Senior Legal Counsel

Responsibilities

• Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, and management of Hotel Management Agreements (HMAs) and related hospitality contracts.
• Advise on hotel development, acquisition, and operational matters across various hospitality projects.
• Provide legal support for mixed-use developments incorporating hotel, residential, retail, and leisure components.
• Draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including development, management, and service contracts.
• Support project development teams with legal and contractual risk management throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide practical, business-focused legal advice to senior stakeholders and management.
• Manage external counsel and ensure legal compliance across all transactions and projects.
• Assist with dispute avoidance, contract interpretation, and risk mitigation strategies.

Requirements

• 8–12+ years of post-qualification experience (PQE).
• Qualified lawyer from a Commonwealth jurisdiction (England & Wales qualification is strongly preferred).
• Significant and demonstrable experience within the hospitality sector.
• Extensive experience in drafting and negotiating Hotel Management Agreements (HMAs).
• Proven track record advising on hotel development and mixed-use real estate projects.
• Strong commercial acumen and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Must be currently based in Dubai.

About the Company

MENA is a Dubai-based organization seeking specialized legal expertise to support high-value hospitality transactions and large-scale development projects.