Director Legal Senior

About the role

The Director Legal Senior will lead and guide the NHAM legal team, retain and, when necessary, attract the right talent. They will develop, direct, and motivate the team. They will oversee external legal advisors and manage legal budgets. They will advise on proposed operations, including confidentiality agreements, operation structuring, letters of intent, and antitrust interference. They will draft and review hotel management agreements (HMA) and franchise agreements (HFA). They will advise and ensure compliance with franchise laws (including franchise disclosure documents preparation), disclosure laws, and other relevant laws, such as competition law and agency law. They will independently handle correspondence with internal departments and contractual external partners, particularly with the external legal/advisory teams of the contractual partners. They will develop and share technical knowledge, especially through the creation of agreement models that maximize value and minimize risk, for use by the team and internal clients. They will advise operational services and support on contractual matters. They will respond to various operational questions with franchisees and owners, including quality assurance issues, and negotiate and draft agreements related to property transfers, terminations, and exits. They will support corporate departments in ongoing disputes with owners and manage any litigation that arises. They will oversee external lawyers and manage legal budgets. They will provide strategic advice to operational and support services.

Responsibilities

• Direct and guide the NHAM legal team, retain and, when necessary, attract the right talent.
• Oversee external legal advisors and manage legal budgets.
• Advises on proposed operations, including confidentiality agreements, operation structuring, letters of intent, and antitrust interference.
• Draft and review hotel management agreements (HMA) and franchise agreements (HFA).
• Advise and ensure compliance with franchise laws (including franchise disclosure documents preparation), disclosure laws, and other relevant laws, such as competition law and agency law.
• Independently handle correspondence with internal departments and contractual external partners, particularly with the external legal/advisory teams of the contractual partners.
• Develop and share technical knowledge, especially through the creation of agreement models that maximize value and minimize risk, for use by the team and internal clients.
• Advise operational services and support on contractual matters.
• Respond to various operational questions with franchisees and owners, including quality assurance issues, and negotiate and draft agreements related to property transfers, terminations, and exits.
• Support corporate departments in ongoing disputes with owners and manage any litigation that arises.
• Oversee external lawyers and manage legal budgets.
• Provide strategic advice to operational and support services.

Requirements

The ideal candidate should have:

• Proven leadership and management skills.
• Extensive experience in legal operations and development.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills.
• Ability to work in diverse cultural environments.
• Excellent understanding of franchising laws and regulations.
• Experience in managing legal budgets and overseeing external legal advisors.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Fluency in English and French (additional languages are a plus).

Qualifications

• Law degree from an accredited institution.
• At least 10 years of relevant legal experience, preferably in a legal operations and development role.
• Professional certification in law (e.g., LL.M., J.D.).
• Experience working in a multinational organization.
• Experience in managing legal budgets and overseeing external legal advisors.
• Experience in managing cross-functional teams.

Skills

• Strong negotiation and communication skills.
• Ability to work in diverse cultural environments.
• Excellent understanding of franchising laws and regulations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Benefits

Accor offers a range of benefits for its employees, including discounted rates at Accor hotels worldwide, learning programs through our Academies, opportunities for talent development within the hotel and globally, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the community through our Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Pay

The salary for this position is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Schedule

This is a 6-9 month fixed-term contract position based in France.