Senior Counsel

Mastercard • Purchase, NY

18h • Onsite

About The Position

Mastercard is seeking an experienced attorney to provide end-to-end strategic legal support to the U.S. Marketing and Communications team based in Purchase, NY. The U.S. IMC team leads high-visibility, consumer-facing initiatives to build brand awareness and engagement, including work with ambassadors, talent, and influencers. The team runs consumer promotions and integrated campaigns, including sweepstakes, contests, and charitable promotions. Role: The Senior Counsel will be a key member of the North American Region legal team, supporting Mastercard’s largest region by advising on strategically important brand and marketing initiatives. The role requires sound judgment, marketing-law expertise, and the ability to provide decisive guidance in fast-paced matters involving privacy, IP, reputational, and brand risk.

Requirements

• Able to work independently and collaboratively; spot issues; and prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience supporting consumer-facing marketing campaigns and promotions, including knowledge of consumer protection, charitable, and advertising/endorsement requirements (FTC; SAG-AFTRA, as applicable).
• Strong business acumen and communication skills to advise confidently across stakeholders, including senior management.
• Promotional, commercial, and marketing/media transactional experience at a law firm and/or in-house.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating talent, influencer, sponsorship, endorsement, and media-related agreements.
• Strong drafting and negotiating skills, with the ability to simplify complex issues and deal structures.
• Collaborative and flexible, willing to take on responsibilities that support the team, department, region, and company.
• JD from an accredited law school; admitted to and in good standing with the NY bar.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary day-to-day legal advisor to U.S. marketing and brand teams, supporting the design, launch, and execution of consumer-facing campaigns.
• Structure, draft, and negotiate vendor, agency, production, technology, content, and talent agreements, including sports and entertainment sponsorships.
• Review sweepstakes/contest rules and marketing materials, and advise on compliance with applicable consumer protection, advertising, and promotional laws and regulations.
• Provide guidance on FTC advertising and endorsement requirements, influencer marketing rules, and substantiation.
• Collaborate with internal subject matter experts and regional counsel on cross-regional programs.
• Work cross-functionally across marketing, product, compliance, privacy, IP, risk, and business teams to provide holistic legal support.
• Partner with North American Markets compliance, privacy, and IP leads to ensure sponsorships, products, and services comply with corporate policies and applicable laws and guidelines.
• Identify and implement process improvements to streamline workflows and increase ease of doing business.
• Advise on media and content rights (video, photography, music), including clearance, licensing, usage, and reuse (e.g., synchronization, master use, performance, and derivative rights).
• Advise on brand partnerships and sponsorship activations, including content creation, reuse, and global distribution rights.
• Partner with business teams on the strategy and execution of charitable and other promotions, advising on complex marketing program structures.
• Develop training materials and practical guides for business clients (e.g., marketing law, ambush marketing, promotions, influencer programs, and media rights).
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior management and executives, providing clear, practical risk assessments and recommendations.

Benefits

• insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance)
• flexible spending account and health savings account
• paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave)
• 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire
• 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays
• 401k with a best-in-class company match
• deferred compensation for eligible roles
• fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities
• eligibility for tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree