Sr. Counsel, Real Estate Legal - New Restaurants

The Senior Counsel, Real Estate Legal - New Restaurants position is a full-time position primarily responsible for providing legal counsel, strategy and direction on a wide variety of real estate matters associated with new restaurant locations. Leadership responsibilities include, but are not limited to, managing a large number of real estate transactions from LOI through restaurant opening by working closely with internal business partners and outside counsel and providing related legal counsel to Chick-fil-A, Inc. and its affiliated entities as well as outside professionals. This position is based in our Atlanta Support Center.

Our Flexible Future model offers a healthy mix of working in person and virtually, strengthening key elements of the Chick-fil-A culture by fostering collaboration and community.

• Provide strategic direction and expert knowledge to advise, make decisions, and independently lead, influence and support one or more regional New Restaurant Growth teams.
• Analyze and direct strategy on legal due diligence (title, leases, survey, environmental, entitlements, etc.)
• Review, negotiate and provide in-depth input for drafting purchase contracts, ground leases, space leases, work letters, easements, amendments, closing documents, etc.
• Collaborate with other in-house counsel and paralegals on real estate matters that are impacted by other areas of law such as Franchise, Regulatory, Litigation, etc.
• Assist Director-Level Counsel of the Real Estate Legal New Restaurants Team in providing day-to-day direction, strategy and legal advice to the business on issues impacting the company’s real estate assets.
• Advise on legal matters impacting acquisition, construction, development and operation of restaurant properties primarily prior to opening of the restaurant.
• Lead or partner with cross-functional teams and attend leadership, strategy, and execution meetings to provide legal advice to business partners across the organization relating to the company’s real estate assets.
• Independently manage projects and initiatives with the New Restaurant Growth Department that impact the company’s new restaurant development.
• Lead efforts to prepare and update forms and processes as needed and prepare other communications to support the business.
• Support Chick-fil-A’s new real estate growth and real estate portfolio by continuing to help develop and advise on various policies, processes and systems.
• Lead (with Director supervision) efforts of identifying and on-boarding outside counsel and manage outside legal counsel work and costs.
• Lead, and develop training programs and materials for, business teams regarding the company’s real estate strategy and portfolio.
• Develop and implement legal technology solutions for capturing and reporting real estate asset information for use by the Restaurant Development Department.
• Participate in various administrative matters, such as planning, budgeting and strategy for the Legal Department and Real Estate Legal.
• Attend outside seminars and other business-related events related to issues relevant to the role; stay current on real estate law in the quick-service restaurant and retail industry.

• Passion for innovation and change management.
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong writing and editing skills.
• Ability to identify and set priorities.
• Strong organizational skills.
• High level of initiative and desire to work with an in-house legal department.
• Strong experience in building teams, creating and improving processes and producing work product that aligns with corporate goals.
• Ability to serve leadership and supporting roles in cross-functional projects and/or on cross-functional teams.
• Competence in the use of technological systems and standard MS office applications.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple, simultaneous and shifting demands, priorities and tight deadlines.
• State Bar Membership

• Large law firm and/or relevant boutique experience, and/or focused in-house corporate experience.
• Business or legal experience in transactional real estate or retail real estate, such as a degree and/or prior work experience in a related field or legal practice.