Legal Counsel – Food & Beverage

Role OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to join our team and provide comprehensive legal support across the business, with a particular focus on food & beverage operations, commercial leasing, franchising, service-level agreements, and commercial contracts.The successful candidate will act as a trusted legal advisor to the business, supporting commercial teams and management on day-to-day legal matters while identifying and managing legal and contractual risks. The role requires strong commercial awareness, excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills, and the ability to provide practical, business-focused legal advice in a fast-paced F&B environment.Key ResponsibilitiesCommercial & General Legal AdvisoryProvide timely, practical and commercially focused legal advice and business teams on a broad range of operational and commercial matters.Advise on legal risks arising from day-to-day F&B operations, new business initiatives, partnerships and commercial arrangements.Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, ensuring the company’s interests are appropriately protected.Support business teams in interpreting contractual obligations, rights, liabilities and termination provisions.Identify potential legal and regulatory risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.Support the development and implementation of legal policies, procedures, templates and contract standards.Work closely with internal stakeholders to ensure legal requirements are incorporated into business decisions and projects.Review and negotiation of retail, restaurant and commercial leases, including new locations, renewals, extensions, assignments and amendments.Advise on lease terms including rent, service charges, fit-out obligations, commencement dates, break clauses, renewal rights, exclusivity, permitted use, termination and landlord/tenant obligations.Review and negotiate lease-related documentation, including heads of terms, lease agreements, amendments, side letters and related agreements.Advise operational and development teams on legal considerations relating to new F&B locations and expansion projects.Provide legal support on franchise arrangements, including drafting, reviewing and negotiating franchise agreements and related documentation.Advise on franchisee rights and obligations, territory, fees, intellectual property, operational standards, brand protection, performance requirements and termination.Support the business in managing legal aspects of franchise relationships and addressing contractual breaches and disputes.Draft, review and negotiate Service Level Agreements and supplier/service provider agreements.Advise on service standards, KPIs, performance obligations, remedies, service credits, liability, indemnities, termination and dispute resolution.Review agreements with suppliers, consultants, contractors, technology providers, logistics providers.Ensure contractual arrangements appropriately allocate commercial and operational risks.Maintain oversight of key commercial contracts, contractual obligations, renewal dates and termination rights.Develop and maintain standard contract templates and playbooks.Support the business in managing contractual claims, disputes, breaches and negotiations.Work with Finance, Procurement, Operations, Development, HR and other functions on cross-functional legal matters.Manage external legal counsel where required and ensure legal spend is appropriately controlled.Qualifications & Experience7+ years of post-qualification legal experience, preferably gained within an F&B, hospitality, retail, consumer, real estate or similarly commercial environment.Qualified lawyer with a recognised legal qualification.Strong experience in commercial contracts, leasing and franchising.Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating SLAs and complex commercial agreements.Experience advising businesses operating across multiple locations or jurisdictions is preferred.Strong understanding of commercial and operational legal risks within the F&B or hospitality sector.Fluent written and spoken English is essential.Arabic language skills are an added advantage.Experience working with external counsel and managing multiple stakeholders is preferred.Key Skills & CompetenciesStrong commercial and business-oriented mindset.Excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills.Strong knowledge of leasing and commercial real estate matters.Strong understanding of franchising arrangements.Ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical business advice.Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.Strong attention to detail and risk awareness.Ability to prioritise and manage multiple matters in a fast-paced environment.Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.High level of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality.