Director & Counsel, U.S. Insurance

American Express; Sandy (UT); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

American Express is seeking a Director & Counsel within the General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) to provide strategic, commercial legal guidance on consumer financial services and insurance products. This role collaborates with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and business teams to balance risk while enabling growth.

The successful candidate will have U.S. bar admission, experience in regulated financial services, and strong communication skills to influence senior stakeholders across the company.

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in the U.S. with admission in at least one jurisdiction.
• Experience delivering practical, timely, and business-focused legal guidance in highly regulated environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation, and stakeholder collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, structure, and launch new products and pilots, serving as the primary lawyer on strategic initiatives.
• Improve complex commercial arrangements with insurers and third parties amid evolving regulations.
• Support regulatory change management and provide governance assistance as applicable.
• Lead engagement with insurance regulators and support regulatory filings and forms.
• Partner with business, risk, compliance, technology, and operations to give pragmatic advice.
• Perform novel legal analyses and contribute to the insurance strategy.
• Mentor teammates and assume leadership when needed.

Job description

Job Description

About the General Counsel’s Organization (GCO):

The General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) of American Express is where great legal minds influence global business strategy. The GCO’s mission is to protect and strengthen American Express through legal expertise and strategic advice that helps business partners manage risk, identify opportunities, and deliver on the company’s promise of exceptional products and services. As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience comprehensive support for your well-being, opportunities to grow as a leader, and an environment where your voice and ideas matter and your work makes an impact.

Role Summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Director & Counsel within the General Counsel’s Organization (GCO) at American Express. The Director & Counsel will report to the Vice President & Senior Counsel, U.S. Insurance Services and will be a member of the U.S. Consumer Services Team (USCS). This role requires a highly strategic, solution-oriented legal advisor who can think creatively, operate effectively in gray areas, and provide practical, timely, strategic, and commercial legal advice that balances legal risk while advancing business objectives. The successful candidate will bring expertise in consumer financial services, embedded insurance products, and/or insurance law, including U.S. Insurance and Credit Card Add-On Product laws and applicable consumer protection frameworks, such as UDAAP/UDAP and state unfair trade practices. This attorney must have strong communication and negotiation skills, work with a high degree of autonomy, and collaborate closely with stakeholders across American Express, including Legal, Compliance, Government Affairs, Risk, and business teams.

How will you make an impact in this role?

• Design, structuring, and launch of new and innovative products and pilots, including serving as the primary lawyer on strategic growth initiatives, product fulfillment, servicing and claims frameworks.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve complex commercial arrangements with insurers and third-party partners, keeping abreast of evolving regulatory requirements and business priorities, and answering day-to-day questions about commercial and business partner agreements.
• Provide legal support for regulatory change management, including capturing and analyzing regulatory changes, legal entity and corporate governance support, as applicable.
• Lead engagement with insurance regulators, including oversight of regulatory filings and support for internal and regulatory approval of filed insurance rates, rules and forms.
• Partner directly with business teams, risk management, compliance, technology, and operational teams, providing clear, reasoned, and pragmatic advice in real-time.
• Perform novel legal analysis, including practical risk identification and risk mitigation. Contribute to the development and evolution of the company’s insurance legal strategy over time.
• Mentor, influence, and support other team members, with the ability to take on increasing leadership responsibility when needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Qualified to practice in the U.S. and admitted in one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Eligible for admission to the N.Y. Bar.
• 6+ years of relevant legal experience in highly regulated industries.
• Strong solutions-oriented mindset, with the ability to deliver and document concise, legally grounded, and practical guidance under tight timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and partner effectively with senior business stakeholders; strong analytical, drafting, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and sound judgment while collaborating effectively and bringing others along in a matrixed environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience analyzing compliance implications and risks under U.S. state insurance statutes and regulations, including adjacent state laws.
• Meaningful exposure to insurance and/or consumer financial services law.
• Familiarity with credit card products and applicable federal and state consumer protection laws, including UDA(A)P.
• Experience advising on product development and operations within financial services or another regulated environment, including strategic product differentiation through product wording, legal drafting, and/or implementation rules.
• Prior underwriting, claims, regulatory, and consumer law experience.

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.