Senior Legal Counsel (Commercial – Partnerships, IT & Rides)

Location: Manchester City Centre

 

The Company

It wasn’t so long ago that booking a trip to see the Eiffel Tower, stroll down New York’s iconic Madison Avenue or feel the sand between our toes on Copacabana Beach was simply a matter of a few taps on our smartphone.

In fact, that’s what we do at Booking.com. We make it easier for everyone to experience the world. And while that world might feel a little farther away right now, we’re busy preparing for when the world is ready to travel once more.

Across our offices worldwide, we continue to innovate. To solve for some of the most complex challenges in travel and technology, and to plan for the exciting developments that lie ahead. With strategic long-term investments into what we believe the future of travel can be, we are opening up new career opportunities that will have a strong impact on our mission.

We are united in the belief that our very human desire to explore the planet’s beauty and discover more about other people and cultures will endure. The world is waiting for us. Together, we will be ready.

Booking.com core values

• Think customer first
• Succeed together
• Own It
• Learn Forever
• Do the Right Thing

The Role

This role is to provide timely, accurate, proactive, independent and commercially focused effective and enforceable legal advice in relation to TBU’s commercial contracts in particular by applying knowledge of relevant and latest laws, regulations and other applicable requirements to review, draft and negotiate commercial contracts including with third party partners, plus other internal policies and procedures and to mitigate risks by partnering with relevant stakeholders, with particular focus on the activities of the Partnership, IT and Rides depts.

Impact

Role focusses on new products, processes, standards based on set short- to mid-term plans and includes advising on high risk, complex and strategic legal matters within relevant departments

Communication

Role requires influencing the business directly and negotiation (convince others to reach agreement) internally and externally with third parties including suppliers and partners.

Innovation

Freedom to improve day to day activities to increase quality of processes and/or products.

Role is responsible for advising on significant changes that touch entire processes and/or products whilst always maintaining a commercial approach which benefits the business.

Knowledge

Professional knowledge within a specific discipline is required.

Key Responsibilities

• In this role you will be involved in several projects and legal matters, including: 
• Responsibility for handling high risk, complex and strategic legal matters within relevant departments with minimal oversight from GC
• Advising and influencing the business directly whilst maintaining a commercially sensible approach at all times
• Drafting TBU’s standard templates agreements to be used by the Partnerships and Rides teams on a global basis including developing or updating agreement templates for Partnerships and Rides Supply Partners
• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating contracts with significant key stakeholders and key TBU/Booking.com Partners and Rides suppliers (with support and oversight from the General Counsel as appropriate)
• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating high risk and high value IT agreements in respect of TBU’s business and ensuring there are strict processes for the IT department to be self sufficient and consistent with contract delivery.
• Working closely with other members of the Legal dept in particular in respect of privacy, compliance and insurance regulatory issues as required including ensuring provisions are included in the above agreement as appropriate.
• Dealing with the commercial teams regarding new partners, termination queries and general commercial advice.
• Identifying, developing and making improvements to procedures, processes and services in respect of ways of working between Legal and the relevant areas of business.
• Providing training and guidance to the Legal Department and business in respect of the above.
• Become the first point of contact for legal queries for the TBU Partnerships, IT and Rides teams
• Liaising with all other parts of the business in respect of the above where required including but not limited to Tax and Finance teams.

 

Skills and Experience

• In-depth legal knowledge particularly in respect of commercial law, contract law and basic knowledge of several other areas such as competition law, litigation and privacy

• Educated to degree standard.
• Practising Solicitor.
• 5 – 8 years relevant PQE either gained with a reputable law firm or in-house (other PQE experience and in-house experience will be considered).
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral).
• Excellent drafting skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Confidence in ability to provide commercial advice and guidance.
• Able to demonstrate commercial awareness and understanding of the business requirements.
• Provision of coaching and training.
• Professional and collaborative approach.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• A high standard of knowledge and use of Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Excellent organisational skills. 

Who we are looking for is just as important if not more important than your current skill base. You should be a commercially minded lawyer that looks to question the usual way of doing things, be interested in working in a tech led environment and be someone that is looking to take control of projects - not just waiting to be told what to do.

Special Features

• Role may include some foreign travel between group companies

Benefits

• 25 vacation days (rising to 28) to go exploring
• Generous accommodation discount, so you can explore for less
• Bonus package 
• Pension with up to 10% matched company contribution
• Free breakfast and subsidised staff restaurant with Starbucks coffee
• Huge learning and development platform tailored to you
• Shopping and leisure discounts through Perkbox
• Interest free travel loans/discounted car parking
• Competitive maternity/paternity/adoption leave
• Flexible working, including working from home
• Mental health first-aiders and free face-to-face support