Senior Managing Counsel, ABU Product & Regulatory

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 Product and Regulatory provides leadership in assessing, interpreting, advising on and applying laws governing global platform and intermediation services offered by Booking.com across accommodations (specifically Homes and Short Term Rentals “STR’s”) within the Accommodation Business Unit (ABU). This role directly supports Product teams within ABU to develop and expand their offerings and Regulatory Compliance teams to ensure compliance with global, national and local STR regulations. Deep expertise in platform and travel-related services regulation, combined with strong commercial and product acumen, is essential to provide practical and actionable guidance and advice.

The Senior Managing Counsel’s team serves as the central point of contact between Product ABU, CoGo ABU, Regional ABU teams, and LPA. The role partners with the business and with the various functions across LPA, ensuring that the strategic goals of the ABU teams 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 throughout the company. This is a hands-on role, embedded within the business, working closely with Product and Compliance teams globally to identify, define, prioritise, support and implement Product legal strategies and compliance strategies for a heavily regulated product. The role requires applying business-focused legal analysis to translate business needs into practical solutions, including developing playbooks and improving processes.

Success requires creative problem-solving and efficient advancement of product initiatives. A strong international perspective is essential, with the ability to synthesise input from diverse stakeholders and provide confident guidance, even beyond direct expertise. An awareness of political pressure and sensitivity is required and the role requires very close collaboration with the Public Affairs team. This role is critical in enabling Booking.com to launch product initiatives for our Customers that drive ongoing growth and innovation and in enabling compliance in a very heavily regulated environment.

As a manager of approximately three lawyers (and two additional team members in the Centre of Excellence), this role requires direct coaching and professional development skills.

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.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:

• Serve as the primary LPA point of contact for ABU Product and Commercial Growth leadership. Provide reliable and commercially focused legal guidance on a wide array of issues, including product development, impact on commercial contracts, disputes, competition/consumer law, intellectual property, and STR compliance strategy.
• Collaborate with LPA experts to ensure ABU's activities, policies, business practices, and transactions adhere to all applicable laws and regulations.
• Lead, manage, and develop a high-performing ABU Product and Regulatory Legal team through collaborative and inclusive leadership.
• Manage the ABU Product and Regulatory Legal team's annual budget and support the Senior Director with broader Legal & Public Affairs budget management.
• Coordinate collaboration between key business stakeholders, ABU Product 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.
• Take ownership of planning and providing legal support and leadership for relevant Company Priorities, liaising with senior stakeholders across the business and LPA colleagues to ensure excellent communication and efficient execution.
• 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 Homes and Short Term Rentals and the growth of these segments. Facilitate the implementation of necessary changes to meet regulatory requirements.
• Manage engagement with external counsel, seeking opportunities to streamline processes and improve controls.
• 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 and compliance strategies.

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 in 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 in understanding and navigating complex regulatory changes.
• 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 as 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

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.