Manager & Counsel

You Lead the Way. We’ve Got Your Back.

With the right backing, people and businesses have the power to progress in incredible ways. When you join Team Amex, you become part of a global and diverse community of colleagues with an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities and each other. Here, you’ll learn and grow as we help you create a career journey that’s unique and meaningful to you with benefits, programs, and flexibility that support you personally and professionally.

At American Express, you’ll be recognized for your contributions, leadership, and impact—every colleague has the opportunity to share in the company’s success. Together, we’ll win as a team, striving to uphold our company values and powerful backing promise to provide the world’s best customer experience every day. And we’ll do it with the utmost integrity, and in an environment where everyone is seen, heard and feels like they belong.

Join Team Amex and let's lead the way together.

More about the General Counsel’s Organization

•  This is the organization where great legal minds influence global business strategy.


• Our mission is to protect and strengthen American Express through legal expertise and strategic advice that helps our business partners manage risk, identify opportunities, and deliver on the company’s promise of exceptional products and services. Given the dynamic nature of the global payments industry and the valued partnership between our team and the business, we see it as imperative to attract and develop talented people by:




• Providing rich work experiences and opportunities for professional development


• Recognizing and rewarding those who drive and deliver results


• Respecting and valuing diversity, integrity, and personal accountability

How will you make an impact in this role?

We are seeking a highly motivated individual based in Singapore to be part of a dynamic and driven team of lawyers in the General Counsel Office (“GCO”) responsible for supporting American Express’ businesses in Asia Pacific. This role is many and varied, and will suit a lawyer with broad general commercial and regulatory experience ideally with some financial services practice thrown in. Above all, we need a self-starter who is intellectually curious, collaborative and can be relied upon to get the job done!

Types of work that you will be required to do include:

• Monitor and research legal and regulatory changes that impact American Express and support the implementation of these changes.


• Advise on license applications and maintenance of licences held by American Express. These include supporting American Express in supervisory matters, compliance-related enquiries and regulatory examinations.


• Engage with regulators and industry associations on policy consultations and support on regulators’ enquiries. 


• Provide general legal and regulatory advice and guidance across a range of commercial and regulatory matters – including on novel legal issues.


• Support new business initiatives and the launch of new products, services and capabilities, including conducting legal assessment and obtaining regulatory approvals.


• Draft, negotiate and advise on commercial contracts.


• Review and update a range of contract templates and position papers.


• Train and develop tools and guidance to help business colleagues make sense of the legal and regulatory world around them.


• Participating in special projects (including liaising with our lawyers in other countries).


• Collaborate with other members of the global GCO team to manage regulatory matters.


• Reporting, administrative and GCO activities.


• Management of Outside Counsel on regulatory matters

Minimum Qualifications:

• Strong academic credentials from a good law school and qualified lawyer in a Commonwealth jurisdiction. Candidates should have at least 3-5 years post-qualification experience in a top-tier law firm and/or large multi-national corporation. Regional experience and prior in-house experience in payments, banking or multi-national corporation preferred.


• Communication. Strong oral and written communication skills, in particular, the ability to explain complex legal matters clearly and concisely to non-specialists and draft compelling submissions to regulators. 


• Professional poise. Maintains grace under pressure and demonstrates the ability to impart discipline and calm to stressful situations. A persuasive advocate who is not afraid to convey unwelcome messages yet lays out a path to practical solutions.


• A self-starter who takes ownership. Takes the initiative to learn independently rather than passively. Sees what needs to be done and then does it. Takes responsibility for understanding and solving problems. Passionate about regulatory matters, inquisitive, able to self-initiate learning and brainstorming.


• Energetic and practical application of legal skills and knowledge to business situations and problems.


• Build effective relationships and credibility throughout the company.


• Manage workload by careful prioritization and personal organization.


• Highly adaptable to changes and a fast-paced environment. 


• Stay abreast of developments in critical legal areas: financial services and payments, consumer, privacy, anti-trust etc.

We back our colleagues and their loved ones with benefits and programs that support their holistic well-being. That means we prioritize their physical, financial, and mental health through each stage of life. Benefits include:

• 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.