Senior Managing Counsel, ABU Commercial

Join Booking.com and Help Shape the Future of Travel

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.

Role: The Senior Managing Counsel, ABU Commercial provides leadership in the effective legal and commercial support of the Accommodation Business Unit (ABU). Responsible for the legal relationships that Booking.com has with its accommodation partners globally, the Senior Managing Counsel is alert to the myriad potential factors that might impact them, and carefully leads their team to provide excellent commercial legal advice, creative and practical business-focussed solutions and impactful process improvements, anticipating and meeting operational and strategic challenges within the global organisation.

The Senior Managing Counsel’s team serves as the central point of contact between the EMEA Regional Leadership team and LPA. The role partners with the business and with the various functions across LPA, ensuring that the strategic goals of the region are well understood and supported, and the risks are recognised and appropriately managed. The Senior Managing Counsel works closely with other members of LPA to provide oversight, guidance and support for a broad variety of strategic initiatives and legal and operational challenges and opportunities both throughout the region and globally.

The Senior Managing Counsel supports and leads on global ABU projects. These may include tax challenges and meeting company priorities. They are responsible for corporate governance for all Booking.com entities globally, and provide strategic direction aligning governance-related initiatives with the company’s wider corporate governance model, commercial objectives and risk framework. It includes drafting and ensuring the successful implementation of policies, director training and entity management.

As a manager of approximately five lawyers (and potentially additional team members in the Centre of Excellence), this role includes direct coaching and professional development.

The role is global in scope, so a truly international perspective is key, as is the ability to source, analyse and manage input from a range of internal and external stakeholders to form a view and advise even outside of your direct experience. This role is a critical component in the successful partnership between LPA and ABU, and you will be a vital contributor to Booking.com’s continued growth, innovation and success.

This role is based in the Netherlands.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:

• Serve as the primary LPA point of contact for ABU leaders (e.g. VP Commercial Growth & Operations, and Director Strategy & Operations ABU). Provide reliable and commercially focused legal guidance to define, structure and implement solutions in relation to strategic and operational challenges affecting the business (e.g. tax initiatives; crisis management; strategic commercial initiatives; risk identification and management; and relevant Company Priorities). Liaise with the various LPA functions to ensure holistic legal guidance.
• Lead, manage, and develop a high-performing ABU Commercial Legal team through collaborative and inclusive leadership.
• Manage the ABU Commercial Legal team's annual budget and support the Senior Director with broader Legal & Public Affairs budget management.
• Coordinate collaboration between key business stakeholders, ABU Commercial Legal and wider LPA teams, and across other Booking Holdings brands.
• Identify and implement best practices to enhance efficiency through improved systems, processes, and resource allocation. Develop and deliver training as needed.
• Continuously review and update legal precedents, playbooks and guidelines to foster innovation and ensure suitable risk management.
• Effectively manage multiple projects and deadlines by applying strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Oversee the analysis and implementation of relevant case law and legislative/regulatory developments impacting ABU Commercial and its growth. Facilitate the implementation of necessary changes to meet regulatory requirements.
• Oversee and manage external counsel relationships to deliver cost-effective litigation support; respond to auditor requests for local entities in the region; manage litigation and investigations across the local entities within the region.
• Promote best practices and collaboration within the legal team, supporting knowledge sharing and effective work methods. Ensure that all relevant perspectives (e.g., privacy, competition & consumer law, public affairs, fintech legal and compliance) are integrated into relevant initiatives.
• Draft and negotiate clear and commercially appropriate legal agreements with public authorities (such as statistical bodies) and commercial counterparties and strategic partners, within agreed parameters and guidelines.
• Define, implement, and manage corporate governance processes and models for the company globally, including director and entity management, powers of attorney, delegations of authority, succession planning, and coordinating with internal stakeholders including Tax and Booking Holdings Inc to stay compliant with our reporting obligations and tax structure.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor degree (Master’s Degree / Specialised Diploma is an advantage) and admission to practise in at least one jurisdiction.
• 8-12 years experience in a reputable law firm or in-house team.
• Qualified to practice law in the EU, UK, or US.
• Native or fluent English speaking and writing skills.
• Adaptable, with a growth mindset, ready to embrace change in order to meet evolving business needs, work in ambiguous situations and under pressure, and learn from mistakes
• Strong ability to lead and inspire a team
• Experience is translating company and department strategy into team objectives for yourself, and your team members
• Experience in management of and impactful communication with senior stakeholders, effectively communicating complex ideas and projects simply and succinctly
• In-depth understanding of the legal issues that commonly arise in the industry, along with ability to quickly learn and grasp the importance of new and emerging issues and manage processes from inception to completion
• Experience negotiating complex and high value commercial agreements
• Excellent drafting skills and attention to detail
• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects or a portfolio of projects whilst meeting deadlines and prioritising appropriately.
• Demonstrated cross-functional project leadership and commercial acumen, with ability to balance risk with business objectives.
• Strong collaborative, professional approach; able to succeed in and lead diverse, multidisciplinary, multicultural teams.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Google Suite (Sheets, Docs), and AI platform usage, with a commitment to continuous improvement.

Further traits we 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

Inclusion at Booking.com:

Inclusion has 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.

“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.”

Paulo Pisano, Chief People Officer

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.

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.