Legal Counsel - Commercial & Legal Operations (Maternity Cover)

The Opportunity Belmond is at an exciting point in the evolution of its Legal function. We are strengthening how Legal supports the business, not only through exceptional legal advice, but through best-in-class legal operations, process excellence and scalable ways of working. This role offers a unique opportunity to join the Legal and Corporate Integrity team during this evolution. As Legal Counsel, you will combine high-quality commercial legal support with a central role in advancing our legal operations maturity, helping shape how Legal delivers impact across a global luxury brand. We are seeking a lawyer who is as comfortable transforming processes and driving efficiency as they are drafting and negotiating complex agreements — someone who sees Legal as a strategic enabler of the business. Commercial Legal Partnering • Provide clear, pragmatic and commercially focused advice to stakeholders across Belmond’s global business • Navigate legal and commercial risk with sound judgement • Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including marketing, PR, technology, SaaS, supplier and distribution agreements Legal Operations & Transformation • Lead and optimise contract lifecycle processes, including contract databases and repositories • Own and enhance legal tools and systems, including DocuSign and legal contracting software • Develop and refine templates, playbooks and self-service tools • Drive process improvement, automation and simplification • Contribute to the development of Belmond’s Legal Ops capability Governance, Risk & Continuous Improvement • Promote compliance with Belmond’s contract policies • Monitor and communicate legal and commercial risks • Keep key policies and booking terms up to date • Support trademark and brand protection matters • Partner with the General Counsel and Legal team Who You Are • Qualified lawyer with strong commercial contracting experience • Experience or strong exposure to legal operations, including CLM, legal tech and process improvement • Commercially astute and solution-oriented • Strong stakeholder management skills • Process-driven with a focus on efficiency and continuous improvement What We Offer At Belmond, we pride ourselves on fostering a culture built on kindness, active listening, and genuine connections with our colleagues and guests. 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! 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 safari lodges, Belmond’s Slow Luxury invites guests to discover a new pace of travel as they savour time, engage with local culture, and connect with nature and people around them through incomparable experiences and 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 43 properties spread across 24 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. Belmond 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, urbane 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).