Head of Legal

Serena Hotels, one of Africa's most prestigious hospitality groups, is seeking an accomplished and strategically minded Head of Legal to lead and oversee all legal operations across the Serena group of companies. This is a senior leadership role that places you at the heart of the organisation's governance, compliance, and risk management frameworks, working directly with the Managing Director and the Board of Directors.

The successful candidate will serve as the principal legal advisor to the business, managing a broad portfolio that spans corporate and commercial transactions, contract negotiation, dispute resolution, conveyancing, intellectual property protection, and regulatory compliance. If you are a seasoned legal professional with deep expertise in corporate and commercial law and a passion for the hospitality and real estate sectors, this role offers an exceptional opportunity to shape the legal strategy of an iconic regional brand.

• Liaise with and provide oversight to external counsel engaged by the Serena Hotels group, ensuring effective discharge of their obligations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of legal documents including strategic contracts, service level agreements, leases, licences, and corporate agreements.
• Conduct comprehensive legal research and deliver well-informed opinions on complex civil, criminal, employment, and regulatory matters.
• Monitor compliance with contractual obligations and proactively prevent disputes through sound legal guidance.
• Initiate, pursue, and guide civil and commercial litigation, including preparation of defences, submissions, and pleadings in both commercial and criminal courts.
• Advise senior management and the Board on regulatory changes, statutory obligations, and emerging legal risks affecting the business.
• Manage and advise on the company's property lease and licence obligations, including conveyancing matters and related transactions.
• Conduct IP audits and ensure the group's intellectual property rights are consistently secured and protected.
• Represent the company in arbitration and mediation proceedings and guide external counsel on matters before courts of law.
• Maintain an up-to-date register of all court matters involving the company and submit quarterly case reports and regulatory updates to management and the Board.
• Lead legal and regulatory risk audits, identify exposures, and develop mitigation strategies in collaboration with relevant departments.
• Assist in formulating, implementing, and amending company policies to ensure alignment with the prevailing legal and regulatory environment.
• Negotiate legal fees with external law firms and manage the cost-effectiveness of the company's legal expenditure.

• Must hold a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from a recognised university and be an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya in good standing.
• Must demonstrate at least 8–10 years of post-admission legal practice, with a minimum of 3 years in a senior in-house counsel or head of legal role, preferably within a large corporate, hospitality, or real estate environment.
• Must be able to independently draft, negotiate, and execute complex commercial contracts and corporate agreements with minimal supervision.
• Must demonstrate the ability to manage simultaneous litigation matters across commercial, employment, and criminal courts while maintaining accurate case registers and reporting timelines.
• Must be capable of advising the Board and C-suite on legal risk, regulatory compliance, and governance matters with clarity and commercial awareness.
• Must have hands-on experience conducting IP audits and managing intellectual property portfolios for a multi-entity group.
• Must be able to lead external legal audits, manage relationships with external law firms, and evaluate the quality and cost-effectiveness of external legal services.
• Should possess strong conveyancing skills and proven experience handling property transactions and lease management.
• Must demonstrate excellent negotiation, analytical, and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical business guidance.
• Membership of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is mandatory.

The salary for this role is open and will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications, experience, and market rates for a Head of Legal position within a large corporate group in Kenya. Based on prevailing market benchmarks for a senior in-house legal role of this scope, compensation is estimated in the range of KES 350,000 – 600,000 per month. Serena Hotels offers a competitive remuneration package reflective of its position as a leading regional hospitality brand.

This role is ideal for a seasoned Advocate with significant in-house corporate legal experience who is confident advising at Board level, managing complex multi-jurisdictional matters, and leading legal strategy within a dynamic, large-scale group environment. You thrive in high-stakes environments, balance legal rigour with commercial pragmatism, and are comfortable both as an individual contributor and a strategic business partner.

Please do not apply if you have fewer than 8 years of post-admission experience, have not previously held a senior in-house legal role, or if your background is exclusively in private practice without exposure to corporate and commercial transactional work. This is not an entry- or mid-level position.

• Prepare an updated CV and a cover letter clearly outlining your legal experience, areas of specialisation, and your motivation for joining Serena Hotels.
• Ensure your cover letter addresses your experience managing litigation, corporate transactions, and Board-level legal advisory.
• Submit your application through the Serena Hotels official careers portal or the job platform where this posting was listed.
• Applications must be submitted before 26 June 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.