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What You’ll Be Serving Up

As Legal Counsel, Franchising, you will be the strategic legal lead for KFC US’s franchise network, overseeing legal matters related to franchise transactions, compliance, and portfolio management. You will supervise a team of paralegals and collaborate cross-functionally to ensure legal integrity, operational alignment, and business growth. While your primary focus will be franchising, you will also provide limited support on real estate and M&A matters.

Here’s How You’ll Spice Things Up

Franchise Legal Strategy & Compliance

• Lead legal review and decision-making for franchisee-to-franchisee transactions and ownership changes.
• Ensure KFC US’ regulatory compliance with disclosure laws by preparing and managing KFC US’s annual Franchise Disclosure Document for traditional and non-traditional franchise offerings, suggesting modifications as needed based on evolving business needs.
• Guide the development and execution of franchise renewal strategies, ensuring alignment with business goals and legal standards.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks across the franchise portfolio in collaboration with Finance, Development, and Operations partners.
• Provide legal interpretation and strategic recommendations on franchise agreement provisions, brand standards, and incentive programs.
• Partner with Finance, Development, and Operations to align legal strategy with business goals.
  
  
  

Team Leadership & Oversight

• Supervise and mentor a team of paralegals, ensuring cross-training and consistent execution across franchise legal functions.
• Set clear expectations, provide coaching, and foster a high-performing, collaborative team culture.
• Drive continuous improvement in legal processes and documentation standards.
  
  
  

Real Estate and Transactional Support

• Support real estate and restaurant development goals by drafting, negotiating, and analyzing letters of intent, ground leases, real estate purchase contracts, and other related agreements.
• Support KFC’s equity growth strategy and ensure seamless execution of M&A transactions by providing end-to-end legal support, including deal structure advice, preparation and negotiation of letters of intent and definitive agreements, due diligence support, and closing support.
  
  
  

What You Bring To The Table

• Education:
  
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in the State Bar of any U.S. state.
  
• Experience:
  
• At least 4 years of experience in an in-house legal department or top-tier law firm.
• Expertise in franchise or corporate law.
  
• Skills:
  
• Proven ability to lead and inspire direct reports to achieve company objectives.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to engage and align cross-functional stakeholders; ability to present effectively and professionally to senior leaders.
• Strong legal research and analytical skills; must be able to interpret applicable law and form action-able recommendations for cross-functional stakeholders.
• Exceptional project management capabilities, including driving great outcomes in a fast-paced environment.
• Steadfast ability to act as the key person-to-contact in interactions with downstream stakeholders, including franchisees and customers.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in dynamic environment with changing priorities and evolving legal issues.
  
• Mindset:
  
• Relentless in the pursuit of excellence and maintaining high standards.
• Resourceful and adaptive in ambiguous situations with a proven ability to operate “in the grey.”
• Resilient in the face of obstacles and persistent in driving towards results.
• Thrive in a collaborative environment and excel at inspiring and developing team members.
• Motivated to be part of a new and growing legal team.
  
  

What’s In It For You

• Be at the forefront of strategic legal initiatives, contributing to KFC’s growth and transformation.
• Collaborate with high-performing teams across Yum! and external partners.
• Opportunities to grow expertise in franchising, real estate, and corporate transactions.
  
  
  

KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the few brands in America that can boast about having a rich, 60-year history of success and innovation. In fact, KFC is the world's most popular chicken restaurant chain and a division of Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company.

Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, has over 45,000 restaurants in more than 135 countries and territories and is one of the Aon Hewitt Top Companies for Leaders in North America. In 2018, Yum! Brands was recognized as part of the inaugural Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. The company’s restaurant brands – KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell – are global leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food categories.

More important than our size is our commitment to breakthrough innovation and the success of our employees. We're proud of the unique culture we've built, one where everyone can be their best self, make a difference and have fun! We believe in our people, trust in their positive intentions, encourage ideas from everyone, and have actively developed a workforce that is diverse in style and background.