Description:

Purpose:
Provide practical legal support and hands-on counsel to all levels of the Company's executive team and corporate functions. Act as the day-to-day contact on behalf of the legal department for multiple business divisions, providing assistance in the form of analyzing complex tasks, drafting and negotiating agreements, interacting directly with counterparties and outside counsel, and independently managing priorities in a demanding, fast paced work environment.

Responsibilities:

Oversee the development and maintenance of the Company's commercial agreements with a wide range of partners including procurement, manufacturing, distribution, sales, master service agreements, technology and IT agreements, marketing agreements, special projects and related matters.
Manage the day-to-day legal support of the Company's real estate business which may include:
Projects: primarily responsible for managing all of the Company's real estate law matters, which would include a variety of complex transactions and special projects as well as complex new store acquisitions, complex leasing transactions, remodels, surplus property transactions, lease renegotiations and amendments, resolving landlord/tenant disputes and other real estate law matters
Fact gathering and research: requires reviewing documents in real estate and/or construction files, interviewing associates and outside parties, and performing legal research involving case law and statutes
Negotiations: typically involve counsel for landlords and developers, public and governmental bodies and other business entities on complex issues of contract and real estate law
Drafting: typically involves substantial original drafting, as well as creation and modification of standard form documents and inserts, requiring a detailed understanding of complex legal and business principles to address complex issues of contract and real estate law
Assist with the drafting standardized legal templates and developing document management procedures.
Performs other duties as assigned and customarily expected of an experienced attorney

About You:

J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
Missouri bar license, or ability to obtain is required
7-10 years of relevant legal experience, either at a nationally recognized law firm or in-house legal department
Knowledge of relevant subject matter is a plus
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and attention to detail
Ability to deal effectively with team members and counterparts outside of the Company
Experience with legal issues regarding franchise or licensed business models is preferred
Strong interpersonal skills and superior time management capabilities; ability to multi-task and successfully handle multiple priorities and a large portfolio of projects
Proven ability to provide practical and strategic legal advice to business units and proactively identify business improvement areas; sound business and legal judgment
Ability to interact with all levels in the organization and effectively articulate legal issues to team members, clients, management and external parties
Ability to handle confidential information in a mature manner required; highest standards of ethics and professional integrity

Physical Requirements:

Ability to travel up to ~10% of the time, which may include weekends and evenings, as needed
Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled environment
Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal
Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephone and other office equipment in the course of a normal workday
Stooping, bending, twisting and reaching may be required in completion of job duties