Legal Associate – Hospitality & Hotels (4–5 PQE)

Job description / Role

We are supporting a leading international law firm in its search for a talented and commercially minded Associate (4–5+ PQE) to join a leading hospitality-focused legal practice in Dubai.

The successful candidate will advise on a broad range of hospitality transactions and projects, working with hotel owners, operators, developers, and investors across the region. This role offers exposure to complex hotel development matters, management agreements, franchise arrangements, and mixed-use developments.

The position is best suited to a lawyer with genuine hospitality expertise who can quickly become client-facing and contribute immediately to ongoing matters.

The ideal candidate will have substantial hands-on experience drafting and negotiating Hotel Management Agreements (HMAs) and advising on hotel development matters.

Applications are particularly welcomed from lawyers who have worked extensively within the hospitality sector rather than those whose exposure has been limited to occasional hospitality-related real estate or commercial transactions.

The successful candidate will be capable of managing client interactions confidently and contributing immediately to sophisticated hospitality projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate Hotel Management Agreements (HMAs).
• Advise on hotel development projects and hospitality-related transactions.
• Support franchise and branding arrangements for hotel operators and owners.
• Advise on mixed-use developments involving hospitality assets.
• Draft and negotiate a wide range of hospitality-related commercial contracts.
• Work closely with developers, investors, owners, and operators on project structuring and execution.
• Manage matters from inception through completion.
• Provide practical, commercially focused legal advice.
• Support business development and client relationship initiatives.
• The ideal candidate will have substantial hands-on experience drafting and negotiating Hotel Management Agreements (HMAs) and advising on hotel development matters.
• Applications are particularly welcomed from lawyers who have worked extensively within the hospitality sector rather than those whose exposure has been limited to occasional hospitality-related real estate or commercial transactions.

• Qualified lawyer with 4–5+ years Post-Qualification Experience (PQE).
• Commonwealth-qualified candidates preferred.
• Training and experience gained at a reputable international law firm.
• Strong hospitality sector experience.
• Significant experience with hotel management agreements (HMAs), hotel development projects, franchise arrangements, mixed-use developments, and a wide range of hospitality-related commercial contracts.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience acting for hotel owners, operators, developers, and investors will be highly regarded.
• Ability to work independently while managing client relationships effectively.
• Excellent communication and commercial awareness.
• Candidate must be based in Dubai.

#MENARecruit #LegalJobs #HospitalityLaw #HotelsAndLeisure #DubaiJobs #PrivatePractice #HotelManagementAgreements #HMA #HotelDevelopment #LawyerJobs #HospitalitySector #AssociateLawyer #LegalRecruitment

About the Company

MENA Recruit came to fruition in response to a growing need for international legal talent in London and Dubai. Its initial focus began in the Legal sector, evolving as a service provider for other sectors such as Administration, Marketing, Business Development, HR, IT, Finance and C-Suite positions.

Over the last two decades, with roots firmly planted in the Middle East and operations expanding into the APAC region, MENA Recruit has gained intuitive industry knowledge and expertise. With its unique, people-focused approach, the firm has yielded competitive advantage for its clients and rewarding careers for the professionals it has supported throughout the years.

The company is dedicated to delivering the highest quality of talent and service to its clients while working tenaciously towards helping them achieve higher retention rates. For this reason, MENA Recruit is considered by both candidates and clients as a consultant in the truest sense of the word, offering guidance to both people and organizations on how to adapt to the constant change in market conditions and how to anticipate present and future challenges.

Presently, MENA Recruit provides services to organizations and professionals in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

With such an extensive global reach, strong brand value, decades of expertise, and an innovative approach towards business challenges, it’s clear why MENA Recruit is the partner of choice for both in-house recruiters and candidates internationally.