Director of Legal, Commercial

As Director of Legal, Commercial at our Global Office, you are part of a team that brings the legend of Belmond to life. You will report directly to the General Counsel providing and overseeing effective commercial legal support across the global business. If you are looking to become the trusted adviser to our global functions and divisional business leaders, this is your moment.

This is a fixed term maternity cover role expected to commence in December 2024 and end within 12-months.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Lead and manage all commercial contracts and legal issues affecting commercial arrangements across the business.
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of contracts with a focus on agreements for Sales and Marketing, PR, Sales and IT including agreements with Saas and Cloud service providers along with other service suppliers contracts, location filming agreements, brand campaign support and non-disclosure agreements, among others.
• Manage, support and develop the role of Legal Counsel, Commercial (and any other reports, from time to time).
• Manage contract databases and files including efficient use of electronic signature software.
• Provide training on and review compliance with Belmond’s contract policy as well as suggesting and preparing updates to the policy when required.
• Keeping Belmond’s booking terms and conditions (available on Belmond.com) up to date and compliant.
• Overprepare and update contract templates in order to maintain an up-to-date repository of contracts beneficial to key stakeholders and provide regular training to stakeholders across the business.
• Ensure compliance with the legal aspects of Package Travel compliance including arrangements for financial failure insurance.
• Assist the General Counsel in maintaining engagement with internal stakeholders and providing accurate and timely legal advice to support Belmond’s business objectives.
• Lead (or oversee) the management of escalated guest service issues and provide crisis comms support.
• Lead (or oversee) the cost effective management and defence of Belmond’s trademark portfolio and providing support to the web development team on domain name issues.
• Monitor, assess and highlight specific legal risks to Belmond in relation to contracts and keeping the team updated.

What you should know when applying...

• This is a fixed term contract to cover a period of maternity leave. It is expected that the role will start in early December and end on the earlier of the maternity absentee’s return or 31 January 2026.
• The role is generally able to benefit from our current hybrid working policy where team members are expected to attend the office on their Team Day plus two additional days (i.e. 3 days per week in the office and 2 days remotely).
• It is expected that the application deadline will be 30 September 2024. However, an early application is encouraged as the position may close sooner if a large volume of applications is received. You may apply after this date but priority will be given to applications received by the deadline.
• To streamline our application process and ensure all submissions are efficiently managed, we kindly request that all candidates submit their applications through our designated recruitment platform.
• The Global Office is currently based at Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London. From late 2024, we will be moving offices to Wogan House, 99 Great Portland Street. Wogan House is currently undergoing comprehensive renovations with brand-new fitted office space under the management of a leading co-working space and property management company.

The Belmond & LVMH Family

The Belmond global collection of iconic hotels, trains, safaris and river cruises is proud to be part of LVMH, all creating exceptional experiences worldwide. When you join Belmond, you join a global family of history-rich hotels and breathtaking destinations, where our employees are at the heart of the Belmond experience. 

About Us

Belmond was born from a passion for connecting discerning travellers with the world’s most remarkable properties, locations and journeys. From hotels and trains to river cruises and safaris, Belmond curates incomparable experiences and crafts unforgettable stories. With a legacy spanning over 45 years, since the acquisition of Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has grown into a global collection of 47 properties spread across 28 countries and territories. Exceptional destinations connected by legendary journeys are the very soul of Belmond, where the path that brings you to a place is as important as the destination itself. A pioneer of slow travel, Belmond has been operating the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express since 1982. The group later expanded to include pristine beach resorts, such as Maroma on the Riviera Maya, historic hideaways such as Villa San Michele in the Florentine foothills, urban icons, such as Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, and gateways to UNESCO world heritage sites, such as Hotel das Cataratas in Brazil’s Iguassu National Park. As proud custodians of storied properties, Belmond is committed to building on the past to create a new legacy: the heritage of the future. Working with communities and local talents, together with the world's most respected chefs, designers and artists, Belmond continues its purpose of perpetuating the legendary art of travel. Since 2019, Belmond has been part of the world’s leading luxury group, LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton).

Requirements

What you bring:

• You will be a qualified solicitor in the UK with at least 5 years PQE.
• Experience as an in-house lawyer with a focus on commercial law.
• Knowledge of data processing addenda and GDPR issues generally.
• Experience in effectively managing budgets.
• Leadership and people management skills.
• An ability to work effectively under pressure with high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Solid project management skills with strong organisation and scheduling abilities.
• An ability and eagerness to build effective professional relationships with corporate and international teams, managers and senior management, including external counsel.
• An ability to communicate complex legal principles and procedures to legal and non-legal personnel, offering commercial solutions.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• An ability to inspire confidence in others of one’s expertise, knowledge and commercial acumen.

Benefits

At Belmond, we pride ourselves on fostering a culture built on kindness, active listening, and genuine connections with our colleagues and guests. We offer a comprehensive range of compensation, perks and benefits including:

• Competitive salaries and incentive plans
• Complimentary and preferred rate experiences at our iconic destinations
• Private Medical Insurance and Dental Plans
• Group Personal Pension Plan
• 33 days’ annual leave per year (inclusive of English Bank Holidays).
• Lifestyle and Employee Assistance Programs
• Onsite gym facilities

We strive to create an environment where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. With a commitment to your ongoing development, you’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow alongside some of the most talented individuals in the industry. Join us and be part of creating unforgettable moments for our guests, communities and each other.

This is your moment. Apply today!