underwriting, claims, regulatory, and consumer law experience.
Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.Bottom of Form
Skills Required
- Qualified to practice law in the United States and admitted in one U.S. jurisdiction
- Eligible for admission to the New York Bar
- At least 6 years of relevant legal experience in highly regulated industries
- Solutions-oriented mindset and ability to deliver concise, legally grounded, practical guidance under tight timelines
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to influence and partner effectively with senior business stakeholders
- Strong analytical, drafting, and negotiation skills
- Ability to work autonomously with sound judgment in a matrixed environment
- Experience analyzing U.S. state insurance statutes and regulations
- Meaningful experience with insurance and/or consumer financial services law
- Familiarity with credit card products and federal and state consumer protection laws, including UDAAP/UDAP
- Experience advising on product development and operations in financial services or another regulated environment
- Experience with product wording, legal drafting, and implementation rules
- Underwriting, claims, regulatory, and consumer law experience
American Express Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about American Express and has not been reviewed or approved by American Express.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — Bonuses are often viewed as strong and materially boost total compensation when combined with benefits. Company-performance bonuses are highlighted as a recurring strength.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off and paid leave are frequently highlighted as strengths within the total rewards package. These policies support work-life balance and contribute meaningfully to overall satisfaction.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are frequently mentioned as a positive component of the package. These offerings add tangible value beyond base salary.
American Express Insights
What We Do
At American Express, we know that with the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. Whether we’re supporting our customers’ financial confidence to move ahead, taking commerce to new heights, or encouraging people to explore the world, our colleagues are constantly striving to uphold our powerful backing promise to our customers and each other every day. These beliefs have been our North Star for 170 years as our business transformed – from helping evacuate travelers during World Wars, to ensuring the safety of our customers’ funds during the Great Depression in the U.S., to creating the Shop Small® movement to help small businesses recover from the Financial Crisis, to providing aid to communities impacted by many natural disasters and so much more. For generations, the key to our success has been the determination and resilience of our American Express colleagues. Now, as a globally integrated payments company, we work together to provide customers with access to products, insights and world-class experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Join us and let’s lead the way together.
