Associate counsel

You Lead the Way. We’ve Got Your Back. With the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and each other. Here, you’ll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that’s unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally. At American Express, you’ll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact—every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company’s success. Together, we’ll win as a team, striving to uphold our company values and powerful backing promise to provide the world’s best customer experience every day. And we’ll do it with the utmost integrity, and in an environment where everyone is seen, heard and feels like they belong. Join Team Amex and let’s lead the way together. The Legal Services Team (LST) is part of American Express General Counsel’s Organisation (GCO). We deliver legal support to colleagues and to clients, globally, across all business lines. We are looking to add a team member in the UK, who will report to a senior lawyer also based in the EMEA region. As a diverse and inclusive employer, we are very open to applications from people returning to the workforce and/or seeking flexible working arrangements or the option to work remotely (please talk to us about this when you apply). The LST’s mission is to provide efficient, consistent, innovative, and high-quality, legal support across business units, staff groups and jurisdictions. We are looking for a motivated, proactive, junior lawyer, experienced in commercial contracts, who will be part of this lively team. Interested candidates will have commercial awareness and experience of working in a commercial contract space. Candidates must be able to use their legal skills to work closely with key business clients around the globe, the LST leadership team and colleagues within the LST team on a day to day basis. In addition, candidates should possess a strong ability to lead partners and be able to demonstrate a track record of client care. How will you make an impact in this role? Contribute as an independent, trusted legal advisor to GCO and to the wider Amex business by: Identifying and effectively handling legal risk Taking instructions from and supporting your team leader, other lawyers, or legal teams in GCO, primarily across the EMEA region, and beyond as required Providing sound, commercial, legal advice and support across all business units, including drafting, reviewing, analysing and negotiating a wide range of agreements and legal documents such as procurement, marketing and sponsorship agreements Supporting internal governance and approval processes, including coordinating internal partners as appropriate Instructing and collaborating closely with outside counsel to obtain, challenge and finalise legal advice/opinions on projects and agreements Carrying out legal research on behalf of GCO colleagues Handling company secretarial matters and other LST workstreams, as required Working with other LST team members, including: Improving methods for legal knowledge management and supporting LST training and upskilling programme Ensuring LST’s adherence to any company-wide and GCO-specific processes and procedures Minimum Qualifications: Junior UK-qualified solicitor (or hold an equivalent qualification from a common law jurisdiction, provided you have some experience advising on English law matters) Experience of drafting and advising on commercial contracts in a practical and commercial manner with strong research and analytical skills Fluency in German/ Italian /Spanish would be beneficial but not required In-house experience in financial services is preferred Ability to effectively multi-task, prioritise and work as part of a team or autonomously under time pressure to meet deadlines and manage clients’ expectations Cross-jurisdictional experience is preferred, but not required (e.g. EMEA, APAC, LAC) Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, reliably, and persuasively with clients, senior business people, legal management and external regulators, both orally and in writing Commitment to integrity and American Express value We back our colleagues and their loved ones with benefits and programs that support their holistic well-being. That means we prioritize their physical, financial, and mental health through each stage of life. Benefits include: Competitive base salaries Bonus incentives Support for financial-well-being and retirement Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits (depending on location) Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need Generous paid parental leave policies (depending on your location) Free access to global on-site wellness centers staffed with nurses and doctors (depending on location) Free and confidential counseling support through our Healthy Minds program Career development and training opportunities Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations. To complete your application, please click on the links below. However, if you require any assistance with the completion of this process – or need any reasonable adjustments to be made – then please contact the Recruitment Team on [email protected]