Legal Director Orient Express Sailing Yachts (F/M/X)

ORIENT EXPRESS

Artisan of Travel since 1883 Orient Express is a legendary brand, steeped in history and loved by past, present and future generations. Representing the pinnacle of ultra-luxury hospitality within Accor Group, this brand is currently going through exciting phases of rebirth and expansion.

Orient Express embodies the refined nomadic spirit of travel, inviting each traveler to a place where the journey is the destination. Bringing awe-inspiring travel experiences to a new generation of adventurers, its exceptional portfolio includes The Orient Express, with its original carriages reimagined as the new embassy of French luxury; Orient Express La Dolce Vita, a train embodying the 'Made in Italy' way; Orient Express Silenseas - the world’s largest sailing ship; and hotels coming to Rome and Venice.

Progressively shaping the future of luxury hospitality, Orient Express is focusing on employee journey and growth.

1. MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Legal Director – Orient Express Sailing Yachts will be responsible for overseeing and directing all legal, regulatory, and corporate governance aAairs related to the design, construction, operation, and commercialization of the Orient Express Sailing Yachts, a pioneering ultra-luxury maritime venture. The successful candidate will safeguard the company’s assets, reputation, and operations by proactively managing legal risks, ensuring meticulous regulatory compliance, and supporting agile, responsible decision-making in strict alignment with the ambitious global business strategy.

2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Contract Management

- Commercial & Operational Contracts: Structure, draft and negotiate procurement agreements, charter agreements, maritime agreements, sales and distribution contracts, agency representations, supplier agreements, and IT/service contracts, technical consultancy contracts, and oversee the overall structuring of strategic partnerships
- Manage the contract repository tool
- Manage contract lifecycles (renewals, terminations…) and pre-litigation issues alongside the teams and all other issues regarding contract management.

Corporate Secretariat & Governance

- Board & Shareholder Relations: Act as the Corporate Secretary of the Board of Directors, organizing board meetings, drafting resolutions, preparing agendas, and taking official minutes.
- Legal Entity Management: Manage the corporate life of all dedicated legal entities, ensuring timely statutory filings, maintenance of corporate records, and general legal secretarial support.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

- Conflict Resolution: Direct and manage all pre-litigation claims, active litigation, arbitrations, and regulatory disputes.
- Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify points of commercial vulnerability and draft settlement agreements or mitigation strategies to resolve conflicts efficiently and protect the brand's reputation.

External Relations & Stakeholder

- Management Advisors & Experts: Manage and coordinate relationships with external legal counsels, specialized maritime lawyers, and consultants, ensuring high-quality, cost-eAicient legal delivery
- Authorities & Bodies: Act as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, and government/public bodies worldwide.

Operational Excellence & Team Leadership

- Process Optimization: Refine and optimize internal legal processes, templates, and workflows to increase overall business efficiency and shorten contract turnarounds.
- People Management: Lead, mentor, and foster the professional growth of the Legal Manager. Cultivate a collaborative, high-performance, and business-enabling culture within the legal function.
- Budgeting: Monitor external legal spendings, control legal budgets, and ensure proper timing and quality of all legal deliverables.

3. REPORTING LINE & TEAM STRUCTURE

The Legal Director reports directly to a member of the Executive Committee. The Legal Director will have direct supervisory responsibility over the Legal Manager, guiding the daily tasks, reviews, and professional development.

Education, Credentials and Professional Experience

Responsibilities

Commercial & Corporate Law: Maintain robust standards across general commercial law, intellectual property (IP) protection, consumer protection, tourism law, and all other local operational regulations as applicable; Compliance Frameworks: Design, implement, and supervise rigorous compliance and risk-management frameworks across the business. This includes overseeing ethics codes, anti-corruption initiatives (e.g., Sapin II, FCPA), personal data protection (GDPR), and international trade sanctions.

Requirements

Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in Corporate or International Business Law is highly desired.; A minimum of 5-10 years of post-qualification legal experience, preferably split between a top-tier international law firm and an in-house legal department. In-house legal department experience would be a strong advantage.; Legal Expertise: Strong technical knowledge of civil and commercial law, IP, and global compliance regulations (GDPR, anti-corruption, sanctions).; Negotiation & Influence: Outstanding negotiation, drafting, and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal risks in plain, actionable business language to executive stakeholders.; Bilingual Proficiency: Professional fluency in English and French is required.; Business-Oriented Mindset: Strong commercial acumen and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving, striking a balance between rigorous risk management and business growth.; Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading team members, managing external counsel budgets, and managing relationships with public authorities.