Clara Rufi Casals

After completing her university studies in Translation in Barcelona, Spain, she realized that her true passion lay elsewhere. Drawn to the intellectual rigor and complexity of the legal field, she made a bold career pivot relocating to Belgium and embarking on Law studies while working full time. Thanks to her determination and the support of her loved ones, she successfully navigated this demanding transition.

Her legal career began in the retail sector as a company lawyer, where she gained valuable insight into the fast-paced world of commercial law. A short-term assignment at AXA Bank later sparked her interest in ICT contracts, a niche that quickly became her area of expertise. This focus led her to Mastercard, where she has been contributing for over five years.

At the end of my university studies in Translation in Barcelona, Spain, I realised that this was not the professional path I wanted to pursue. The legal field felt far more compelling and intellectually stimulating. Shortly after moving to Belgium, I made the bold decision to immerse myself in this new world—beginning my Law studies at university while working full time. It was a challenging journey, but with determination, patience, and the unwavering support of my loved ones, I achieved that goal.   I began my legal career as a company lawyer in the retail sector. After a few enriching years discovering the dynamic nature of commercial law, I took on a short-term opportunity at AXA Bank, where I supported the procurement team. It was there that I developed a strong interest in ICT contracts—an area that quickly became my specialty. This expertise paved the way for my current role at Mastercard, where I’ve been proud to contribute for over five years.   Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside exceptional company lawyers, inspiring leaders, and supportive colleagues who believed in me and offered opportunities for growth. I’m deeply grateful for their trust and encouragement.

Since joining Mastercard, my role has evolved significantly in both scope and impact. Initially focused on core legal advisory responsibilities, supporting on complex deals with major customers located in Western Europe, I then moved to another exciting area which is Security Solutions, leading the legal related work in the entire European region. Over time, I have deepened my engagement with different stakeholders in Europe, building trusted partnerships and acting as a key legal liaison for strategic and commercial matters.

There’s no such thing as a typical day at Mastercard. Each morning, I wonder whether the day will unfold as planned—or if something unexpected will turn everything upside down. Either way, my days and weeks are a dynamic mix of legal advisory, strategic collaboration, and cross-functional engagement. What I enjoy most—and what truly energizes me—is the direct connection with the business. I thrive when I can work closely with teams, understand their objectives, and help craft solutions that are both legally robust and commercially practical. I particularity enjoy tasks that require strategic thinking: whether it’s navigating complex regulatory frameworks, anticipating legal implications of emerging technologies or craft solutions for a complex deal.

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Its core mission is to power economies and empower people by enabling secure, simple, smart, and accessible transactions across. While Mastercard’s core business remains the payment processing network, it also provides high value innovative services in relation to cybersecurity, loyalty, marketing, analytics. Mastercard’s customers go beyond the traditional issuers and acquirers and now expands to different actors in both the private and public sector.

Mastercard operates in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment—constantly embracing innovation and cutting-edge technologies to enhance our services and better meet the needs of customers and consumers. At the same time, we navigate a regulatory landscape that is becoming increasingly fragmented and complex, requiring continuous adaptation and proactive legal guidance. As a company lawyer, I need to move at the speed of the business, anticipate legal implications, help shape forward-thinking solutions, and enable smart, responsible risk-taking. In addition, one of the key challenges for both the company and myself is the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence.

Outside of my work as a company lawyer, I enjoy activities that help me recharge – like running and fitness. Music has been a passion since childhood, and I’m grateful to still practice it today, whether through singing or playing the piano. Spending time with my loved ones is something I truly cherish, specially when it involves exploring new places and living new experiences.  And when I find a bit of extra time, I enrol in a course or masterclass to stay sharp and up to date with the latest developments in law!

One recent book that truly impressed me was Kilometer Zero by Maud Ankaoua – it offered such insightful perspectives. Despite all the books I have read in my life, there is one story that has always stayed next to my bed: Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Today, I read it to my little ones, again and again, and it still leaves me with a special, lingering feeling and reminds me that “What is essential is invisible to the eye”.