Senior Legal Counsel, Accommodation Partners

Booking Holdings, Inc.; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Hybrid working

International travel allowance

Job summary

Booking.com seeks a Senior Legal Counsel for Accommodation Partners to act as a strategic business partner, shaping commercial legal strategies across global accommodation partnerships. You will lead high‑stakes negotiations, translate commercial priorities into actionable strategies, and balance speed, innovation, and risk.

You will help develop scalable contracting frameworks and drive operational efficiency across the business from the Netherlands.

Qualifications

• Qualified to practice law in the EU, UK, or US; Dutch qualification is highly desirable.
• 5–8 years of relevant experience in a reputable law firm or in-house legal department.
• Experience in the accommodations sector, commercial contracting, and competition law is preferred.
• Excellent spoken and written English; ability to draft precise agreements and provide executive-level advice.
• Strong project management skills and familiarity with legal tech (Google Suite, Jira, AI tools).

Responsibilities

• Partner with Accommodations teams to set negotiation strategy and deliver priority partner agreements.
• Lead drafting, review, and negotiation of complex high‑value commercial agreements with Accommodation Partners.
• Coordinate input from privacy, regulatory, FinTech, tax, compliance and regional counsel as needed.
• Oversee external counsel engagements to ensure cost-effective, practical advice.
• Develop scalable contracting frameworks, playbooks, and escalation paths for efficiency.

Job description

Senior Legal Counsel for Accommodation Partners

As a Senior Legal Counsel for Accommodation Partners, you are a strategic business partner shaping commercial legal strategies for our global accommodation partnerships. You will work closely with the Accommodations Business Unit (ABU) and cross‑functional legal teams to proactively identify, prioritize, and co‑create solutions for commercial needs. This is a hands‑on, deeply embedded role. You will lead high‑stakes negotiations, translate commercial priorities into actionable negotiation strategies, and balance speed, innovation, and risk. By developing scalable contracting frameworks, playbooks, and escalation paths, you will drive operational efficiency across the business.

Success requires excellent executive presence, the ability to synthesize complex input from diverse stakeholders into clear recommendations, and sound judgment under ambiguity. You will be instrumental in enabling Booking.com to secure strategic agreements that support long‑term growth, operational resilience, and trusted partner relationships. This role is based in the Netherlands.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Accommodations teams, Product, Commercial Contracting and specialist Legal & Public Affairs teams to set negotiation strategy and deliver priority partner agreements. Present clear options, legal and commercial risk trade‑offs, and recommended positions for material negotiations and escalations.
• Build and improve scalable contracting frameworks, playbooks, metrics, escalation paths and approval processes to increase speed, consistency and risk control in Accommodation Partner negotiations.
• Lead the drafting, review and negotiation of complex, high‑value commercial agreements and amendments with strategic Accommodation Partners, ensuring alignment with business objectives, legal requirements and agreed risk appetite.
• Act as the primary legal advisor for Accommodation Partner contracting matters, coordinating input from privacy, competition, regulatory, FinTech, tax, compliance and regional counsel as needed.
• Monitor case law, legislative, and regulatory changes, translating them into actionable guidance and updated contract positions for the business.
• Oversee external counsel engagements to ensure advice is practical, cost‑effective, and integrated into our commercial strategy.
• Promote knowledge‑sharing and team development through training on negotiation playbooks, effective ways of working, and lessons learned.
• Drive continuous improvement of legal operations, focusing on efficient use of contracting technology, AI tools, and contract lifecycle management.

Key Skills and Experience

• Qualifications: Qualified to practice law in the EU, UK, or US; Dutch legal qualification is highly desirable.
• Professional Expertise: 5‑8 years of relevant experience in a reputable law firm or in‑house legal department. Demonstrated experience in the accommodations sector, commercial contracting, and competition law is preferred.
• Communication & Drafting: Excellent spoken and written English, with the ability to draft precise agreements, provide executive‑level advice, and articulate clear negotiation positions.
• Strategic & Operational Skills: Proven ability to manage multiple strategic matters simultaneously, prioritize under pressure, and deliver high‑quality work. Skilled in project management and utilizing legal tech (e.g., Google Suite, Jira, AI tools).
• Leadership & Mindset: Strong commercial acumen and ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority, balancing legal risk with business goals. Collaborative approach, adaptable, and comfortable operating with independence and sound judgment in ambiguous or fast‑changing environments.
• 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.

Benefits & Perks

• 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.

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.