Counsel - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

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Visa is seeking a Counsel for a 12 month fixed term to support Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, focusing on sales contracts, corporate and commercial matters, products, marketing and IP, as well as regulatory and government engagements, with dedicated support to CMS, Visa Direct and Currency Cloud. The ideal candidate will bring 10 plus years of legal experience, preferably from a top tier firm or multinational, strong academic credentials, and the ability to advise, negotiate and drive complex commercial agreements to completion while partnering with executive stakeholders in a fast paced, multi jurisdiction environment. This hybrid Sydney role may require travel. To apply, tailor your resume to highlight commercial negotiations, product templates, payment flows knowledge and regulatory experience, demonstrate independence and business acumen, and show you understand Visa’s business model and the payments industry; include a concise cover letter linking your background to Visa’s strategic goals.

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in payments technology, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories, dedicated to uplifting everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

At Visa, you'll have the opportunity to create impact at scale — tackling meaningful challenges, growing your skills and seeing your contributions impact lives around the world. Join Visa and do work that matters — to you, to your community, and to the world.

Progress starts with you.

Job Description

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 business/commercial attorney to represent the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands markets including in the areas of sales contracts, corporate and commercial matters, products, marketing and IP, legal advisory and routine Legal business and contracts enquires, support the Government Affairs team including in relation to regulation for payment system operators, as well as provide dedicated support to the commercial money movement solutions (CMS), Visa Direct and Currency Cloud business.  This position will report to the Senior Managing Counsel who is the head of Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands for Visa Legal in the Asia Pacific region. The applicant must have solid technical legal skills with good commercial and legal risk judgment, excellent communication and analytical skills, be self-motivated, and be able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast paced and challenging, but rewarding, environment.  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
• provide dedicated support to CMS, Visa Direct and Currency Cloud, including to advise on innovation, new CMS product constructs, draft new local product templates, negotiate these with clients, and adapt these for variations on the product as necessary
• have specialized knowledge and provide advice on payment flows and the regulatory framework
• 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 across the AP region and be an effective strategic advisor to the business and government engagement teams including in relation to regulation for payment system operators  
• Some travel may be required

Why this is important to Visa:

The Counsel provides legal advice and support to Visa’s business operations in Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, a business of 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, innovation and new product solutions, 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.
• As the world's leader in digital payments technology, Visa's mission is to connect the world through the most creative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company's dedication to innovation drives the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and fuels the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce.
• At Visa, your individuality fits right in. Working here gives you an opportunity to impact the world, invest in your career growth, and be part of an inclusive and diverse workplace. We are a global team of disruptors, trailblazers, innovators and risk-takers who are helping drive economic growth in even the most remote parts of the world, creatively moving the industry forward, and doing meaningful work that brings financial literacy and digital commerce to millions of unbanked and underserved consumers.

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

Qualifications

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 10+ 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 advise on innovation in Commercial Money Movement Solutions, Visa Direct and Currency Cloud including new product constructs, draft new local product templates, negotiate and drive the legal stream to completion
• Knowledge of, and provide advice on, payment flows and the regulatory framework
• 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 Sydney, Australia

Additional Information

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.