Legal Counsel - Legal Product Marketplace

About Us: At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We’re the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you encounter. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the memories you make. Through our products, partners and people, we make it easier for everyone to experience the world. As Legal Counsel, Legal Product (Marketplace), you will assist across the team, partnering with the business on problem solving, interpreting novel areas of the law impacting cutting-edge tech work, carrying out product legal assessments, as well as assisting other members of the Legal & Public Affairs team in seeking to apply legal and regulatory requirements globally. Leadership/Team Quote: In this global role, you will be responsible for the initial assessment of requests from support across the Marketplace business function and will deal directly with stakeholders to clarify, interpret and understand requests. You will maintain accurate and comprehensive records of interactions, formal responses, and regulatory obligations. The Marketplace Business Function has been recently created to accelerate our pursuit of the Connected Trip vision and you will form part of a team responsible for driving the end-to-end traveler experience across all our platforms. You will bring to the other members of the Legal & Public Affairs team matters requiring escalation, collaboration or further analysis - although you will also spend much of your time acting independently and collaborating directly with business and operational counterparts. Role Description: In your capacity as a member of the Product Counsel team of Booking.com you will also provide hands-on support to the other Product Counsels in the team in assessing, responding and supporting inquiries from Product teams across the Company. You will also assist other members of the team in identifying efficient and scalable means of engaging the broader product community at Booking.com. Key Job Responsibilities and Duties: Establish an effective means of receiving, interpreting and responding to requests for Product Counsel support from across the Marketplace business Assist other members of the LPA team in managing material escalations and matters that have high strategic value, or material risk or exposure to the company collaboratively Assist other members of the Legal & Public Affairs team in managing regulatory compliance and litigation Liaising with the Compliance team in maintaining the Regulatory Change Management Program as required Respond to Product Owner queries and help coordinate requests for input and legal advice for various Product Initiatives from across Booking.com that are generated by our internal risk assessment processes Carrying out other tasks as required to enhance the effectiveness and improve ways of working of the Product legal team Qualifications & Skills: Demonstrable experience in a legal role or with a legal qualification (and knowledge and experience or interests in specialisms or areas like Consumer, Data Protection, Artificial Intelligence or other regulatory context being a plus) Knowledge of Travel industry & Tech and/or regulations is a benefit Innovative: the ability to meet complex challenges with innovative solutions that will apply successfully across multiple practice areas and jurisdictions Very strong organizational and project management skills. Capable of handling multiple projects/initiatives simultaneously and executing to completion A natural problem-solver and strategic thinker, comfortable with ambiguity and able to bring structure to challenging situations Someone who is always looking for opportunities to drive efficiency through appropriate use of the right technologies Strong communication skills, particularly clear and concise written communication A proven track record of excellent negotiation skills and full resilience in handling pushback from the business A natural at building consensus and working with multiple stakeholders to drive projects to completion. An ambitious mindset that enables you to successfully work independently with little guidance but also to be pragmatic, use good judgment and call out issues Fluency in English (a must-have; additional European languages are a benefit). Further traits look for: Alignment with Booking.com’s values (Customer First, Succeed Together, Own It, Learn Forever, Do the Right Thing). Curiosity, flexibility, and a creative, pragmatic approach to problem-solving. Confidence with collaboration. Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. Proactivity, resilience, and a drive to deliver results. Strong judgment with attention to both the big picture and key details. Courage to take a stance and make tough decisions. Team-oriented, self-aware, and a good listener. Agility in prioritizing and meeting deadlines. Forward-thinking, with a focus on emerging legal and policy issues. Why join the Legal & Public Affairs Team now? This is a pivotal moment in e-commerce and travel, and joining Booking.com’s Legal & Public Affairs (LPA) team provides you with opportunities to shape the future. The LPA team plays a key role in enabling Booking.com to become a one-stop solution for all travel-related needs, from accommodation to rental cars, flights and attractions, and beyond. This offers travellers what we like to call the ‘connected trip’ – enabling them to book every aspect of their travel experience seamlessly through our familiar, easy-to-use website or mobile app. As a member of the LPA team you will partner with the business to navigate complex regulations, build new products, and negotiate key deals—while driving ethical, sustainable growth. Who we are? We are an award winning team of around 200 professionals from 36+ nationalities, with lawyers qualified in multiple jurisdictions and non-lawyers specializing in public policy, economics, compliance, and risk. We have been recognised and shortlisted individually and as a team by the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Assoc. of Corp Counsel, Global Competition Review, The Lawyer GC of the Year (shortlisted), Compliance Week and the Financial Times. We encourage active participation in the industry, with board membership and representation at industry bodies at multiple levels, starting with our Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer, who is currently ACC President for Europe. We also engage with stakeholders on policy issues impacting travel and tech innovation, including through our new public affairs blog, "A World Worth Experiencing." As a team, we believe in: Being integral to decision-making, shaping Booking.com’s future. Supporting Booking's mission to make travel accessible, fostering openness and curiosity. Offering opportunities for team members to explore new areas or specialize. Providing holistic, integrated legal and public affairs advice. Continuously improving Legal Operations, innovating, and sharing best practices. Learning from mistakes and embracing growth. Working collaboratively with a sense of humor and enjoying the journey together! Benefits & Perks - Global Impact, Personal Relevance: Booking.com’s Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, as well unique-to-Booking.com benefits which include: Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parent, grandparent, bereavement, and care leave Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country) Industry leading product discounts - up to 1400 per year - for yourself, including automatic Genius Level 3 status and Booking.com wallet credit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Booking.com: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion have been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations. Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: “At Booking.com, the diversity of our people doesn’t just build an outstanding workplace, it also creates a better and more inclusive travel experience for everyone. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. It’s a place where you can make your mark and have a real impact in travel and tech.” We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Application Process: This section should provide: Let’s go places together: How we Hire Detailed instructions on post-application requirements including any required application materials, deadlines, portfolios, coding challenges, or other assessments as defined by BU or department. This role does not come with relocation assistance. Booking.com is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We strive to move well beyond traditional equal opportunity and work to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive. Pre-Employment Screening If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.