Corporate Legal Counsel II

JOB SUMMARY

The Corporate Counsel II – Compliance will work closely with the General Counsel and senior attorneys on the team, as well as cross-functional business teams, to manage a broad portfolio of legal matters, with a primary focus on compliance and franchise. The ideal candidate will be a proactive, business-minded attorney who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can manage multiple responsibilities with precision and professionalism.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
May perform any or all of the following duties:

• Support compliance initiatives across the company, with a primary responsibility for franchise compliance and areas such as data privacy, employment law, marketing, and food safety.
• Serve as legal advisor on franchising matters, including drafting and negotiating franchise agreements, workout agreements, notices of default, renewals, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with VP, Legal, the General Counsel, and internal stakeholders (e.g., operations, HR, marketing, IT, and finance) to provide practical legal and franchise relationship guidance that supports business objectives while mitigating risk.
• Conduct legal research and prepare internal memos and communications on legal developments affecting the company.
• Assist in developing and implementing training programs and compliance protocols.
• Help manage outside counsel relationships and coordinate legal work on specific matters as needed.
• Support general corporate governance, contract review, and other legal matters as assigned.
• Other duties and/or special projects as assigned in response to changing business conditions and/or requirements

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS/CORE COMPETENCIES

• J.D. from an accredited law school; admitted and in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 3–5 or more years of legal experience, preferably including in-house experience in franchising or the hospitality/restaurant sector.
• Demonstrated experience in franchise compliance, drafting and reviewing franchise agreements and FDDs.
• Familiarity with related legal areas such as data privacy, labor and employment, marketing, and general corporate law is a plus.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build strong working relationships.
• High degree of professionalism and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment.
• Must be proficient in MS Office Suite (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook).
• Must be self-motivated and able to prioritize multiple projects individually or with a team.
• Must have strong work ethics and a high level of confidentiality to ensure proper handling of sensitive information.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Restaurant Support Center is a fast-paced setting with a high volume of activity and a deadline-driven environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Constant interaction with internal and external partners by phone and/or electronic communications
• Sitting for extended periods of time, using a telephone, typing, and/or operating a computer and/or mouse
• Occasional travel – 5%

THE COMPANY RETAINS THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR ASSIGN OTHER DUTIES TO THIS POSITION AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE.