Senior Counsel - Business, Strategy, & Franchising Legal Team

Company Description McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily.We continue to operate from a position of strength. Our updated growth strategy is focused on staying ahead of what our customers want and realizing further growth potential. Our relentless ambition is why McDonald’s remains one of the world’s leading corporations after almost 70 years. Joining McDonald’s means thinking big and preparing for a career that can have influence around the world.

At McDonald’s, we see every day as a chance to create positive impact. We lead through our values centered on inclusivity, service, integrity, community and family. From support of Ronald McDonald House to our Youth Opportunity project and sustainability initiatives, our values keep us dedicated to using our scale for good: good for our customers, people, industry and planet. We also offer a broad range ofoutstanding benefits including a sabbatical program, tuition assistance and flexible work arrangements.

Department Overview The Business, Strategy, & Franchising Legal Team serves as a strategic legal partner to the U.S. business, including U.S. Field and enterprise leadership. The team provides practical, forward-looking advice on a broad range of business, operational, commercial, and franchising matters; leads the execution of domestic restaurant franchise transactions; and helps the business manage franchisee relationships, drive franchisee accountability, implement strategic priorities, and identify and mitigate risk.

Duties The Senior Counsel / Director will serve as a senior, embedded legal advisor with responsibility for complex and high-impact matters. This attorney will combine strong legal judgment, business acumen, and relationship leadership to develop practical solutions, influence decision-making, and protect the Brand. The role requires an attorney who can independently lead significant matters, operate effectively in ambiguity, collaborate across a matrixed organization, and provide direction and development to other legal professionals.

In this role, you will:

Serve as a trusted strategic legal advisor to U.S. Field and enterprise leadership on complex business, franchising, operational, financial, and commercial matters.

Actively engage in every aspect of assigned matters, including assessing legal and business risk, developing strategy, aligning stakeholders, negotiating solutions, overseeing execution, and communicating recommendations and outcomes to senior leaders.

Provide practical, risk-calibrated advice that enables the business to advance strategic priorities while protecting the Brand and preserving the integrity of the franchising system.

Advise on the interpretation, application, and enforcement of franchise agreements, operator’s leases, National Franchising Standards, franchising and finance policies, and related company standards and procedures.

Lead and provide strategic legal oversight for complex domestic restaurant franchise transactions and initiatives, including franchise acquisition/spins, options to purchase, rights of first refusal, assignment and assumptions, development projects, and other matters involving multiple workstreams or stakeholders.

Review and analyze proposed deal terms, business plans, policies, programs, communications, and implementation approaches; identify legal, business, operational, and reputational risks; and recommend clear, actionable paths forward.

Counsel business partners on franchisee relationship matters, including issue prevention, escalation, negotiation, dispute avoidance, and resolution.

Provide advice and counsel in connection with the development and rollout of new business policies, initiatives, programs, processes, equipment, products, technologies, laws and regulations that affect the U.S. business or franchising system.

Lead or participate in cross-functional teams addressing strategic initiatives, business transformation, crisis management, or other matters requiring coordinated legal and business judgment.

Partner with colleagues across Legal, including real estate, litigation, labor and employment, marketing, privacy, technology, and compliance, to deliver integrated legal support.

Prepare and deliver clear, concise advice, decision materials, and presentations that translate complex legal and business issues for non-legal audiences.

Provide substantive direction, coaching, and oversight to counsel, paralegals, and other legal professionals; delegate effectively, review work product, and support development and readiness for expanded responsibilities.

Contribute to team strategy, prioritization, knowledge sharing, process improvement, and technology-enabled ways of working that increase consistency, efficiency, and client service.

Exercise sound judgment and discretion on sensitive matters, elevate significant risks appropriately, and demonstrate ownership and accountability for decisions and outcomes.

Qualifications

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active license, in good standing, to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

At least 8-10 years of relevant legal experience in a law firm, in-house legal department, government, or a combination thereof, with progressively increasing responsibility.

Strong experience advising business clients on complex commercial, corporate, transactional, regulatory, operational, or strategic matters.

Demonstrated ability to independently lead significant, sensitive, or high-profile matters from initial assessment through resolution or implementation.

Strong business judgment and ability to provide practical, risk-calibrated advice in circumstances involving ambiguity, competing priorities, and significant stakeholder interests.

Proven ability to build credibility and trusted relationships with senior leaders, influence without formal authority, and collaborate effectively across functions and organizational levels.

Excellent analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, drafting, and written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex issues into clear recommendations.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Demonstrated ability to coach, develop, or provide substantive oversight to other legal professionals and contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.

Compensation Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Salary Range The expected salary range for this role is$195,371.00 -$244,214.00per year The above represents the expectedsalaryrange for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining yourpay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors.

Additional Information Benefits eligible: This position offers health and welfare benefits, including but not limited to comprehensive health insurance, which includes medical, prescription drug, mental health, dental and vision coverage, as well as, life insurance.

Bonus eligible: This position is eligible for a bonus, calculated based on individual and company performance.

Long term Incentive eligible: This position is eligible for stock or other equity grants pursuant to McDonald’s long-term incentive plan.

McDonald’s is an equal opportunity employer. We promote an inclusive work environment that creates feel-good moments for everyone. McDonald’s provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities as part of the application or hiring process or to perform the essential functions of their job. If you need assistance accessing or reading this job posting or otherwise feel you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

McDonald’s provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, disability status, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, protected military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Nothing in this job posting or description should be construed as an offer or guarantee of employment.

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