Vice President Corporate Counsel

About Four Seasons

Four Seasons is powered by our people. We are a collective of individuals who crave to become better, to push ourselves to new heights and to treat each other as we wish to be treated in return. Our team members around the world create amazing experiences for our guests, residents, and partners through a commitment to luxury with genuine heart. We know that the best way to enable our people to deliver these exceptional guest experiences is through a world-class employee experience and company culture.

At Four Seasons, we believe in recognizing a familiar face, welcoming a new one and treating everyone we meet the way we would want to be treated ourselves. Whether you work with us, stay with us, live with us or discover with us, we believe our purpose is to create impressions that will stay with you for a lifetime. It comes from our belief that life is richer when we truly connect to the people and the world around us.

About the location:

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is a global, luxury hotel management company. We manage over 120 hotels and resorts and 50 private residences in 47 countries around the world and growing. Central to Four Seasons employee experience and social impact programming is the company’s commitment to supporting cancer research, and the advancement of diversity, inclusion, equality and belonging at Four Seasons corporate offices and properties worldwide. At Four Seasons, we are powered by people and our culture enables everything we do.

We are thrilled to share an exciting leadership opportunity to join Four Seasons as Vice President, Corporate Counsel, based in our Corporate Office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

This role reports to the Senior Vice President, Corporate Counsel in London, England and will operate with close relationships with the broader Four Seasons Legal team and EMEA Area Leadership team members.

The Vice President, Corporate Counsel is accountable for leading the presence of Legal in the Dubai office and MEA region, to ensure appropriate involvement, input and guidance is provided to the organization and to provide appropriate visibility to the SVP, Corporate Counsel. This accountability includes managing legal matters impacting Four Seasons or its subsidiaries (excluding (x) employment law matters, and (y) anti-bribery/anti-corruption, privacy, sanctions and other compliance matters) with a focus on (i) transactional work in respect of new developments and Four Seasons’ existing managed portfolio of properties, (ii) general corporate/commercial matters, and (iii) assistance with dispute resolution management. This new role in Dubai is focused on providing support and oversight in these areas primarily for the Middle East and Africa region.

In addition, the major key activities of the Vice President, Corporate Counsel will include:

Transactions, Drafting & Advice

Negotiation of management agreements in respect of new hotel and/or residential projects in MEA* region, documents to support sales, refinancing(s) and other transactions by hotel owners, and amendments to agreements in respect of Four Seasons’ existing managed portfolio of properties. Preparing, reviewing, and negotiating contracts for corporate and/or departmental matters, and term sheets in respect of new hotel and/or residential projects in MEA* region. Reviewing and negotiation of project covenants, conditions and restrictions (or equivalent), residential purchase and sale agreement forms and other documents to support sales by developers of MEA* residential projects. Providing advice and guidance to other departments within Four Seasons as necessary and appropriate.

Dispute Management

Assist with management of disputes (formal or informal) with third parties in MEA* region (including hotel owners), providing input and direction to Four Seasons’ corporate and operational teams and others in respect of disputes or potential disputes with owners, developers and/or residential associations.

Internal Reporting

Assist with application for, review and maintenance of, licenses for Four Seasons’ entities in various MEA* jurisdictions.

External Counsel

Managing and maintaining relationships with external legal counsel for MEA* region and obtaining and synthesizing advice from local external counsel in jurisdictions throughout MEA*.

• Scope may include matters beyond Middle East and Africa (MEA) based on workflow of organization and capacity of Legal department members.
  
  

Our Ideal Vice President, Corporate Counsel Candidate Will Have

10 – 15 years of experience gained with a leading law firm or in-house position, with an emphasis on corporate/commercial law, have an LLB or J.D. (or equivalent), must be a lawyer licensed in Dubai, England and Wales or other acceptable jurisdiction, have strong corporate/commercial background including corporate transactions and secured financings, and experience with negotiation of hotel management agreements or brand license agreements would be preferred.

You should be a team player able to operate with a high degree of autonomy with moderate supervision and oversight, have the ability to work on and prioritize multiple projects and adapt well to changing priorities, providing regular updates to manager, be able to liaise professionally with multiple stakeholders including senior leaders and hotel owners, have the ability to recognize and identify issues of a legal and business nature, including the need to escalate issues appropriately and propose solutions, and have excellent analytical, organizational, communication and legal drafting skills.

This role will be based in Dubai, however the successful candidate should have the ability and willingness to travel and interact in different cultures/geographies. Flexible working hours to accommodate international time zones and travel will be required based on company needs for corporate/transaction purposes (estimate of up to 20% of time).

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