Senior Counsel Development Legal EMEA

As a Senior Counsel in the Development group within the Global Legal team, you will provide expertise across the EMEA region, overseeing legal support to Development business partners in relation to the development of new hotel projects. You will form part of the Development group within the Legal team reporting to the Vice President & Senior Counsel, Development and Real Estate, EMEA. You will work on management and franchise agreements for new hotel projects, handle all amendments, variations and other issues relating to any such agreements once signed and generally provide legal advice and guidance on Hilton’s wider business affairs in EMEA as may generally be required.

• Providing and/or overseeing legal support to Development business partners in EMEA in relation to the development of new hotel projects, with a particular focus on luxury projects and deals across Africa.

• Leading on the development and execution of negotiation strategy, transaction management and deal structuring.

• Providing and/or overseeing legal advice, negotiation and support to Business Partners in Development, Retention, Real Estate, Operations, Finance, HR, Corporate Communications and other functions in relation to Hilton’s wider business affairs in EMEA relating to existing operating agreements including retention, amendment, interpretation and owner relations matters generally.

• Providing support and strategic guidance to the business when contractual disputes arise, working to protect the company and find appropriate commercial solutions when available.

• Helping to ensure the Legal Department’s EMEA operations are conducted within established budgetary parameters and requirements including engaging and managing outside counsel in accordance with engagement policies and budgets.

• Assisting the Vice President & Senior Counsel, Development and Real Estate, EMEA and other senior legal colleagues globally in the coordination, deployment and implementation of global initiatives and priorities.

• Developing and implementing legal strategies to address development, retention and owner relation issues.

• Formulating and delivering training programs for business partners and identifying, planning and implementing additional self-service programs for business partners to help themselves on recurring matters wherever possible.

• Working with Hilton Legal’s standard systems and procedures and assisting in their continuous improvement and updating.

• Undertaking knowhow development and management for the Development group.

• Leveraging effective partnerships with outside counsel resources, internal clients, and other corporate departments.

How you will collaborate with others:

• The EMEA Development group in Legal currently has 8 lawyers and 3 paralegals with whom you will work. The group works closely on all issues relating to Hilton’s development pipeline across the region.

• You will also work with business partners in the Development team and across other functions who support Hilton’s development efforts and our wider business.

What initiatives you will take ownership of:

• You will take the lead on development projects.

• Dotted line supervision of paralegal within team in respect of development workload.

Success will demonstrate itself through the following attributes and skills:

• Highly experienced independent legal professional and negotiator.

• Excellent transaction management experience including negotiating complex legal documents to their conclusion.

• Experience in managing a pool of very demanding clients.

• Experience of working internationally in a multicultural, decentralised environment.

• Ability to create and maintain strong relations with all levels in an organisation.

• High developed strategic and analytical skills, presenting solutions to challenges.

• Strong commercial awareness.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely express ideas both verbally and in writing.

• Able to work irregular hours to accommodate global time differences and to meet deadlines.

• Ability to work with and get the best out of outside counsel.

• Highly developed interpersonal skills that build trust and instill confidence in order to motivate and influence others.

• The ability to initiate and direct collaborative efforts of multiple teams throughout an organisation, including internal resources, external resources and other constituent groups as appropriate with aim of furthering strategic goals.

• Excellent problem-solving skills, including the ability to effectively address any issue in collaboration with others as appropriate; ability to proactively identify and prevent potential problems.

To fulfill this role successfully, you must possess the following minimum qualifications and experience:

• Degree from a common law jurisdiction and other appropriate legal qualifications to practice as a qualified lawyer.

• Post-qualification experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal senior counsel role.

• Strong experience with a background in any of commercial real estate, corporate and/or commercial law including excellent drafting and negotiation skills and familiarity with corporate structures including joint ventures, partnerships and limited liability companies.

• Strong experience and a proven track record in the hospitality sector including working with management and franchise agreements.

• Exposure to legal frameworks in multiple jurisdictions.

• Travel up to 10% of time (as required).

It would be useful in this position for you to demonstrate the following capabilities and distinctions:

• Experience of working in Africa.

• Experience of working on asset and corporate disposals and acquisitions.

• Experience of hotel operations legal work.

• Exposure to international disputes and their resolution via forums such as arbitration/mediation/court processes.

• Solid knowledge of issues relating to data protection and trademarks.

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