Job Description 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 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.
You'll do more than the expected. You'll do the unexpected.
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 Kuala Lumpur office who will report to the LST Director & Counsel based in London.
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).
Role Purpose: 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, senior 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 contracts 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/GCO 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.
Primary responsibilities: Contribute as an independent, trusted legal advisor within GCO and the wider Amex business by:
identifying and effectively managing legal risk taking instructions and supporting other lawyers or legal teams in the GCO globally 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 supporting internal governance and approval processes, including coordinating with compliance, risk, finance and other internal stakeholders, as appropriate instructing and liaising with outside counsel to obtain, challenge and finalise legal advice/opinions on various projects, legal advice and agreements carrying out legal research on behalf of our GCO colleagues supporting company secretarial matters, as required and providing training workshops, as required. Lead and supervise the work of other team members, including: coaching, mentoring and supervising direct reports in the LST promoting the success of direct reports by acknowledging and rewarding achievements identifying areas that need increased leadership focus implementing and improving methods for legal knowledge sharing and management contributing to the LST's training and development programme ensuring LST's adherence to any company-wide and GCO-specific processes and procedures preparing and delivering internal training, as required supporting budgeting and expenses control tasks and performing other duties as assigned by the LST Senior Vice President & Managing Counsel from time to time. Qualifications Qualified to practice in Malaysia or any other APAC jurisdictions. Minimum of 10 years PQE although strong candidates with less experience will also be considered. In-house experience in financial services is preferred, but not mandatory. Quality experience in advising on commercial contracts. Solid drafting, research and negotiation/influencing skills. Solid analytical skills and high attention to detail. Solid understanding of general principles of law applicable to commercial practice. Intellectually strong with ability to rapidly grasp key issues. Ability to work under time pressure to meet tight deadlines and clients' expectations. Proven track record in leading, supervising and developing other professionals. Fluency in an additional language such as Mandarin is preferred, but not mandatory. Required personal attributes: Ability to interpret and apply legal issues in a practical, hands-on, common sense manner. Skilled management and prioritisation with respect to the handling of own caseload, clients and direct reports. Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, effectively and persuasively with clients, senior business, legal management and external regulators, both orally and in writing. Able and willing to work both as part of a team and independently with minimal supervision. Strategic thinker with good business understanding and analytical skills. Strong ability to build solid working relationships. Energised team player with a genuine desire to coach, nurture and develop talent. Proven ability to help identify and implement improvements in work process to enhance efficiency and productivity. 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 or onsite arrangements depending on role and business needs 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.
Legal Research, Mandarin, Negotiation, Attention To Detail, Drafting, Commercial Contracts, Influencing, Analytical Skills
