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SalaryOur restaurants are only the tip of the flame. If you’re looking for a fast paced, innovative and welcoming workplace then a career with our Corporate Familia is right for you.
What’s in it for you!
- Hybrid work schedule (2 days a week in the office or fewer depending on the position)
- Competitive pay and bonus
- Industry-leading supplemental insurance at no cost (up to $50,000 value)
- Restricted Service Awards (RSAs)
- Medical + Dental + Vision Insurance + Flexible Spending Accounts
- 401(K) Plan with match and immediate vesting
- Vacation + Sick Pay + 12 Paid Holidays
- Dog friendly office
- Amazing office culture
- Free El Pollo Loco food (Dine Out Card) + Restaurant Discount
- Discounts on theme parks, movie tickets, sports events, hotels and more..
POSITION PURPOSE:
The Franchising and Contracts Counsel is responsible for providing strategic legal and business advice in various areas, primary around franchising and Commercial Contracts. This person will support all legal and compliance needs of the company’s franchise business operations, including with respect to franchise agreements and disclosure documents, and the franchise relationship. This role is also responsible for negotiating, drafting and maintaining a wide variety of Commercial Contracts while providing sound legal advice to a variety of business partners across the organization.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Prepare and draft franchise agreements and ancillary franchise documents; maintain the library of all franchise agreements.
- Support all legal and compliance aspects of a franchise transaction, providing sound business advice to the senior leadership team and business partners.
- Prepare and update form agreements.
- Other activities, duties or responsibilities that are assigned by your supervisor.
Manage the timely preparation and updating of the franchise disclosure documents.
Manage review of franchise marketing materials to ensure legal compliance.
Advise on and provide legal support around all aspects of the franchise relationship, including due diligence efforts with franchise applications, negotiated or structured payments, and defaults.
Provide support and legal direction to operations services around materials provided to franchise partners with respect to compliance and joint employer issues.
Draft, edit and negotiate a wide variety of Commercial Contracts including IT vendor contracts, food supply chain contracts, and marketing contracts, among others.
Identify and implement improvements the contract management system, including processes to ensure consistency across vendors and
Negotiate, draft and/or review leases and subleases.
Liaise with business partners to ensure the company is meeting business objectives and managing risk in all agreements.
Monitor developments in the restaurant industry and federal law and state law in each state in which the company is doing business and assist to ensure that the company has developed appropriate systems, controls, procedures, and compliance reporting mechanisms to deal with anticipated statutory requirements.
Provide leadership within the legal department and to internal clients, manage retained law firms cost-effectively and ensure that the quality of outside legal services meet the Company’s high expectations.
QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. The requirements listed below are representative of the education and/or experience required.
Education/Work Experience:
J.D. from an ABA accredited law school. 5-10 years of legal experience, with in-house experience preferred.
Preferred:
Restaurant or retail experience as clients or as an in-house attorney strongly preferred.
- 3-5 years of in-house experience as an attorney within the legal department of a similar-sized or larger corporation is highly preferred.
- Solid, tested judgment and experience in serving as an advisor to internal clients and senior management either directly or through client relationships.
2-3 years of training at a large law firm is strongly preferred.
Franchising or multi-unit retail expertise; ability to navigate the nuances of franchisee/franchisor relationships.
License/Certifications:
Licensed to practice law in California.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Experience with successfully recruiting, building, and developing a team (based on current and future needs).
- Confidence in execution of strategic initiatives.
- Must be decisive and able to make fact-based decisions.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset and skills; meticulous attention to detail.
- Ability to effectively communicate with internal and external business partners.
- Ability to prioritize and plan work assignments and work under pressure of frequent and tight deadlines.
- Ability to read, write, and interpret complex reports, documents, and correspondence.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment on matters of significance to the company.
- Must be willing and able to travel locally within Southern California and to out-of-state restaurant locations, as needed by car or airplane.
High level of proficiency with technology including Microsoft Office Suite applications, Adobe Acrobat, customized database applications, and internet research tools.
Adept at managing and prioritizing competing time sensitive requests while working well in a team atmosphere that may be under pressure.
Company & Culture
For over 40 years El Pollo Loco has dominated the market in delivering the best citrus-marinated fire-grilled chicken. We opened our first restaurant in 1980 in Los Angeles, and today we are over 450 restaurants strong and still growing! From our products to our people, we’re truly amazing!
The pay range identified is the hourly or salary rate El Pollo Loco expects to pay for the posted position. This range does not include any benefits or bonus opportunities that might be available for the position based on position and eligibility criteria. Individual pay will vary based on a variety of factors including years of experience, industry experience, education, geography, etc.
