Description:

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

Qualifications & Experience:
Required:

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