Description:
The Opportunity:The General Counsel reports to the Chief Executive Officer and is primarily responsible for the franchising component of the legal team. Your main focus will be on the preparation and filing of Franchise Disclosure Documents for all Extraordinary Brands, responding to regulatory comment letters, drafting Franchise Agreements, Amendments, Termination Agreements, and ensuring compliance from both the EB Franchise Development team and the franchise system.
This is an in-person position that requires working from our Charlottesville, VA office. Hybrid from VA a possibility.
What You'll Do:
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts, including customer and vendor agreements, NDAs, data privacy agreements, service, franchise and other related agreements, working directly with internal and external stakeholders
- Update and maintain online terms, privacy policies and contract templates
- Review and investigate potential data privacy and security issues
- Lead and manage the legal and compliance diligence process for third party vendors - manage franchise law compliance
- Draft, review, and update company policies, procedures, and guidelines
- Review advertising and marketing materials to ensure compliance with applicable laws
- Provide training on legal and compliance topics
- Participate in compliance meetings, prepare agendas, meeting materials, and related documents
- Manage a wide range of corporate legal programs and processes including compliance and risk management, corporate and regulatory filings, corporate governance, data privacy and security, and intellectual property
- Communicate and negotiate effectively with internal and external stakeholders (regulators, external counsel, etc.) on a variety of legal and compliance matters
- Recommend company policy and position on legal issues
- Research, evaluate and anticipate legal risks and strategies for risk management
- Guide management and ensure compliance with rules and regulations
- Structure, draft and review reports and other legal documents
- Provide support for financings and strategic transactions, including working with the finance team on deal structure, diligence, and corporate documents
- Assist with other corporate and legal matters as requested
What We're Looking For:
- Minimum of 5 years legal experience in franchising to include FDD preparation, sales and compliance
- Proven contract drafting and negotiating skills
- Ability to expeditiously identify and analyze issues and provide legally sound recommendations consistent with good business practices and reason
- Ability to work under stressful conditions with owners, lenders, and internal stakeholders
- Strong interpersonal skills, and ability to interact effectively and work diplomatically with individuals at all levels
- Ability to foster relationships and individual accountability across the organization
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Excellent conflict management skills, and ability to influence without coercion
- Ability to identify opportunities for improvement and to facilitate the implementation of creative solutions
- Ability to work independently, take ownership of, and effectively resolve problems
Qualifications:
- MUST have experience in franchising
- At least five years of progressively responsible experience as a corporate attorney with specific experience and/or exposure to mergers and acquisitions
- Must have a Bachelor's Degree and a Juris Doctor Degree from an ABA - approved law school and be an actively licensed member in good standing of Virginia State Bar
