Interim Director of Legal, Design & Construction

Job Description

Job Title:
Interim Director of Legal, Design & Construction

Department:
Legal

Reporting Structure:
Responsible to: General Counsel
Dotted line to: Senior Vice President of Design and Construction

Number of Direct/Indirect Reports:
None

Location:
Global Office, London

Geographical Scope:
Global

Key Performance Indicators:

• Independently manage and complete contracts related to Design and Project Development (DPD), particularly in the areas of construction, professional appointments, licenses, purchase orders, and goods agreements.
• Select, instruct, and oversee local legal counsel for specific jurisdictional projects.
• Serve as the first point of contact for all legal queries within DPD, maintaining close working relationships with team members.
• Propose and implement measures to streamline DPD contract processes and minimize risk.
• Provide training to both DPD and Legal teams as needed.
• Assist with additional contracts and business areas, including commercial contracts, due diligence, property matters, and ad hoc issues related to trains and cruises.

Scope and Purpose:
The Director of Legal, Design & Construction operates within the Corporate Legal team and reports to the General Counsel, with a dotted line to the Senior Vice President of Design and Construction. This role supports a global team of technical specialists involved in large-scale refurbishments, new developments, and other projects related to real estate and infrastructure. The role spans a variety of legal areas, including commercial contracts, acquisitions, and other business matters as required.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Refurbishments:
  Provide legal support for a global refurbishment project portfolio, including:
• Drafting, negotiating, and reviewing commercial contracts with various consultants (project managers, architects, designers, etc.).
• Negotiating with consultants and their legal advisors.
• Managing multiple contracts for different projects, adapting priorities as necessary.
• Collaborating with the team to understand project goals and commercial expectations.
• Assisting with insurance matters and negotiating performance guarantees for advance payments.
• Coordinating with local counsel as needed.
• Works Contracts:
  Manage and draft agreements for contractors on refurbishments, asset conversions, repairs, and other works, including contracts worth from £100K to over £10 million. External counsel may be engaged for overseas jurisdictions.
• Construction:
  Knowledge of construction law is essential, including general contractor agreements, warranties, guarantees, and contractor insurance.
• Property and Real Estate:
  Experience in property-related matters, such as leases, licences, property transfers, planning applications, and environmental issues, is beneficial.
• Intellectual Property:
  Some knowledge of intellectual property law may be required, particularly for artwork licensing and assignments.
• Commercial Contracts:
  Support other commercial contracts and projects, assist with communications and PR materials, and address any ad hoc contentious matters.
• Risk Management:
  Be proactive in identifying risks and compliance issues, escalating concerns when necessary, and working with the compliance team to ensure projects adhere to anti-bribery, corruption, and sanctions regulations.
• Jurisdictional Experience:
  While contracts will primarily be governed by English law, experience in working with international lawyers and stakeholders is an advantage.
• Team Support:
  Assist the General Counsel and other members of the Legal team as needed.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Use resources responsibly to minimize wastage.
• Communicate relevant information across departments as necessary.
• Adhere to safe working practices and report any accidents or defects immediately.
• Attend training and complete required eLearning modules.

Confidentiality:
This role involves access to confidential company, customer, and employee information. It is critical to maintain confidentiality and not disclose any sensitive information unless authorized. Refer to the company's Code of Conduct and Employee Handbook for full details.

This job description provides an outline of the main duties and responsibilities of the role. It is not exhaustive, and additional tasks of a similar nature may be assigned as required.

Leonid Group Corporate Governance is a talent acquisition consultancy that specialises in the placement of Legal, Compliance, Risk, ESG and Sustainability and Audit professionals on an international scale across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC.These are global disciplines with teams worldwide, and our network reflects this. We work with multinational corporations to help structure their departments with the best people, from the Global Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel to the Compliance Analyst and Trade Compliance Specialist.