Legal Counsel - Litigation LATAM (Brazil)

About Us: At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We’re the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you encounter. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the memories you make. Through our products, partners and people, we make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

This Role: Legal Counsel, Litigation advises on and implements litigation and dispute resolution strategies for consumer claims across Latin America, with a strong focus on Brazil. You will work closely with the Consumer & Competition team, the Accommodation Business Unit (ABU), the Commercial and Corporate subteams, as well as Customer Service (CS) team and external law firms, to manage high-volume litigation arising from consumer complaints. A central focus will be on developing consistent defense strategies, overseeing external counsel performance, and ensuring efficient, risk-mitigated handling of claims before courts, while also managing investigations and internal and external audits.

As an individual contributor, this role is very hands-on, embedded in the business and working closely with Customer Service, Public Affairs, Local Partner Services (LPS), Compliance and Product teams. You will partner with them to understand consumer-related risks and priorities, ensuring that the litigation portfolio is managed with strong legal, commercial, and customer-centric guidance.

You will demonstrate solid subject-matter expertise in consumer law and civil dispute resolution (administrative and judicial) with significant experience in handling high-volume claims, coordinating litigation strategies, engaging with consumer protection authorities, and ensuring alignment with business objectives. This will include developing playbooks, providing training, driving process improvements, managing accruals, assuring all data and documents are correctly registered and stored in the internal legal systems, reporting key litigation metrics and managing the litigation budget

You will also provide indirect support to other legal functions, including Regulatory, Customer Service, FP&A, Privacy, and FinTech, Accounting and Finance teams, particularly where consumer litigation intersects with these areas.

Success in this role requires a pragmatic approach to resolving challenges, balancing legal risk with commercial realities, and ensuring efficient case management. You must have strong skills in coordinating external stakeholders, synthesizing input from multiple business areas, and confidently providing guidance even beyond your direct expertise. Your contribution will be central to enabling Booking.com to mitigate risks, reduce litigation exposure, and maintain trust with consumers and regulators in Brazil.

This role is based in São Paulo, Brazil.

Key Job Responsibilities and Duties:

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders both within the Legal & Public Affairs group and across other Booking Holdings brands, as appropriate.
• Identify and implement best practices, driving efficiencies through enhanced legal systems, processes, and resource allocation in litigation.
• Serve as the main legal point of litigation in Latam, ensuring all legal sub-areas (e.g., customer services, external lawyers/teams) are integrated into relevant initiatives.
• Continually review and update legal precedents and guidelines to ensure innovation and suitable risk management.
• Effectively manage multiple projects and deadlines by using strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Oversee the analysis and implementation of relevant case law and legislative/regulatory developments impacting the overall litigation strategy.
• Manage engagement with external counsels, seeking opportunities to streamline processes and improve controls, including budget rigid controls.
• Foster best practices and collaboration across the legal team, supporting knowledge-sharing and effective ways of working.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Postgraduate legal specialization program (i.e. LL.M program).
• Minimum 3-5 years experience in a reputable law firm or in-house team in litigation. 
• Qualified to practice law in Brazil.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English; Spanish language skills are desirable.
• Adaptable, with a growth mindset, ready to embrace change in order to meet changing business needs.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in problem-solving and decision-making
• Exceptional drafting, project management, and organisational skills.
• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritising appropriately.
• Demonstrated leadership and commercial acumen, with ability to balance risk with business objectives.
• Strong collaborative, professional approach; able to succeed in diverse, multidisciplinary, multicultural teams.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), Google Suite (Sheets, Docs), and AI platform usage, with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Eventual traveling to interact with external lawyers is part of this role.

CVs in English will only be reviewed and assessed. 

Why join the Legal & Public Affairs Team now?

This is a pivotal moment in e-commerce and travel, and joining Booking.com’s Legal & Public Affairs (LPA) team provides you with opportunities to shape the future. The LPA team plays a key role in enabling Booking.com to become a one-stop solution for all travel-related needs, from accommodation to rental cars, flights and attractions, and beyond. This offers travellers what we like to call the ‘connected trip’ – enabling them to book every aspect of their travel experience seamlessly through our familiar, easy-to-use website or mobile app. As a member of the LPA team you will partner with the business to navigate complex regulations, build new products, and negotiate key deals—while driving ethical, sustainable growth.

Who we are?

We are an award winning team of around 200 professionals from 36+ nationalities, with lawyers qualified in multiple jurisdictions and non-lawyers specializing in public policy, economics, compliance, and risk. We have been recognised and shortlisted individually and as a team by the Legal 500 GC Powerlist, Assoc. of Corp Counsel, Global Competition Review, The Lawyer GC of the Year (shortlisted), Compliance Week and the Financial Times. We encourage active participation in the industry, with board membership and representation at industry bodies at multiple levels, starting with our Chief Legal & Public Affairs Officer, who is currently ACC President for Europe. We also engage with stakeholders on policy issues impacting travel and tech innovation, including through our new public affairs blog, "A World Worth Experiencing."

As a team, we believe in:

• Being integral to decision-making, shaping Booking.com’s future.

• Supporting Booking's mission to make travel accessible, fostering openness and curiosity.

• Offering opportunities for team members to explore new areas or specialize.

• Providing holistic, integrated legal and public affairs advice.

• Continuously improving Legal Operations, innovating, and sharing best practices.

• Learning from mistakes and embracing growth.

• Working collaboratively with a sense of humor and enjoying the journey together!

Benefits & Perks - Global Impact, Personal Relevance:

Booking.com’s Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, as well unique-to-Booking.com benefits which include:

• 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 

Inclusion at Booking.com: 

Inclusion has been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations. 

Take it from our Chief People Officer, Paulo Pisano: “At Booking.com, the diversity of our people doesn’t just build an outstanding workplace, it also creates a better and more inclusive travel experience for everyone. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. It’s a place where you can make your mark and have a real impact in travel and tech.” 

We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Application Process: 

• Let’s go places together: How we Hire

• Detailed instructions on post-application requirements including any required application materials, deadlines, portfolios, coding challenges, or other assessments as defined by BU or department. 

This role does not come with relocation assistance.

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. 

If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.