Manager & Counsel

We are looking for an experienced lawyer to join the General Counsel's Organization (GCO) in Brazil as Manager & Counsel . This role will serve as a trusted legal advisor to multiple business partners, providing practical, business-oriented legal advice across a broad range of matters affecting American Express' operations in the region, with focus on Brazil. The successful candidate will work closely with business leaders and cross-functional partners to support strategic initiatives, commercial transactions, marketing campaigns, product development, corporate governance, litigation management, contractual negotiation and day-to-day legal matters. This role requires strong business judgment, the ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives, and the confidence to advise senior stakeholders on complex and fast-paced matters. The role reports to the Director & Counsel and will interact closely with colleagues across Commercial Areas, Regulatory, Compliance, Government Affairs, Risk, Finance, Marketing, Product, Procurement, Controllership and Business Development, as well as external counsel when appropriate. Don't just work for a market-leading global company. Help grow one. · Serve as a trusted legal advisor to multiple business teams, providing timely, practical and commercially focused legal advice. · Draft, review and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements, including supplier, marketing, technology, confidentiality, partnership and services agreements. · Provide legal support for marketing initiatives, advertising campaigns, customer communications and promotional activities. · Partner with business leaders on strategic projects, new products, business initiatives and commercial opportunities. · Advise on corporate governance matters, including support for local legal entity governance and corporate documentation. · Manage litigation matters in partnership with external counsel, business stakeholders and internal legal teams. · Coordinate and oversee external law firms, including budget management and strategic direction. · Identify legal risks and develop practical mitigation strategies that enable business objectives. · Partner closely with other specialist legal teams to deliver integrated legal advice, even by supporting regulatory inquiries and interactions with public authorities when required. · Lead cross-functional legal projects and drive process improvements to enhance efficiency within the legal function. · Develop and deliver legal training to business partners on relevant legal topics. · Build strong relationships across the organization and contribute to a collaborative, high-performing legal team. Skills & Qualifications · Qualified lawyer in Brazil with significant post-qualification experience, preferably with private practice or in-house experience. · Strong experience advising commercial businesses on a broad range of corporate and commercial legal matters. · Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements. · Experience supporting marketing, commercial transactions, procurement, corporate governance and litigation management. · Strong business judgment with the ability to balance legal risk against commercial objectives. · Excellent stakeholder management skills and experience advising senior business leaders. · Ability to independently manage multiple complex matters simultaneously while appropriately prioritizing competing demands. · Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills. · Fluency in Portuguese and English. Spanish is a plus. Required Personal Attributes · Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen. · Business-oriented mindset with the ability to provide practical, solution-focused legal advice. · Strong leadership and influence skills, with the confidence to advise senior stakeholders. · Collaborative and relationship-driven, with the ability to work effectively across functions and geographies. · Highly organized, adaptable and comfortable managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. · Strong project management and problem-solving capabilities. · High level of integrity, sound judgment and commitment to American Express values. · Passion for developing talent, sharing knowledge and fostering an inclusive team environment.