At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service.

As part of Team Amex, you'll experience this powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career. Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.

How will you make an impact in this role?

We are seeking an Associate Counsel to join our Global Legal Policy & Strategy team. This role sits at the intersection of law, regulation, public policy, and business strategy, supporting American Express’ payment network, issuing, acquiring, and broader payments businesses across LAC, with a particular focus on Brazil.

You will work in a highly collaborative, global environment, contributing to the analysis of emerging regulatory developments and helping translate them into clear, strategic guidance for internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities
•    Monitor and analyze regulatory and policy developments impacting payment systems, financial services, competition law, digital/data policy, fintech, and consumer protection across LAC, with a particular focus on Brazil.
•    Assess business and strategic implications of legislative proposals, regulatory consultations, and market studies.
•    Prepare concise, business-oriented updates and legal analyses for cross-functional stakeholders and senior management.
•    Support the drafting of consultation responses and regulatory submissions.
•    Partner closely with Legal, Compliance, Government Affairs, and business teams to align regulatory strategy and external engagement.
•    Contribute to regional inputs for global payments reports and broader policy initiatives.
•    Conduct legal research and support knowledge management within the team.

Skills & Qualifications
•    Brazilian-qualified lawyer (OAB) with 3–5 years of relevant experience in a recognized law firm and/or multinational organization (including trainee or experience period).
•    Exposure to financial services regulation; experience with payments systems regulation is strongly preferred.
•    Familiarity with areas such as competition law, data protection, open banking, fintech, AML, or consumer policy is a plus.
•    Strong analytical skills and the ability to connect legal developments with commercial impact.
•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Portuguese (Spanish is a plus).
•    Proactive, detail-oriented, collaborative, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving regulatory environment.
•    Demonstrated competency in (i) interfacing with, influencing and advising dynamic and fast-paced business teams at all levels; (ii) agile legal analysis identifying risks, decision making, resolving novel, complex issues with a resourceful, “can-do” attitude, developing new approaches that reflect calculated risk and creativity (challenging as necessary the “status quo” and the “way it has been done before”); (iii) handling multiple tasks, taking on new responsibilities and prioritizing work in a dynamic, deadline-intensive environment; and (iv) facilitating change (vi) dealing with ambiguity and uncertainty. 
•    Ability to understand and integrate details of business operational/systemic environment in applying regulatory, legal and policy requirements.
•    Exceptional written and verbal communications skills; ability to communicate and relate at all levels of the organization and with external constituencies, and to drive consensus and exert influence in a cross-functional capacity.
•    Courageous, stands up for what is right, confronts constructively and confidently.
•    Self-motivated, high level of personal energy and commitment; drive to excel; motivation and ability to master diverse sets of skills, legal/regulatory areas and business strategies/operations; strong customer focus.
•    Supporting the work of the Global Legal Policy and Strategy function, as required.  A keen interest in thinking creatively about how to make our research and horizon scanning visible, readily accessible and appealing to senior management.

 

We back you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

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.