General Counsel, Moody's Analytics

Moody's Corporation; New York (NY); On-site; USD 281,000 - 407,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Parental leave

Paid time off

401(k) plan with company contribution

Job summary

Moody’s Corporation seeks a General Counsel, Moody’s Analytics, to serve as the senior legal partner to the MA CEO and executive team. The role embeds legal strategy into business decisions, product initiatives, and growth plans across a global, multi-product organization.

Responsibilities include leading commercial transactions, overseeing M&A activity, and driving AI governance and regulatory compliance. This executive role requires deep commercial and transactional expertise and a

Qualifications

• J.D. and active bar membership in good standing.
• 15+ years of legal experience, including significant in-house leadership roles in a complex, global organization.
• Deep expertise in commercial transactions, licensing, software, SaaS, data licensing, or information services.

Responsibilities

• Advise MA senior leadership, embedding legal strategy into business decisions and growth globally.
• Lead commercial transactions including software/data licensing, SaaS agreements, API arrangements and partnerships.
• Oversee M&A activity, due diligence, negotiations, and post-closing integration.
• Manage legal risk across MA’s global operations and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with enterprise legal, compliance, and shared services to deliver high-quality services.

Skills

Executive leadership

Commercial transactions

M&A transactions

Risk management

AI governance

Education

J.D. from accredited law school

Job description

At Moody's, we unite the brightest minds to turn today’s risks into tomorrow’s opportunities. We do this by striving to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome to be who they are—with the freedom to exchange ideas, think innovatively, and listen to each other and customers in meaningful ways. Moody’s is transforming how the world sees risk. As a global leader in ratings and integrated risk assessment, we’re advancing AI to move from insight to action—enabling intelligence that not only understands complexity but responds to it. We decode risk to unlock opportunity, helping our clients navigate uncertainty with clarity, speed, and confidence.

Role Overview

The General Counsel, Moody’s Analytics serves as the senior-most legal leader for the MA business segment and a key member of the MA Executive Leadership Team. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer of Moody’s Corporation, this executive is the primary legal partner to the MA CEO and her leadership team — embedding legal strategy and risk awareness directly into business decisions, growth initiatives, and product innovation.

This role functions as the ‘quarterback’ for all MA legal matters, coordinating seamlessly with enterprise legal, compliance, and shared services functions to deliver aligned, efficient, and consistently high-quality legal services across a complex global business. The ideal candidate brings deep commercial and transactional expertise in software, SaaS, data licensing, and information services — combined with the strategic instincts, executive presence, and collaborative disposition of a true business partner.

Key Responsibilities

Business Partnership & Strategic Counsel

• Serve as the lead legal advisor to MA senior leadership, embedding legal strategy and risk awareness into business decisions, product strategy, and growth initiatives globally
• Translate complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical, actionable guidance that enables innovation and drives revenue growth
• Participate actively as a senior executive in business strategy discussions, new product launches, market expansion, and go-to-market planning
• Advise the MA CEO and leadership team on a wide range of legal, regulatory, and operational matters arising across the business

Commercial Transactions & Product Support

• Lead legal support for all commercial transactions with customers and partners, including software and data licensing, SaaS subscription agreements, API and platform arrangements, professional services engagements, and strategic partnerships including reseller and distribution arrangements
• Oversee the full commercial contract lifecycle — from structuring and negotiation through execution — ensuring terms appropriately balance legal risk with commercial objectives across a sophisticated global customer base
• Develop and maintain scalable contract templates, playbooks, and legal workflows, partnering with Legal Operations and technology teams to leverage AI and automation for maximum efficiency and consistency
• Lead legal support for new product development, including liability risk management, regulatory compliance, marketing practices, AI-enabled offerings, SaaS, and data licensing models
• In coordination with the enterprise litigation team, manage responses to legal threats, claims, and commercial disputes from customers, partners, and other MA counterparties

M&A and Strategic Transactions

• Oversee all legal aspects of M&A activity for the MA business, including term sheets, due diligence, transaction negotiations, regulatory clearances, closing mechanics, and post-closing integration
• Advise on IP, data rights, and technology-related legal issues arising in the context of strategic investments, joint ventures, and partnerships
• Partner with external legal advisers, Corporate Development, Finance, and enterprise legal counterparts to ensure coordinated and efficient deal execution

Legal Risk Management & Regulatory Compliance

• Partner with Compliance, Government Affairs and other corporate services groups to identify, assess, and mitigate legal and regulatory risks across MA’s global operations, establishing a consistent and proactive framework for legal risk management
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments globally that may affect MA’s business — including AI regulation, data localization, financial services regulation, and consumer protection — and guide the organization’s response
• Drive consistent application of company policies, governance standards, and legal risk tolerances across the MA business

Enterprise Coordination

• Act as the central coordination point between MA and enterprise legal functions, including litigation, employment, IP and privacy, compliance, government affairs, finance, and technology
• Facilitate alignment across legal, compliance, technology, and risk functions — particularly on cross-cutting issues such as AI governance, data strategy, and regulatory change
• Represent MA Legal in enterprise governance forums and contribute to enterprise-wide legal strategy and initiatives

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing global legal team supporting a complex, multi-product, international business
• Build and continuously improve scalable legal processes, templates, and operating models to drive efficiency, consistency, and quality
• Manage outside counsel strategically, balancing quality, responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness
• Champion a culture of legal excellence, collaboration, business orientation, and continuous improvement

Required

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• J.D. from an accredited law school; active bar membership in good standing
• 15+ years of legal experience, including significant in-house leadership roles in a complex, global organization
• Deep expertise in commercial transactions and licensing, with substantial experience in software, SaaS, data licensing, or information services industries
• Demonstrated track record of acting as a trusted strategic business partner to senior executives in a multi-product, multinational business
• Significant experience leading and developing high-performing legal teams across multiple geographies
• Experience advising on M&A transactions, including due diligence, transaction negotiations, and post-closing integration
• Strong judgment and the ability to pragmatically balance legal risk with commercial objectives across a wide range of counterparties and situations

Preferred

• Experience at or advising companies in the financial technology, financial data, or analytics sectors
• Familiarity with AI governance and the evolving regulatory landscape for technology and data businesses
• Law firm background in corporate, commercial, or technology transactions

KEY SUCCESS ATTRIBUTES

• Pragmatic, business-oriented mindset — instinctively focused on enabling growth and innovation while managing risk
• Exceptional communication skills and executive presence — able to engage credibly and persuasively at all levels, from deal teams to the Board
• True ‘generalist-athlete’ capability — comfortable advising across a wide range of legal domains and switching fluidly between strategic and operational modes
• Strong collaboration instincts and enterprise mindset — invested in the success of the whole organization, not just the business unit
• Technical aptitude and genuine curiosity — enthusiasm for emerging technologies and a drive to apply them to improve the quality and efficiency of legal services
• Cultural carrier of Moody’s values: integrity, inclusion, customer focus, collaboration, and innovation

For US-based roles only: the anticipated hiring base salary range for this position is $280,500.00 - $406,650.00, depending on factors such as experience, education, level, skills, and location. This range is based on a full-time position. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for incentive compensation. Moody’s also offers a competitive benefits package, including not but limited to medical, dental, vision, parental leave, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, life, disability, and accident insurance, a discounted employee stock purchase plan, and tuition reimbursement.

• medical
• dental
• vision
• parental leave
• paid time off
• a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities
• life
• disability
• accident insurance
• a discounted employee stock purchase plan
• tuition reimbursement

Moody’s is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Moody’s also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about a reasonable accommodation, or need assistance with completing the application process, please email [e-mail]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only, and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications

For San Francisco positions, qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

This position may be considered a promotional opportunity, pursuant to the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.

Candidates for Moody's Corporation may be asked to disclose securities holdings pursuant to Moody’s Policy for Securities Trading and the requirements of the position. Employment is contingent upon compliance with the Policy, including remediation of positions in those holdings as necessary.