Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Accor is a world-leading hospitality group operating in over 110 countries with a diverse portfolio of more than 40 hotel brands. As Senior Legal Counsel, you will provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal support across hotel development and operations. Your primary responsibilities will include negotiating and advising on franchise and hotel management agreements while supporting a wide variety of commercial and operational matters. This role offers significant exposure to senior stakeholders and strategic projects across the UK, Ireland, and the Nordics within a fast-paced international environment.

Key responsibilities include leading the drafting, negotiation, and execution of franchise agreements, hotel management agreements, and related commercial contracts; advising on hotel development transactions; supporting operational legal matters such as contract amendments, terminations, and disputes; providing commercially focused legal advice on contract law and operational matters; advising on branded residential projects; supporting financing transactions, guarantees, joint ventures, and other strategic commercial projects; ensuring compliance with franchise regulations, disclosure obligations, and competition law; managing relationships with external legal advisers; monitoring legislative developments; developing and maintaining legal templates and playbooks; delivering legal training and guidance to business stakeholders; participating in regional legal projects and continuous improvement initiatives; and managing and reporting on small claims within the region.

Joining Accor means becoming part of a global network committed to innovation, collaboration, inclusivity, sustainability, and responsible hospitality, where you can develop your skills, broaden your experience, and make a meaningful impact in the hospitality industry.

Experience
- At least 6 years' post-qualification experience (PQE) or equivalent, gained within a leading law firm, an international in-house legal team, or a combination of both.
- Significant experience negotiating complex commercial agreements, ideally within hospitality, franchising, real estate, or development.
- Experience supporting complex cross-border transactions and working across multiple jurisdictions.
- Experience within the hospitality sector or franchise businesses is desirable.
- Experience advising on hotel management or franchise agreements is a plus.
- Previous in-house legal experience within an international organisation is valued.

About you
- Strong technical legal expertise combined with commercial judgement.
- Ability to build trusted relationships across the business.
- Excellent drafting, negotiation, and contract management skills.
- Strong commercial awareness and ability to provide practical, business-focused legal advice.
- Confidence to influence and advise senior stakeholders while simplifying complex legal issues into clear, practical guidance.
- Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Collaborative approach with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently, prioritise effectively, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Fluency in English.

Qualifications
- A law degree (or equivalent Legal Executive qualification) with a current practising qualification where applicable.