Legal Counsel (ABU Legal, Product & Regulatory)

• As Legal Counsel, Product, the successful candidate will be the primary point of contact in
• The Legal and Public Affairs department for regulatory communications from Short Term Rental (STR) & platform licensing regulators, as well as assisting other members of the Legal &; Public Affairs team in seeking to apply Short Term Rental regulatory requirements, interpret regulatory requests (such as so-called ‘takedown’ requests) and other regulatory questions and responses
• You will in your role be responsible for the initial assessment of regulatory communications and will, deal directly with STR regulators to clarify, interpret and understand requests.
• You will maintain accurate and comprehensive records of interactions, formal responses, and regulatory obligations across Short Term Rental & platform licensing regulatory engagements
• You will bring to the other members of the Legal & Public Affairs team and business stakeholders 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 in the Accommodation Business Unit
• Support the handling of regulatory requests from Short Term Rental / Platform Licensing Regulators, including Data Requests and Takedowns requests from public authorities, and notices of illegal listings from third parties - by overseeing the work conducted by the Regulatory inbound team in Booking.com’s Centre of Excellence
• Managing STR-related litigation and regulatory investigations/RFIs
• Monitor regulatory changes in the STR sector, conduct legal assessments and provide advice to operational and product teams on the implementation of compliance measures
• Advise on compliance strategy in key markets and ensure consistency with the company’s STR Risk Appetite Statement
• Contribute to the ongoing improvement and operationalization of Booking.com’s STR compliance program, including the tracking and reporting of compliance metrics for reporting, planning and escalation purposes
• Instruct external counsels and manage work agreements with external law firms
• Collaborate closely with Product teams for the implementation of regulatory requirements (such as APIs)
• Hold external calls with local public authorities to discuss compliance topics and support Public Affairs in their advocacy efforts to influence upcoming STR legislation
• Act as Legal subject-matter expert in the STR sector by fostering good working relationships with key stakeholders
• Carry out other tasks as required to enhance the effectiveness of the ABU Product & Regulatory legal team, such as embedding AI usage in ways of working
• Assist other members of the LPA team in managing material STR escalations and matters that have high strategic value, or material risk or exposure to the company collaboratively

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Free access to Headspace for you and your loved ones
• Global Employee Assistance Program
• Meditation and Breastfeeding rooms at the office
• Booking Cares - 2 days per year to volunteer and learn
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Pension plan
• Annual paid time off
• Parental leave - 22 weeks
• Grandparent leave - 10 days
• Care leave - 10 days
• Bereavement leave - up to 4 weeks
• Anniversary leave
• Working from Home Furniture and Ergonomic Support
• Working from Abroad - up to 20 days per year
• Discounts & Wallet credits to spend on our products
• Upgrade to Booking.com Genius Level 3
• Friends & Family Booking.com discount vouchers
• Free access to online learning platforms
• Development and mentorship programs to support career growth
• Access to trainings and workshops
• Team development opportunities
• Local discount programs
• Game rooms in offices
• On-site meals, coffee and snacks including vegan options- Curiosity about and interest in exploring legal technologies and tech-enabled efficiencies; experience with multiple legal tech solutions is a plus
• Exceptional drafting, project management, and organisational skills
• A natural problem-solver and strategic thinker, comfortable with ambiguity and able to bring structure to challenging situations
• Litigation experience is a plus
• Comfortable leading external meetings with regulators regarding compliance and policy topics
• Bachelor degree & Master degree
• A natural at building consensus and working with multiple stakeholders to drive projects to completion
• 3 - 5 years experience in a reputable law firm or in-house team
• Ability to empathise with the regulatory expectations of regulators, review output and communicate with fluidity and precision in dealings with regulators
• Strong communication skills, particularly clear and concise written communication
• Native or fluent English speaking and writing skills
• Knowledge of and demonstrable experience of compliance with regulations, ideally, Short Term Rentals, although platform liability (e.g., Digital Services Act) or Privacy, or other rapidly evolving and developing regulatory contexts are also a plus
• Demonstrated leadership and commercial acumen, with ability to balance risk with business objectives
• Qualified to practice law in the EU, UK, or US
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Google Suite (Sheets, Docs), and AI platform usage, with a commitment to continuous improvement
• Adaptable, with a growth mindset, ready to embrace change in order to meet changing business needs
• Very strong organizational and project management skills. Capable of handling multiple projects/initiatives simultaneously and executing to completion
• Expertise in data presentation in regulatory contexts is a plus
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in problem-solving and decision-making
• 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
• Proactivity, resilience, and a drive to deliver results
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• 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