Legal Counsel

About the company

American Express is a global service company, providing customers with exceptional access to products and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Each day, we make it easier, safer and more rewarding for consumers and businesses to purchase the things they need and for merchants to sell their goods and services, enabling them to do and achieve more.

We’re committed to becoming the world’s most respected service brand and daily deliver extraordinary service to our customers, constantly reinventing our ways of working to ensure we offer rich rewards that redefine expectations for our clients and ourselves.

Please note! It is also possible to work from the Amex office in Amsterdam if you are resident in the Netherlands. The condition remains that you have a general understanding of applicable Belgian law relating to payment services, consumer protection and financial services generally.

Your role.

The mission of the legal department of American Express, the General Counsel Organization (GCO), is to protect and strengthen American Express, through excellent legal expertise and strategic advice that help our business partners manage risk, identify opportunities and deliver on American Express’ promise of exceptional products and services.

We are now looking for a Legal Counsel to join the General Counsel Organization (GCO) in Brussels. Under the direction of the Director & Counsel, an experienced lawyer, you will provide legal support to the different business units of American Express in Belgium and Luxembourg, including:

• Providing practical, business-oriented legal advice and support to the business units in connection with the company’s card issuing, merchant acquiring and travel business activities
• Providing legal advice on different areas of law, such as financial law, general contract law consumer protection law and anti-money laundering legislation
• Managing external counsel
• Identifying and providing legal interpretation on new legislation, or changes in legislation, which impact the business activities and affairs of the company
• Drafting and reviewing contracts
• Representation of the Company (or oversight of external counsel) in legal proceedings
• Identifying and providing legal interpretation on material new laws, or material changes in laws, which impact the business activities and affairs of the Company
• Working in close collaboration with members of the Benelux GCO team, other European lawyers, the Compliance department, business units and external organizations;
• Advising on interactions with regulators
• Drafting and reviewing contracts

What do we ask from you?

• Master’s degree in Belgian law.
• Distinguished practice experience (3 years) in-house or at a law firm.
• Fluent in written and spoken Dutch, French and English.
• General understanding of applicable Belgian law relating to payment services, consumer protection and financial services generally. Understanding of contract law, anti-money laundering law and data protection law is a plus.
• Understanding of Luxembourg law is a plus
• Proven ability to adopt a business orientated approach, take charge and “get things done”.
• Good analytical skills, attention to detail even under time pressure.
• Ability to set appropriate priorities and deliver results within the established timelines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and strong work ethic.
• Good team player and self-starter.
• Willingness to develop a career at American Express and add new subject areas and areas of responsibility to portfolio.

Working at American Express.

As a company whose primary mission is to take care of customers, American Express has created a culture with service at its core. They dedicate extensive resources and effort to satisfying and surprising customers with thoughtful, creative and personalized solutions. You’ll find the same level of personal attention, respect and support for their own people as well.

American Express strives to create an environment where people are respected, feel personally and professionally fulfilled, and look forward to coming to work. They empower our people to do the best job possible, while creating a life that’s truly extraordinary.

Are you interested?

For more information and details about this role or information about the application procedure please contact Rene van den IJssel (Icebreaking Recruitment) at + 31 6 53 67 2081.

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.