Senior Director, Legal

Job Description

Job Description

About Kasa

Kasa is the leading tech-enabled hotel and apartment hotel brand and manager. We partner with owners of multifamily and boutique hospitality properties to deliver stylish, professionally managed accommodations to business and leisure travelers alike. We took the best that hotels and short-term rentals had to offer and created a new class of hospitality that is well-priced, reliable, and offers a large selection of great locations.

Unlike traditional hotel operators, we prioritize automation, AI-driven pricing, and data-driven decision-making to optimize revenue and improve guest experiences. Behind the scenes, we build technology that combines with our innovative operations to grow a globally scalable offering that delivers high-quality stays to guests. Our guests enjoy seamless check-ins, caring service, and attractive amenities — and if anything comes up, our on-site and remote guest experience team is available throughout their stay, ensuring our hospitality is rarely seen but always felt.

The Role

As Senior Director, Legal at Kasa, you'll serve as the company's commercial legal leader, protecting and enabling the business across commercial contracts, litigation, risk, employment, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.

You will report directly to the CEO and serve as a member of Kasa's leadership team, advising executives on legal, regulatory, and risk considerations that impact company strategy, operations, and growth. You'll partner closely with teams across commercial, operations, finance, and people to build scalable legal infrastructure that supports a fast-moving, tech-enabled hospitality platform operating across 85+ properties in the US and internationally.

This role requires deep legal judgment, a bias for practical solutions, and the ability to manage complexity across multiple legal disciplines, all while operating as a true business partner, not just a legal gatekeeper.

Unleash your career potential at Kasa

We're building a tech-enabled global hospitality brand that unleashes the potential of livable space. Hospitality is at the core of who we are, and we are committed to providing our teams the same care we give our guests, neighbors, and partners.

Required Attributes

• Business-First Legal Thinker: Approaches legal work as a strategic partner to the business, identifying risk, recommending solutions, and enabling decisions rather than blocking them
• Commercial Contracts Expert: Drafts, negotiates, and manages a broad range of commercial agreements with a focus on appropriate risk allocation and efficient contracting at scale
• Litigation Strategist: Manages disputes and litigation with a clear-eyed view of exposure, cost, and business impact. Knows when to fight and when to resolve
• Risk and Insurance Owner: Designs and manages the company's insurance portfolio and risk transfer strategy, partnering with operations and commercial teams to protect the business
• Employment Counsel: Advises HR and leadership on workforce risk across 25+ states, maintaining defensible employment practices and reducing litigation exposure
• Corporate and Transactional Leader: Manages entity governance, supports financing transactions, and leads internal legal workstreams on strategic asset deals
• IP and Privacy Steward: Oversees the company's trademark portfolio and ensures compliance with applicable privacy and data protection laws
• Team Builder: Leads the company's regulatory team and manages outside counsel relationships with a focus on cost-effective, high-quality outcomes
• Culture Cultivator: Possesses a genuine passion for being part of a world-class team that not only succeeds individually, but positively influences teammates to engage, grow, and exceed expectations for Kasa

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Contract Negotiation

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including software, hardware, onsite vendor, group sales, corporate rate, and event space agreements, with a focus on appropriate risk allocation
• Develop new and maintain existing contract templates and self-service workflows within Ironclad, enabling efficient contracting while maintaining consistent risk and approval standards
• Maintain and improve the company's contract procurement and approval framework, enforcing controls that ensure required stakeholder approvals, adherence to signatory policies, and centralized tracking and renewal management

Litigation and Dispute Management

• Manage the company's litigation and pre-litigation disputes, setting strategy, evaluating exposure, and driving early resolution when appropriate
• Select, supervise, and direct outside litigation counsel to ensure cost-effective outcomes consistent with the company's risk tolerance and business objectives
• Advise executive leadership on claims exposure and decisions concerning escalation or settlement of disputes

Insurance and Risk Transfer

• Manage the company's insurance portfolio, including program design, broker selection, policy procurement and renewal, coverage analysis, and claims management
• Lead underwriting strategy and renewal processes, ensuring accurate risk presentation and clear communication of the company's evolving business model to underwriters
• Partner with commercial and operations teams to ensure vendor and service-provider agreements include robust indemnification provisions and insurance requirements
• Serve as internal owner for all insurance claims, coordinating with brokers, carriers, and business stakeholders to manage claims efficiently and mitigate financial and operational impact
• Develop and implement risk management policies, procedures, and training programs to reduce loss exposure and maintain strong underwriting profiles

Employment

• Advise the People Department and business leadership on workforce risk matters, with a focus on reducing employment litigation exposure and regulatory risk
• Partner with outside employment counsel to draft and maintain key employment documents, including offer letters, arbitration agreements, PIIA templates, the employee handbook, and incentive compensation plans
• Partner with the People Department to design, implement, and update company policies, procedures, and trainings to promote consistency and support defensible employment practices across 25+ states

Corporate Governance, Financing, and Transactions

• Manage corporate governance and entity compliance for the company and its domestic and international subsidiaries
• Lead internal legal work streams and partner with outside counsel on equity and debt financings as well as strategic asset deals

Product, Intellectual Property, and Privacy

• Manage the company's intellectual property assets, including maintenance and expansion of its trademark portfolio
• Advise and train business units on privacy and data protection matters, including compliance with state, federal, and international privacy laws, biometric data requirements, TCPA obligations, and data subject rights
• Maintain and update the company's internal and external policy documents, including website terms of service, Guest Accommodation Agreement, and Privacy Policy

Leadership and Management

• Serve as a member of the company's leadership team, advising executives on legal, regulatory, and risk considerations impacting company strategy, operations, and growth
• Strategically select and oversee outside counsel to address specialized legal needs efficiently
• Manage the company's regulatory team, responsible for regulatory diligence of new hotel and short-term rental management deals and the procurement and renewal of operational licenses and permits across all managed locations

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant experience, with at least three years as in-house counsel supporting an operating company, preferably in the hospitality industry
• J.D. from a top-tier accredited law school in the United States
• Bar admission and active membership in a U.S. state
• Comfortable working with Google Suite, Slack, Ironclad or similar contract management software, and leading AI tools

Our Interview Process

We have received an immense amount of interest in this role. As a result, we are doing things a little differently to ensure we create a meritocratic process for candidates. The first step for all candidates is a short Vervoe assessment, which takes about 45 minutes to complete. It's a great way to get a feel for the day-to-day work, and it also helps us see your skills in action beyond what's on your resume.

Want to learn more about the Kasa experience? Save 15% on kasa.com
Benefits

• Kasa Travel Credit: We love to travel! Kasa employees get an allowance of free stays with us in any of our locations, plus a discount on any night for friends and family.

• The Pay: The starting base pay range for this role is between $200,000 and $225,000 and is set based on multiple considerations, including business needs, market demands, talent availability, experience, and unique skills and attributes. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified. This role may also be eligible for equity, bonus, perks, benefits, and Kasa Travel Credits.

• Remote Work: With flexibility as a core value, and over three-quarters of the team working remotely, Kasa employees are able to work from anywhere!

• Generous Stock Option Plan : We believe the success of our business should be shared with our team. As you grow with us, we increase the opportunities for you to become part-owners of our company.

• Flexible PTO : Full-time exempt Kasa employees are encouraged to take time off as they need and see fit, ensuring that it's not disruptive to their work.

• Health Coverage: We've invested in comprehensive health insurance options to help when you need it most, including a company-sponsored plan with fertility coverage.

• 401(k) Plan: As you invest in yourself and your future, Kasa invests in you too.

• Other Perks: Qualifying full-time roles are eligible for a wi-fi stipend, home office stipend, and more!

Kasa is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

Kasa is an E-Verify participant. We will verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States by matching information employees provide on the Form I-9 against records available to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). You may find more information here and here .

Kasa does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or People & Talent team.

A Note on Recruiting & Job Scams

The Kasa Talent Acquisition team will only communicate from email addresses that use the URLs kasa.com and us.greenhouse-mail.io . We will not use apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Google Hangouts for communicating with you. We will never ask you to send us money or technology to work for our company. If you believe you are a scam victim, please review your local government consumer protections guidance and reach out to them directly. US-based applicants may refer to this article from consumer.ftc.gov for more details.