Senior Counsel - Blockchain & Digital Currencies

Overview

Mastercard is seeking an experienced lawyer to join the legal team to support Blockchain and Digital Currencies. The role reports to the Senior Managing Counsel for Blockchain and Digital Currencies. You will provide legal support and guidance on extending blockchain and digital currencies capabilities to financial services, and you will be part of a highly agile team delivering products at scale to global markets.

You will support governance for Mastercard’s regulated products and digital currency licenses once granted. From time to time you may work on other matters within the Core Payments business.

This role requires strong commercial knowledge in technology and financial/payment services, with ideally experience in distributed ledger technology, digital assets, stable coins and cryptocurrency. You will advise product and sales clients to enable delivery of commercial objectives and business strategy. The ideal candidate is motivated, curious and analytical, focused on delivering strategic, hands-on legal support and partnership to develop Mastercard’s next-generation payments products.

As Senior Counsel, you will be a member of the legal team and will take a major role in handling product development and support matters for Mastercard’s Blockchain and Digital Currencies products and services. You will identify issues, navigate legal, governance and regulatory risks, and implement appropriate controls, policies and processes. You will:

• Provide legal support for the strategic development and daily operations of Mastercard’s global Blockchain and Digital Currencies teams’ products and services.
• Offer tactical and strategic legal support on products and solutions to advance Mastercard’s corporate objectives, including blockchain and digital currencies strategy.
• Advise on governance aspects of Mastercard’s digital currency licenses and act as the primary liaison to the governance team for regulated products.
• Build strong relationships with business, sales and senior management within supported units.
• Collaborate with product, technology, sales, franchise, marketing, regulatory and other teams to develop and launch innovative products that meet customer needs.
• Provide solutions-oriented guidance to manage legal and commercial risks.
• Monitor and evaluate laws and regulations affecting Mastercard’s digital currencies business.
• Inform policy and regulatory positions related to Mastercard’s digital currencies products with internal and external stakeholders.
• Advise clients through the product development cycle, including regulated products, ensuring alignment with Mastercard’s policies and applicable laws;
• Cover a broad range of commercial and contractual matters, including product and marketing reviews, pilot agreements and RFP support, and drafting/negotiating contracts such as technology, customer and vendor agreements.
• Work with external and internal specialists, including regulatory, data privacy and IP counsel.
• Provide training to legal, franchise, sales and product teams as appropriate.
• Identify process improvements and execute solutions to support Mastercard’s transformation strategy and streamline processes.
• Lead special projects while handling day-to-day matters and manage external counsel within policy and budget.

Please note that roles within Mastercard evolve with business needs. The above is a guideline and not comprehensive. Work may also include supporting products and sectors in other focused segments.

This role will be based in Purchase, New York or London, United Kingdom. The team supports the business globally, so the role may require supporting other time zones and travel.

• A qualified lawyer licensed to practice in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Interest in financial services, stable coins, digital currency, crypto, and public/private blockchains.
• Experience with distributed ledger technology, smart contracts, regulatory issues, and governance related to crypto currencies is desirable but not essential.
• Experience across commercial and technology contracts with the ability to analyze core legal issues and explain technical problems clearly.
• Knowledge of data privacy…