Job Title: General Counsel

Department: Legal

Reports To: Chief Operating Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Downtown Miami (on-site, no remote work)

SUMMARY:

The General Counsel will serve as a key advisor to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of our hotel group. This role combines legal expertise with business acumen, functioning both as the head of legal affairs and as a trusted right hand to the COO, contributing to high-level operational, risk, and strategic decisions.

This individual will oversee all legal matters affecting the company, including contracts, regulatory compliance, labor and employment issue and home owner association issues, while also acting as a sounding board and operational partner to the COO on critical initiatives across the business.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee all legal affairs, including contract drafting, negotiation, and review across operations, vendor relationships, franchise agreements, and property management.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, including hospitality regulations, employment law, ADA requirements, and data privacy.
• Manage relationships with external counsel as needed, ensuring efficient and cost-effective legal services.
• Advise on licensing and risk management.
• Support dispute resolution and litigation management, including insurance claims, labor disputes, and guest issues.
• Serve as a confidant and strategic advisor to the COO, providing guidance on complex business and operational matters beyond traditional legal scope.
• Participate in executive decision-making and board-level discussions, representing both legal and operational perspectives.
• Collaborate on cross-functional initiatives including vendor negotiations, and sustainability goals.
• Evaluate risks and opportunities in business plans, policies, and operational processes, recommending improvements aligned with legal and business goals.
• Support project execution, budgeting, and performance management in coordination with operations leadership.
• Other ad-hoc projects as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5+ years of legal experience, ideally including both in-house counsel and law firm roles.
• Hospitality or service industry experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic legal counsel in a fast-paced, multi-property environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills with the ability to influence, guide, and collaborate at all levels.
• Strong business judgment and the ability to “see around corners” in anticipating challenges and opportunities.
• Proven experience as a close business advisor to C-level leadership.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strategic mindset with strong analytical capabilities

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; licensed to practice in Florida.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Excellent verbal and written English language skills. Ability to read, write, and comprehend instructions, correspondence, memos, and reports. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization. Knowledge of other languages preferred.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems solving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to move around the office and hotel premises as needed.
• Occasional standing, walking, and navigating through different areas of the hotel.
• Manual dexterity to operate office equipment such as computers, printers, and phones.
• The ability to lift and carry up to 15 pounds occasionally for tasks such as handling supplies or assisting with event setups.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. This job is primarily performed in an office environment with a moderate noise level. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to frequently inspect inside and outside areas of the property location and may be exposed to ongoing construction and various weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment may range from moderate to loud.

We are an EEO Company that provides a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package to all full-time regular Employees.

The above job description describes the primary duties and qualifications for this position. The company reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and other duties as necessary.

The candidate for this position is an at-will employee and subject to termination with or without cause or notice.