Head of Legal

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced legal professional to lead the entire legal function for a large, multi-location consumer-facing organization. This role is pivotal in managing the organization's legal charter with a strong emphasis on retail leasing, property-related legal matters, commercial contracting, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and dispute management. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience handling legal issues for businesses with extensive physical footprints, particularly those involving leased properties, landlord negotiations, and the expansion of retail or restaurant outlets.

Responsibilities

• Lead all legal aspects of retail leasing, including lease negotiations, leave and licence agreements, lease renewals, terminations, lock-in periods, security deposits, rentals, common area maintenance (CAM) charges, and other property-related matters.
• Oversee the legal management of a large portfolio of leased outlets, ensuring contractual protections, timely renewals, risk mitigation, and compliance with lease obligations.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage commercial agreements such as vendor contracts, service agreements, procurement contracts, franchise agreements, and other critical business arrangements.
• Manage corporate legal matters including board and shareholder documentation, corporate governance, statutory filings, and coordination with external counsel and advisors.
• Oversee regulatory and statutory compliance across operations, including food and hospitality regulations, labor laws, local licenses, registrations, and other business-specific requirements.
• Manage litigation portfolios, contractual disputes, landlord-related disputes, consumer claims, and other legal proceedings, collaborating with external law firms as necessary.
• Identify and mitigate legal and commercial risks across business operations, develop legal safeguards, and advise senior management on significant legal exposures.
• Partner with leadership, finance, operations, procurement, business development, and expansion teams to provide commercially pragmatic legal advice that supports business growth.
• Support new store expansion by conducting legal due diligence on prospective locations, reviewing property documentation, evaluating lease risks, and ensuring legal readiness for outlet launches.
• Establish standardized legal templates, approval mechanisms, contract management processes, and internal controls to enhance efficiency and consistency.
• Appoint and manage external legal advisors, monitor litigation and advisory costs, and ensure effective resolution of legal matters.
• Own the overall legal charter, set priorities for the legal function, and collaborate closely with senior leadership to balance legal risk with business objectives.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience (15+ years) in legal roles within retail, quick service restaurants (QSR), restaurants, hospitality, consumer sectors, or multi-location businesses.
• Strong expertise in retail leasing, property law, and managing large lease portfolios.
• Proficient in commercial contracting, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.
• Skilled in dispute resolution, litigation management, and risk mitigation.
• Ability to provide strategic legal advice aligned with business objectives.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Educational qualifications typically include a law degree (LLB or equivalent); advanced legal qualifications or certifications are advantageous.

Preferred Skills

• Experience working with multi-location consumer-facing organizations.
• Familiarity with food and hospitality industry regulations.
• Proven ability to manage external counsel and legal budgets effectively.
• Strong leadership capabilities with experience in managing legal teams.
• Expertise in developing and implementing legal processes and templates.

Experience

• Minimum of 15 years of relevant legal experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing legal matters for businesses with large physical footprints, especially involving leased properties and retail or restaurant expansion.

Environment

• The role is suited for a large, multi-location consumer-facing organization.
• Work setting details such as location or remote/hybrid arrangements are not specified.