Circle K · 1 day ago
Director of Legal, US M&A
Charlotte, NC
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
10+ years expCircle K is a global company with over 17,000 stores in 29 countries, seeking a Director of Legal Affairs for US M&A. The role involves leading the legal function for mergers, acquisitions, and capital markets activities, while providing expert legal advice and mentoring a team of legal professionals.
Food and BeverageRetailShopping
Responsibilities
Lead all legal aspects of US and cross‑border mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic investments, from initial evaluation through integration, ensuring high quality and business-aligned legal outcomes
Structure, draft, and negotiate complex transaction documentation including purchase agreements, shareholder and joint venture agreements, and ancillary contracts, in collaboration with external counsel as appropriate
Oversee the coordination of due diligence and specialist advisory work, including sector-specific, regulatory and antitrust matters; ensure timely progress, transparency, and issue escalation as needed, efficiently advising business leaders on key transactional risks and mitigation strategies
Design, implement, and continuously improve M&A legal playbooks, templates, and operational processes to promote aligned, high‑quality execution across global business units
Lead the creation of pragmatic process maps and guidance documents simplifying deal execution steps for internal partners, ensuring business and finance teams can effectively navigate complex transaction cycles
Develop and deliver targeted training sessions for corporate development, finance, and operations teams on M&A fundamentals — including due diligence principles, key contractual protections, and risk identification techniques — using real case scenarios and tools that increase cross‑functional deal readiness
Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of US and international legal developments relevant to M&A, securities, and corporate law compliance
Foster collaboration with the global Legal, Finance, Tax, and Operations teams on transaction structuring, corporate reorganizations, and post‑closing integration workstreams
Provide expert advice to Treasury and Finance on public and private capital raising initiatives, including structuring considerations, disclosure obligations, and market regulatory interactions
Lead the legal due diligence process for US-based financing activities and advise on complex capital market instruments, including credit facilities, convertible notes, and structured transactions
Provide strategic and practical advice to executive management to facilitate sound, timely decision‑making in line with corporate priorities
Manage relationships with external counsel and internal stakeholders to ensure high‑quality, cost‑effective service delivery
Establish and manage the legal budget of the team; monitor legal spend, and support cost control initiatives
Oversee mandates given to outside counsel, ensuring compliance with billing, performance, and cost targets
Ensure the company is represented with integrity and consistency, implementing strategies to mitigate commercial and litigation risk and reputational harm
Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies, contributing to a culture of accountability and ethical conduct
Develop and deliver training on legal procedures and policies to promote awareness and reduce legal risk
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legal areas and contribute to continuous improvement of legal practices
Lead, mentor, and support the US M&A legal team, providing strategic direction and promoting a culture of continuous learning and high performance
Oversee workload distribution, establish clear team objectives, and ensure alignment with legal department and corporate priorities
Conduct regular reviews of team performance, identify development areas, and implement best practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
Serve as the primary point of contact for North American M&A, business development and capital markets initiatives, ensuring the team has the resources and direction needed to address complex corporate governance and securities law matters
Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and legal excellence, championing technology and legal operations tools that enhance execution capabilities
Provide strategic and practical advice to executive management to facilitate sound, timely decision-making in line with corporate priorities
Manage relationships with external counsel and internal stakeholders to ensure high-quality, cost-effective service delivery
Ensure the team is aligned with organizational goals and legal priorities, providing ongoing guidance, coaching, and professional development
Oversee workload distribution, set clear expectations, and foster a collaborative environment where team members are empowered to deliver high-quality legal counsel and support
Regularly assess team performance, identify areas for growth, and implement best practices to optimize efficiency and effectiveness
Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and legal excellence within the team
Champion the integration of technology and legal operations tools to optimize legal support delivery
Qualification
Required
Law degree and member in good standing of at least one U.S. State Bar
10+ years of experience focused on M&A, corporate transactional including both law firm and in-house roles
Proven track-record handling cross-border transactions, joint ventures, complex commercial structures, and governance matters
Solid experience managing complex equity and debt financings, including public offerings, private placements, and other securities transactions considered an asset
Strategic governance thinker with practical, results-driven problem-solving skills
Excellent analytical and strategic reasoning skills, particularly for balancing regulatory compliance with business objectives
Exceptional negotiation and drafting skills, with demonstrated ability to manage diverse stakeholder interests
Superior communication and leadership competencies, adept at engaging senior stakeholders and fostering cross functional collaboration across legal, business, and finance teams
Proven ability to translate complex legal and financial information into clear, actionable guidance for business and finance partners
Demonstrated success in guiding and developing high-performing legal teams to achieve strategic objectives
Strong leadership capability with a focus on coaching, collaboration, and driving accountability within diverse professional teams
Recognized for cultivating a culture of excellence, trust, and continuous improvement across legal and business functions
Experienced in leading through influence, inspiring cross-functional alignment, and ensuring team performance in complex, fast-paced environments
Proven ability to organize work of the team, including working under pressure and manage several complex files concurrently within established deadlines
Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple complex priorities under tight deadlines
High degree of integrity, judgment, and professional ethics
Client centric approach, facilitator of change, appreciation of entrepreneurial culture and ability to adapt to a constantly changing environment
Benefits
Complete benefits packages (medical, dental, etc.)
Possibility of enrolling in a defined contribution plan with employer contributions or a stock purchase plan
Employee discounts in stores and with multiple of our partners
Paid time off plan including vacation, sick days and personal days
Scholarship program available to the employee and the employee's children
Work in a collaborative, dynamic and high performing team
Learning opportunities to develop new skills and to evolve professionally in a fast-growing company
Company
Circle K
Our mission at Circle K is to make our customers' lives a little easier every day.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Edward Dzadovsky
EVP, Chief Technology Officer
Brian Hannasch
Chief Operating Officer
Recent News
2025-01-11
2025-01-11
Company data provided by crunchbase