Senior Real Estate Counsel (UK/US experience)

About the role

• Our client, an international hospitality and entertainment investment group with businesses including chef-led restaurants, food and beverage brands and entertainment venues, is looking for a Senior Real Estate Counsel to take ownership of all real estate matters across the group.
• Reporting into the Group General Counsel, you will build the real estate function from the ground up. This is a commercial leasehold advisory role based in Cape Town (office-based or hybrid), not a conveyancing position.

• Manage the group’s property portfolio across multiple sites and jurisdictions (mainly the UK), including acquisitions, disposals and portfolio management.
• Draft, review and negotiate leases, licences, agreements for lease and related property documentation.
• Lead on lease renewals, rent reviews, break options, assignments, sub-lettings, surrenders and variations.
• Handle dilapidations, service charge disputes, licences for alterations and landlord and tenant matters.
• Support site acquisitions and new openings for restaurants, bars and entertainment venues.
• Instruct and manage external counsel and specialist advisers, and build internal precedents and templates.

• Qualified solicitor, attorney or equivalent with 6 to 8 years’ post-qualification experience.
• Trained and practised for a number of years in the UK or US before relocating to Cape Town.
• Strong commercial leasehold experience, including lease negotiation, renewals, rent reviews and the full range of landlord and tenant matters.
• Excellent drafting skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Experience in hospitality, food and beverage, retail or entertainment is a strong advantage.
• Candidates whose experience is limited to South African conveyancing will not be suitable.

Remuneration and benefits

• Market related, depending on experience. 13th cheque and parking allowance.