Senior Counsel, Product

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

Airbnb’s Legal Department is a global team that will require working with diverse international colleagues around the world. The successful candidate will be someone who is adaptable, collaborative and embodies Airbnb’s Core Values. Candidates will be required to approach complex legal issues with a balance for local and global perspectives, while being adaptable to cultural differences and nuances. A genuine and demonstrated interest in Airbnb and a commitment to ethics, integrity and fostering a workplace that emphasizes diversity and belonging is a must.

The Community You Will Join: 

Airbnb’s Legal team embodies the company’s innovative, forward-thinking spirit. At the frontier of the new sharing economy, Airbnb is breaking new ground in matters of policy, law, and government relations. Where some see obstacles, we see the opportunity to find creative, practical solutions, right at the cutting edge. Our adventurous, fast-moving legal team is committed to building a team of talented, collaborative and self-motivated legal professionals across the globe who believe in Airbnb’s mission and leading as a 21st century company. 

The Difference You Will Make:

This product counsel will primarily support Airbnb business teams responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining frontend (user-facing) and backend (infrastructure & operations) product functionality and processes. The ideal candidate will have experience product counseling in the technology space, interest in developing new areas of legal expertise, an ability to work both independently and cross-functionally, and a willingness to flex their skillset across projects and coverage areas as needed. The role requires a growth-oriented individual who is interested in global regulatory and emerging issues, with a particular focus on privacy, data use, consumer protection, competition, intermediary liability, AI, and other global laws and regulations that affect platforms.

In this position as a member of the Airbnb legal team you will be responsible for supporting and providing advice and guidance to the product, operations, design, and engineering teams on Airbnb’s business. You must have excellent judgment in balancing legal risks with business strategy and a proven ability to learn new areas of law and function independently in a demanding fast-paced environment. We’re looking for a highly adaptable and collaborative person who can handle ambiguity and rapidly shifting priorities with flexibility, patience, and poise.  Previous product counsel experience is a plus. Your role will require a high degree of self-sufficiency, organizational skills, proactivity and an ability to enjoy a quick-paced and busy environment. You will operate as part of a supportive, fun and friendly team. 

A Typical Day: 

• Advise operations, product, design, and engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle on a broad range of compliance issues for cutting edge and first impression legal issues.
• Provide pragmatic day to day and strategic advice to minimize legal risks while advancing business interests and ensuring an excellent customer experience.
• Draft clear and concise disclosures, disclaimers, FAQs, terms of use, policies, and implement related processes.
• Manage outside counsel on complex research issues with an eye toward driving business goals while effectively managing time and cost.
• Coordinate with Airbnb’s IP & Marketing team to ensure that communications and advertising comply with relevant legal and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate effectively with counterparts supporting other business units and international counsel to ensure consistency across the product team and provide globally-aligned legal advice.
• Stay up-to-date and keep the team advised on laws and regulations dealing with privacy, online/mobile advertising, and consumer protection in order to better support product counseling and commercial transactions.
• Work closely with US and global product legal counterparts to understand the product, engineering, design, and operational implications across our contracts, commitments, and platform.

Your Expertise:

• JD and 9-12 years of relevant experience in law firms, governmental agencies, and/or in-house legal departments. 
• 3-5 years in-house experience at a multinational, consumer-facing technology company in a product counseling capacity is strongly prefe