Senior Counsel

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. 

If you are excited about this opportunity but do not meet every single requirement, please apply! You still may be a great fit for this role or other open roles. We are seeking candidates who model our values: invest in every relationship, lead with curiosity, champion diverse perspectives, turn inputs into actions, and uphold trust through integrity. 

The Role / Summary: We are seeking an experienced and efficient Senior Counsel to join our legal team based in Sydney, Australia. The primary responsibility of this role is to support customer commercial contracts for SaaS financial software agreements, financial and risk data licenses, and complex professional services agreements in Oceania, while collaborating with other regional team members to implement Moody’s relevant policies and practices both regionally and globally. We are looking for a personable team-player with legal and commercial acumen to join a vibrant and fast-paced team. This resource will require ongoing and proactive interaction with legal and other resources within Moody’s in Oceania, APAC, and with some frequency, in US time zones.

Responsibilities:

• Negotiate customer commercial contracts for SaaS software and data with Oceania customers in private and public sectors, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and company policies.
• Review, draft, and negotiate a wide range of other commercial agreements including software and data licenses, SaaS product subscriptions and related service level agreements, maintenance agreements, professional services agreements, subcontractor agreements, conduit agreements, referral agreements, distribution and reseller agreements, and intercompany agreements.
• Provide legal advice and guidance on contractual matters, ensuring that risks are identified and mitigated effectively consistent with Moody’s legal, product, and commercial positions.
• Collaborate and regularly meet with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, finance, and operations, to facilitate alignment on legal and contractual matters.
• Represent and update colleagues in the MA Legal team on issues/matters in Oceania during regional meetings and/or monthly global staff meetings.
• Independent self-starter and issue-spotter adept at partnering with the business/operations and building relationships.
• Follow departmental practices and policies to track matters, document and escalate non-standard terms, and liaise with internal subject-matter experts as needed.
• Stay up-to-date on relevant legal developments and work with outside counsel when required in a cost effective manner.
• Help to develop and maintain contract templates along with usage guidance notes in conjunction with other legal team members.
• Support and carry out Moody’s business policies and practices, including preferred contract terms and compromise positions.
• Navigate identification, escalation, and approvals regarding privacy and information security issues arising from customer sales, partnerships, and other transactions.
• Explain corporate and legal department contracting policies and procedures clearly to sales teams or sales support teams, and provide related training in Oceania.
• Work closely with the company’s other in-house lawyers, sales operations and finance staff, as well as product management, support and delivery teams as necessary to conclude and support commercial transactions in Oceania.
• Be responsive and available to commercial sales teams to effectively close deals in a timely manner on acceptable terms to Moody’s.
• Complete special projects and initiatives within legal or cross-functional teams.
• Manage and streamline internal processes.
• Display initiative and creativity in addressing challenges while accomplishing business objectives.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor or equivalent in Australia from top university
• 7-15 years experience
• Excellent written and spoken English

Preferred:

• Previous experience in financial services or technology industries
• Previous experience with governmental or public entities helpful
• Previous law firm and in house experience
• Collaborative work ethic and sense of humor
  

Moody’s is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.

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.