New Development Counsel

Introduction

Help shape IHG's growth across South East Asia and Korea as the legal partner behind our hotel signings, with a strong focus on branded residences. You will advise regional business teams on deal structures and negotiate agreements with owners and developers, from franchised and managed hotels to branded residential projects. If you enjoy commercial, business-minded legal work in a fast-growing and evolving part of the portfolio, this role offers real visibility and impact.

Your day to day

• Partner with regional business teams on branded residences, including deal structuring, contractual documentation and owner relationships, alongside hotel signings, renewals and variation negotiations
• Prepare, review and negotiate hotel management, franchise and related agreements, and advise on operational and compliance issues with owners and internal stakeholders
• Support the business on transactional activity involving IHG equity, including disposals, acquisitions, leases and joint ventures, working with finance, tax and treasury on optimal deal structures
• Lead franchise regulatory filings across jurisdictions, including renewals, new market filings and FDD preparation, and act as a regional centre of excellence for franchise compliance
• Maintain and improve IHG's legal templates, support broader BRR matters such as IP, owner due diligence and procurement, and manage external counsel effectively

What we need from you

• At least 10 years' experience in-house or in a law firm, and Commonwealth qualified
• Hospitality experience, with hotel management, franchise or branded residential structures strongly preferred
• Experience handling complex legal issues across multiple jurisdictions, preferably within South East Asia and Korea
• Excellent negotiation, drafting and transactional skills, with the commercial acumen to give pragmatic, business-oriented advice
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Comfortable using AI-enabled tools and emerging technologies to work more efficiently, and quick to adapt to new systems and digital ways of working

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