Senior Legal Counsel - Hospitality

Our client, a leading hospitality organization, is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Legal Counsel to join our legal team. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing strategic legal advice and support across our diverse portfolio of hotels, resorts, and other hospitality businesses.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Provide expert legal advice and support to various business units on a wide range of legal matters, including commercial transactions, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution.
2. Draft, review, and negotiate various types of contracts and legal documents related to the hospitality industry, including management agreements, leases, licenses, and procurement contracts.
3. Proactively identify and mitigate legal risks and exposures, and develop strategies to enhance the company's legal and regulatory compliance.
4. Manage relationships with external legal counsel, government authorities, and other stakeholders.
5. Keep abreast of relevant UAE and international laws, regulations, and industry trends, and provide timely updates and guidance to the company's leadership and business units.
6. Mentor and supervise junior members of the legal team, and contribute to the development of the legal department's policies and procedures.

Qualifications and Skills:

1. Law degree from a reputable university, with a current legal practicing certificate.
2. Bilingual in English and Arabic, with excellent written and oral communication skills.
3. A minimum of 10 years post-qualification experience (PQE) in the legal field, with a significant portion of that experience in the hospitality sector.
4. Extensive knowledge of UAE laws, regulations, and legal practices, including experience in dealing with UAE government authorities and regulatory bodies.
5. Proven track record of successfully managing complex legal matters and providing strategic legal advice to senior management.
6. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing legal issues.
7. Exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.