McDonald's · 3 hours ago
Director, Legal Counsel
Chicago, IL, US, 60607
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$195K/yr - $244K/yr
6+ years expMcDonald's is one of the most recognized brands globally, serving millions of customers daily. They are seeking a Director of Legal Counsel to lead the integration of global legal guidance and develop legal frameworks to ensure consistency across markets while managing legal risks associated with business initiatives.
Restaurants
Responsibilities
Lead the integration of global legal guidance into market and franchise execution strategies
Develop and implement legal frameworks ensuring consistency across markets
Drive strategic conversations on risk, compliance, governance, and global legal standards
Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks associated with business initiatives
Support and lead governance processes, including documentation of emerging risks
Partner with global and regional legal teams to align risk and compliance practices
Lead drafting, review, and negotiation of high-impact commercial and operational agreements
Provide timely, practical, and strategic legal counsel to business leaders
Influence senior stakeholders and assist in high‑stakes decision-making
Build strong partnerships with TPG, global attorneys, market counsel, and internal senior leaders
Advise partners on applying legal guidance to complex or evolving business environments
Support change management by offering clear, business-aligned legal solutions
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior business and legal leadership
Communicate complex legal concepts to non‑legal partners with clarity and influence
Contribute to strategic operational and business planning discussions
Qualification
Required
JD and Bar passage
6–10 years of legal experience
Proven experience handling complex legal matters, commercial negotiations, or governance issues
Strong cross‑functional leadership and ability to influence senior stakeholders
Ability to manage ambiguity and lead strategic initiatives
Exceptional communication, writing, and analytical skills
Experience supporting global or multi‑market organizations
Experience in franchising, corporate operations, technology, or regulatory environments
Demonstrated ability to improve legal processes, innovate, and drive consistency across markets
Preferred
Prior in‑house experience strongly preferred
Benefits
Health and welfare benefits
A 401(k) plan
Adoption assistance program
Educational assistance program
Flexible ways of working
Time off policies (including sick leave, parental leave, and vacation/PTO)
Company
McDonald's
McDonald’s is the world’s leading global foodservice retailer with over 37,000 locations in over 100 countries.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
McDonald's has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (61)
2024 (77)
2023 (37)
2022 (31)
2021 (60)
2020 (12)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Darryl Webb
Multi Unit Franchise Owner - President / CEO
Douglas Gehrig
CEO
Recent News
2025-10-07
The Motley Fool
2025-10-07
Company data provided by crunchbase