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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 company values 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.

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Band 40 Director role- based in Tokyo, Japan

General Counsel’s Organization:

Where great legal minds influence global business strategy.
 
You will be part of a dynamic and driven team of lawyers in the APAC General Counsel’s Organization (“GCO”), who are responsible for legal and regulatory matters relating to the American Express business in the region.  Reporting directly to the Head of Legal, Japan (VP & Senior Counsel), you will lead a team to provide strategic legal support to our our growing card issuing business in Japan.  You will advise Japan senior management and collaborate with internal stakeholders on a broad range of legal initiatives such as financial services and payments regulations, privacy, AML, governance, regulatory compliance, and other matters.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Help propel your team and its business partners to success.

Your roles and responsibilities will include:

1. Support Business Development. Support new product development work and business initiatives for the card issuing business, including digital & on-line products and functionalities. Review and advise on acquisition, credit and risk management, operational risk and related initiatives and executions. 

2. Manage Business Contracts. Draft, review, negotiate and amend all types of business contracts for the company.  Provide advice and assistance to management on standard agreements and terms and conditions of business or business processes.

3. Manage Regulatory Affairs. Monitor and advise on proposed changes to legal requirements in Japan which impact American Express. This includes financial services and payment systems regulation, consumer protection, e-money, competition, data privacy and outsourcing laws. Partner closely with Government Affairs and Compliance to support lobbying efforts, resolve issues of interpretation and advise on implementation as required. 

4. Deals and Strategy. Support major deals and business strategic initiatives with creative, proactive and business outcomes-focused advice, including structuring and negotiation on critical deals.

5. Manage Dispute Resolution. With support from outside counsels, provide advice on and management of litigation, disputes and claims, whether as plaintiff or defendant.  Try to seek constructive, “win-win” solutions in the interests of upholding the American Express brand and shareholder value.

6. General. Provide general guidance and advice to senior management on legal entity governance, business structuring and all other legal and regulatory matters. 

7. Manage legal expenses to allocated budget. Support reporting, administrative and GCO activities.

 

Required Experience and Skills

Minimum Experience:  

1. Qualified and admitted/licensed lawyer in Japan.  The ideal candidate would have at least 10 years post-qualification experience in financial services, payments, technology or a related field.  Prior in-house experience with financial institution or multi-national corporation preferred.   

2. Team management. Experienced people leader with proven ability to manage a team/ develop talent to fully maximize their potential.

3. Language. Fluent in both written and spoken Japanese and English with proven ability to draft and negotiate complex contracts in both languages.  

Required Skills: 

1. Communication. Excellent oral and written communication skills, in particular the ability to explain complex legal matters clearly and concisely to senior business and other colleagues in the region. 

2. Relationship Building. Proven ability to build relationships and influence at senior levels of management and across peer groups and other colleagues.

3. Business Acumen and Innovation. Goes beyond giving legal advice to understand broad business implications and to add value to business strategy.  Takes responsibility for understanding and solving complex problems in flexible and creative ways.

4. Professional poise. Maintains grace under pressure and demonstrates the ability to impart discipline and calm to stressful situations. A persuasive advocate who speaks up on difficult issues but is also able to lay out a path to practical solutions.

5. Agility and Collaboration. Works in an agile manner in collaboration with key stakeholders to drive results. Excellent time management skills and ability to balance priorities effectively to meet business needs in short timeframes.

6. Energetic and practical application of legal skills and knowledge to business situations and problems.

7. A positive attitude, demonstrates growth mindset, will to win and a team player.

 

Given the dynamic nature of the global payments industry and the valued partnership between our legal team and the business, we see it as imperative to attract and develop talented people by:

-       Providing a rich work experience and opportunities for professional development

-       Recognizing and rewarding colleagues who drive and deliver results

-       Respecting and valuing diversity and integrity

 

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, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need  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.