Counsel

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Counsel

Overview
• The Andean Division Law team is responsible for all legal aspects of Mastercard’s business in the Andean Division (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia).
• The appointed person will be responsible for all legal aspects of the business in the Andean Division and also responsible for other work, including project based work and/or pan-region work, which will be assigned by the General Counsel – Latin America and Caribbean Region.
• The ideal candidate will have the ability to think and act both strategically and tactically with respect to the needs of business clients and their objectives while ensuring that the corporation remains compliant with law, and industry best practices.
Role
• Act as lead counsel and lead for all other Law, Franchise Integrity functions in the Andean Division.
• Negotiate and draft contracts and provide legal counsel to various client groups based in Bogota, Caracas and Lima.
• Provide legal support to Andean Division staff.
• Ensure compliance with laws while affording Mastercard maximum flexibility to conduct its affairs.
• Draft legal documents and business communications, and assist in the preparation of filings, registrations, and responses; represent Mastercard in front of customers, vendors, authorities and regulators. Manage the contract administration process to ensure proper contract drafting, negotiation and fulfillment in accordance with Mastercard policies, legal requirements and customer specifications.
• Create contract templates as required; advise management of contractual rights and obligations and assist in maintaining contract and legal files.
• Assist in addressing legal issues pertaining to Mastercard subsidiaries in the Andean Division, including liaising with Miami region headquarters office and local counsel in maintaining corporate books.
• Assist General Counsel – Latin America and Caribbean Region in coordinating with Miami region headquarters and NY global Law Department on legal, regulatory, franchise and other issues relating to Andean division.
• Ensure coordination of intra-company activity and compliance with Mastercard Rules, policies and procedures.
• Supervision of and coordination with outside counsel as appropriate.
All About You
• Solid experience in practice of law in the United States, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela (US firm experience or Multinational Corporate in-house experience) in the areas of general commercial, corporate, contracts.
• Experience in the following areas not crucial but desirable: banking, payment systems and payment products, fintech, sponsorship, marketing (including promotions, gaming and lotteries law, regulations, licensing, franchising, e-commerce, m-commerce, technology, telecommunications, labor law).
• Knowledge of banking business (payment systems and cards, knowledge of clearing and settlement processes) is useful.
• Thorough knowledge of contracts administration concepts and practices; experience with regulatory reviews, internal audits, and coordination of efforts across multiple lines of business.
• A quick learner with excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Spanish.
• Empathetic and easy to establish strong relationship with internal and external clients.
• Ability to draft high quality corporate agreements and documentation in both English and Spanish; ability to find creative solutions to contractual issues to reach resolution, taking a pragmatic, commercial approach to balancing legal risks against business interests.
• Proficient in MS Office products and database tools.
• Ability to handle multiple projects at one time.
• Superior time management, planning and organizational skills.
• Willingness to travel to the US (Miami and New York) and in the region.
• Strong interpersonal skills, team player, appreciation of diverse cultural methods of working and doing business, in particular, for Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Ability to interact with business clients and Mastercard customers on all matters of legal business.
• Strong preference for JD or LLM from accredited United States law school, and experience dealing with English language contracts and common law principles.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.