Vice President, Legal

Position Summary NewcrestImage is seeking a Vice President, Legal to manage all legal matters across its hospitality investment, development and hotel platform. Reporting to the Managing Partners, this leader will handle hotel acquisitions and dispositions, franchise and management agreements, financing, development, litigation, employment and compliance for a portfolio of 35 luxury and select-service hotels. Hotel-industry legal experience is required. This role is ideal for a practical, business-minded attorney who wants to build and lead the legal function of a growing hospitality company. Key Responsibilities Transactions & Real Estate Lead legal on hotel acquisitions and dispositions: PSAs, LOIs, diligence, title, survey, zoning, estoppels, closings Draft and negotiate JV, LP and operating agreements with partners and investors Support development: land purchases, entitlements, easements, parking and ground leases Structure branded-residence documents (condo declarations, HOA, rental programs) for luxury projects Hotel Agreements & Brands Negotiate franchise agreements with Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and others — key money, PIPs, area protection, termination / liquidated damages Negotiate and enforce hotel management agreements, including performance tests and termination rights Manage brand comfort letters, change-of-ownership and transfer applications Review vendor, technology, parking, F&B and service contracts at property level Finance & Capital Negotiate loan documents, guaranties, refinancings, bridge and mezzanine facilities Coordinate lender counsel, SNDAs, estoppels and closing checklists Prepare and review investor offering documents (PPM, subscription docs) with securities counsel Document seller-financed notes, loan purchases and workouts Litigation & Disputes Manage the full docket: guest injury / premises liability, employment claims, construction and contractor disputes, collections Select, direct and budget outside counsel; implement matter budgets and e-billing review Coordinate insurance tenders and defense with carriers and brokers Lead property-tax appeals, refund claims and demand-letter responses Employment & Labor Advise on wage-hour (FLSA and state law, incl. California), leave, accommodation and I-9 compliance Lead or oversee workplace investigations; respond to EEOC / agency charges Draft handbooks, offer letters, separation and executive agreements Advise on union and NLRA matters where applicable Regulatory & Compliance ADA Title III, life-safety, health and fire code compliance across hotels Liquor licensing (e.g., TABC) and F&B regulatory matters Privacy and data: PCI-DSS, state privacy laws, data-breach response Human-trafficking awareness laws, OFAC / KYC for investors, anti-bribery and code of conduct Corporate Governance & Entities Maintain the entity structure: formation, good standing, annual filings, operating agreements, minute books Own signature-authority matrix and document-retention policy Implement a contract lifecycle management system and standard templates Support principals with board-service and insider-trading policy compliance Risk & Insurance Partner on the property, casualty, D&O and cyber insurance program Set indemnity and insurance requirements in all contracts Lead crisis response for serious incidents with COO and communications Report legal risk and reserves to Managing Partners quarterly What Success Looks Like Deals — acquisitions, dispositions and refinancings — close on schedule Outside counsel spend reduced through in-house handling and matter budgets Fast, consistent contract turnaround using standard templates Every litigation matter has a clear strategy, budget and reserve All company entities in good standing with filings current Company-standard positions adopted in new franchise and management agreements Required Qualifications J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school Licensed and in good standing; Texas bar or eligible for Texas registered in-house counsel status 12+ years of practice, including law-firm training in real estate, hospitality or corporate 5+ years of hotel-industry legal experience — owner, operator, REIT, management company or brand Hands-on negotiation of franchise agreements, HMAs and hotel PSAs Real estate finance and loan documentation experience Proven management of litigation and outside counsel budgets Preferred Qualifications General Counsel or Deputy GC experience in a hotel owner / operator platform Construction and development law (AIA / ConsensusDocs, GC disputes) Condominium / branded-residences experience California employment law exposure Private-fund, JV and securities (Reg D) experience Experience in a family-office or entrepreneurial, owner-led company Leadership Competencies Business Partner — Finds the path to yes; frames risk in dollars and odds Hotel Fluency — Understands brands, operators, PIPs and hotel economics Negotiator — Firm on what matters, flexible on what doesn't Judgment — Knows when to elevate, when to settle, when to fight Builder — Creates templates, systems and a lean legal team Integrity — Trusted counsel to principals; protects the platform Compensation & Benefits Competitive base salary, annual performance bonus and long-term incentive Medical, dental and vision insurance 401(k) retirement plan Paid time off Bar dues and CLE paid Hotel travel privileges Equal Opportunity Employer NewcrestImage is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. This description is not an exhaustive list of duties and may change at the company's discretion. Employment is at-will. #J-18808-Ljbffr NewcrestImage Management