Chief Legal Officer

Overview

1. Legal Strategy & Advisory

• Develop and implement the company’s legal strategy in alignment with business objectives.
• Advise the Board and Executive Management on legal implications of strategic decisions, mergers, acquisitions, and divestments.
• Provide expert counsel on hospitality, tourism, real estate, and investment laws across multiple
• jurisdictions.

2. Corporate Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with local, regional, and international laws, including labor law, real estate,
• corporate, hospitality, and investment regulations.
• Oversee corporate governance framework and ensure best practices in board and shareholder
• relations.
• Draft, review, and approve board resolutions, shareholder agreements, and other governance
• documents.

3. Contracts & Transactions

• Lead negotiations and drafting of hotel management agreements, franchise contracts, and operator agreements with global hotel brands.
• Oversee legal due diligence, contract structuring, and documentation for acquisitions, joint ventures, and real estate transactions.
• Mitigate risks in large-scale construction, leasing, and hospitality projects.

4. Risk Management & Dispute Resolution

• Identify potential legal and regulatory risks and implement preventive measures.
• Oversee litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution with external counsel as needed.
• Manage claims related to hospitality operations, labor disputes, and property issues.

5. Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and develop the legal and compliance team.
• Manage external legal advisors and ensure cost-effective legal support.
• Provide legal training to management and staff on compliance, contracts, and regulatory issues.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of hospitality, tourism, and real estate law (regional and international).
• Expertise in Hotel agreements, M&A, joint ventures, franchising, and cross-border investments.
• Excellent negotiation, drafting, and communication skills.
• Strong leadership and ability to influence at board and executive level.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to balance legal risk with business opportunity.
• Integrity, discretion, and sound judgment.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) required; Master’s degree or LLM preferred.
• Licensed to practice law in relevant jurisdiction(s).
• Minimum 15 years’ legal experience, with at least 7 years in a senior legal leadership role within
• hospitality, tourism, real estate, or investment sectors.
• Proven experience managing international transactions, hotel operator agreements, and large-scale real estate deals.
• Prior GCC or international hospitality/tourism sector experience preferred.