Are you a master of craft? Do you thrive in a team that succeeds together, demonstrating integrity and respect while acting responsibly? Do you embrace a growth mindset? We invite you to become a fan of the exceptional. 

Mandarin Oriental is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences located in prime destinations around the world, with a strong development pipeline. Increasingly recognized for creating some of the world’s most sought-after properties, the Group provides legendary service inspired by Asian heritage whilst representing the very cutting-edge of luxury experiences.

Job title: Legal Counsel

Reports to: Group Counsel

Location: Mandarin Oriental Corporate Office, Hong Kong

Reporting to Mandarin Oriental’s Group Counsel (based in Hong Kong) you will work alongside other lawyers in the Legal Department, currently based in Hong Kong, London and Geneva. The Legal Counsel is responsible for managing all legal issues related to Mandarin Oriental’s business and entities worldwide, including providing legal advice, drafting and negotiating major contractual documentation, handling litigation and disputes, and providing legal support to Mandarin Oriental’s corporate offices, hotels, exceptional homes and branded residences.

Your primary focus is on supporting Mandarin Oriental’s business and development activities relating to hotel and residence projects. You will work closely with other corporate departments to advance Mandarin Oriental’s long-term business objectives while protecting its legal rights and interests.

YOU ARE an exceptional lawyer around 3-7 years PQE. Hospitality industry experience, particularly in hotel or residences management agreements, will be a strong preference for consideration.

YOU WILL help Mandarin Oriental achieve its ambitious growth goals by supporting Development in negotiating and documenting new hotel management and residences branding agreements while assisting your colleagues in all parts of the business to achieve the exceptional, every day, everywhere.

EXPECTATIONS

This is an international role offering interesting work across a diverse range of cultures and jurisdictions. Mandarin Oriental executives with differing levels of seniority, commercial acumen and languages will have direct access to you and rely upon your judgement and advice. You need to be very intelligent, articulate, and hard-working, with initiative and independence. You will be expected to take important decisions under conditions of stress, and justify and be accountable for those decisions. Your level of communication will be expected to be the best in the company. You will have to manage outside legal providers and hold them to account for their advice and fees, especially law firm partners. You will be expected to have excellent drafting and negotiation skills, and will have plenty of opportunity to exercise them. You will give presentations and provide training, both in person and on-line. You will help to develop policies and procedures to empower your colleagues and enable the Legal Department to apply its resources efficiently. You will be the conscience of the company and a defender of its commitment to compliance, ethics and sustainability, but you will have to do so with persuasion rather than fiat. You will be expected to provide business solutions to legal issues, and your role and responsibilities will grow based on trust and performance. You will be always a responsible representative of the company and its values.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Law degree, and current admission in a common law jurisdiction

At least three years PQE

Considerable experience with hospitality work, preferably hotel management agreements

Faultless fluency in legal-level English, both written and spoken (fluency in other languages an advantage)

Excellent communications and interpersonal skills

Excellent negotiating and drafting skills

Ability to work independently while interacting with and advising all levels of the organization

Ability to interact in a dynamic, international environment that is leanly-staffed

Capacity to adapt to different cultures around the world

Personal Attributes

Intelligence, initiative, and independence

Presence, personality, maturity and grace under pressure

Comfort and facility with being a public face of the Department and of the company

Service-oriented; sense of humility; sense of humour

A genuine enthusiasm for the “Mandarin Oriental" brand

Willingness to travel regularly

Absolute integrity

You will undergo an intense apprenticeship to put you in a position to independently negotiate deals with Owners and their counsel with capability and confidence as soon as possible.

Our commitment to you

Learning & Development. Your success is our success. We craft unique learning and development programmes for various stages in your career so that you grow, continuously. MOstay. When you work as hard as our colleagues do, it’s important to take time off. As a member of the #MOfamily, you can stay with us wherever you go in the world. The MOstay programme offers complimentary nights and additionally attractive rates on rooms for you and your loved ones. Heath & Colleague Wellness. Finding the right work-life balance is important. Your wellbeing matters to us. A variety of health benefits and wellness programmes are offered to all our colleagues, globally. Retirement Plans. When you show commitment to us, we reciprocate. We offer different retirement plans depending on the length of your service and your role.

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