Senior Legal Counsel (min 8 PQE ) - Hospitality/Corporate Real Estate

Our client is a leading real estate group with a significant focus on the hospitality sector. They have an established legal team that supports a diverse portfolio of high-value hospitality and real estate assets. This is an excellent opportunity for a lawyer with strong experience in hotel management agreements (HMAs) and corporate real estate to join a high-performing in-house team.

Role Overview:
The Senior Legal Counsel will play a key role in providing legal support for hospitality transactions, with a primary focus on hotel management agreements (HMAs) and other hospitality-related contracts. This position is ideal for a lawyer currently practicing in corporate real estate and hospitality within a law firm and seeking to make an impactful transition to an in-house role. The successful candidate will collaborate with various business stakeholders and contribute to the group’s strategic expansion in the hospitality space.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Advise on, draft, and negotiate hotel management agreements (HMAs), branding agreements, franchise agreements, and other hospitality-related contracts.
2. Support the development and management of hospitality assets, including overseeing legal matters in acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and other transactions.
3. Provide counsel on operational and regulatory matters relevant to the hospitality sector, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations in multiple jurisdictions.
4. Partner with cross-functional teams to manage and mitigate legal risks associated with hospitality projects, including contract compliance and enforcement.
5. Liaise with external counsel to manage complex legal issues and ensure effective support on HMAs and other high-value hospitality transactions.
6. Provide legal training and updates to business teams on hospitality-focused legal matters and developments impacting the industry.

Qualifications:

1. Qualified lawyer with a minimum of 8 years PQE.
2. Strong experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating hotel management agreements (HMAs) and other hospitality-related contracts.
3. Background in corporate real estate law, ideally from a law firm or in-house legal team within the hospitality or real estate sector.
4. Demonstrated expertise in hospitality-related transactions and the legal aspects of managing hotel assets.
5. Excellent drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills, with a proactive approach to legal risk management.
6. Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
7. Exceptional communication skills and attention to detail.