Legal Director, Strategic Transactions

Expedia; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 237,000 - 332,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Paid time off

Employee Assistance Program

Wellness and travel reimbursement

Travel discounts

IATAN membership

Job summary

Expedia Group in Seattle offers a Senior Corporate Counsel role focused on AI partnerships, M&A, and corporate finance. Lead external partnerships with AI companies, shape integrations, and guide high-value transactions.

Ideal candidates have a J.D., bar admission, and 6–10+ years of complex transactional experience, with strong drafting and negotiation skills. This role supports a flexible hybrid schedule in Seattle.

Qualifications

• J.D. and active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 6–10+ years of complex transactional experience with an international law firm, including substantial M&A and strategic transactions.
• Tech transactions and finance experience is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• AI partnerships: lead, structure, and negotiate agreements involving APIs, data, AI-enabled experiences, authentication, loyalty, payments, and product integrations.
• M&A and strategic transactions: advise on acquisitions, divestitures, investments, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions; draft and negotiate documents and coordinate cross-functional teams.
• Finance: advise on debt financings, capital-markets transactions, credit arrangements, derivatives, and other corporate finance matters.

Skills

Drafting

Negotiation

Judgment

Communication

Education

J.D. and bar admission

Job description

At Expedia Group, we help travelers explore the world, one journey at a time. As a global travel company powered by passionate people, trusted partnerships, and leading technology, we connect travelers, partners, and advertisers through our consumer brands, B2B network, and travel advertising business. Here, you'll do meaningful work that helps millions of people discover, book, and experience travel with more ease, confidence, and joy. Our five Behaviors-Traveler First, Think Big, Operate with Excellence, Ownership Mindset, and Succeed Together-help foster a supportive environment where people can grow their careers and have the flexibility, benefits, and support to do their best work. Join us and build for travelers everywhere.

Legal Director, Strategic Transactions

Please note this role is available in Seattle, aligned to our flexible hybrid schedule, requiring 3 days a week in office.

We are looking for a Senior Corporate Counsel to advise across three connected areas: AI Partnerships, M&A, and Finance.

You will serve as lead counsel for Expedia Group’s partnerships with leading AI companies—helping shape novel, globally deployed products and user experiences. You will also work on high-value M&A and strategic transactions and advise on corporate finance and capital-markets matters. Expedia Group has a long history of growth via transformative M&A transactions and our transaction pipeline remains busy. This role is ideal for an intellectually curious, rigorous lawyer who has led complex M&A and other strategic transactions, learns quickly, enjoys unfamiliar problems, and makes thoughtful, risk-based calls.

In this role, you will:

• AI partnerships Serve as the primary legal partner for strategic partnerships with leading AI and technology companies. Lead, structure, and negotiate agreements involving APIs, data, AI-enabled experiences, agentic commerce, authentication, loyalty, payments, and product integrations. Partner with internal legal teams and other experts to identify and resolve novel issues involving data, intellectual property, consumer protection, privacy, security, competition, liability, and risk allocation. Embed deeply with Product and Technology teams to provide rapid, practical advice from concept through launch and help develop scalable legal frameworks for new partnership models.
• M&A and strategic transactions Partner with Expedia Group’s Corporate Development team and senior leaders on acquisitions, divestitures, investments, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions. Advise on transaction structure, diligence, negotiation, signing, closing, and post-closing integration. Draft and negotiate transaction documents and coordinate cross-functional teams and outside counsel.
• Finance Advise Expedia Group’s Finance department, including Treasury, on debt financings, capital-markets transactions, credit arrangements, derivatives and other corporate finance matters. Translate complex legal, financial, and regulatory issues into clear recommendations that support timely business decisions.

Experience and Qualifications:

• A J.D. and active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 6–10+ years of complex transactional experience with an international law firm, including substantial experience with M&A and strategic transactions.
• Tech transactions and finance experience is a plus but not required.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, judgment, and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly to business and technical audiences.
• Intellectual curiosity, rigor, and the ability to learn quickly, navigate unfamiliar issues, and make pragmatic, risk-based decisions.
• The ability to operate independently, manage competing priorities, build trusted relationships, and work effectively across functions and jurisdictions.
• Genuine curiosity about technology, AI, and new business models; direct AI experience is helpful but not required.

The total cash range for this position in Seattle is $237,000.00 to $331,500.00.

Employees in this role have the potential to increase their pay up to $379,000.00, which is the top of the range, based on ongoing, demonstrated, and sustained performance in the role.

Starting pay for this role will vary based on multiple factors, including location, available budget, and an individual’s knowledge, skills, and experience.

Pay ranges may be modified in the future.

Benefits and perks

• medical coverage
• dental coverage
• vision coverage
• paid time off
• an Employee Assistance Program
• wellness and travel reimbursement
• travel discounts
• International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN) membership

Learn more about life at Expedia Group at https://careers.expediagroup.com/life.

Accommodation requests

Expedia Group is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience. If you need an accommodation or adjustment due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please submit a request at https://expedia.service-now.com/askeg?id=job_accommodation.

Equal Opportunity

Expedia is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. 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, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This employer participates in E-Verify. The employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group includes three flagship consumer brands - Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo - along with a leading B2B travel business and travel advertising offerings. Across our brands and business, we help travelers explore the world with confidence and ease.