Legal Counsel Compliance, Litigation, and Crisis

About the role

The Legal Counsel will serve as a critical business partner and legal adviser to the Director of Global Litigation, Employment and Brand Protection. They will support the global compliance and litigation practice, focusing on ethics, compliance, due diligence, training, and internal investigations.

Responsibilities

• Manage and conduct internal investigations and advise on a wide range of topics including anti-bribery/anti-corruption, sanctions, conflicts of interest, international trade, and other general compliance topics.
• Support the Director with strategic defense of critical litigation matters in all areas except employment and franchise litigation.
• Proactively coordinate with and provide day-to-day compliance-focused legal advice to Global HR, Development, Operations, Finance, Legal partners, and others to ensure ongoing compliance with legal and policy requirements.
• Own, manage and maintain defined portfolio of Global corporate compliance and legal/workplace policies, ensuring they are current, clearly written, scalable, and compliant.
• Develop and deliver training to HR Business Professionals, business leaders, and coaches on key legal topics and emerging risks, partnering with Legal Counsel- Employment on employment-related trainings.
• Create and manage rollout of annual global compliance training.
• Conduct internal audits in partnership with internal teams into high-risk regulatory areas, including in partnership with Legal Counsel- Employment on employment-related audits.
• Conduct risk assessments in connection with issues impacting Company’s customer, vendor, operations, franchisees, industry and/or business and advise management on most appropriate response or action. Partner with Legal Counsel - Employment on employment-related assessments.
• Lead vendor, supplier, and franchisee due diligence process on a global scale.
• Manage records management and oversight, with support from Litigation Paralegal.
• Maintain an effective compliance communication program for the Company, including promoting the use of the whistleblower hotline, heightened awareness of the Code of Conduct, and understanding new and existing compliance issues and related policies and procedures.
• Litigation: Assist with litigation matters, including management of and coordination with outside and insurance counsel with strategic defense of litigation matters nationwide. Review and revise draft pleadings, discovery responses, and motions prepared by outside counsel; Coordinate with Litigation Paralegal to collect and supply responsive, non-objectionable information and documentation to outside counsel in support of discovery responses and manage e-discovery.
• Aid in forecasting and managing Pizza Hut legal budget per period and annually.
• Coordinate as appropriate and necessary with Risk/Insurance Team and cross-functional partners.
• Partner with Litigation Paralegal on responses and objections to subpoenas and other legal documents.
• Assist in developing compliance frameworks stemming from litigation, if and as needed.
• Crisis: Assist Director in managing, mitigating, and responding to crisis events; Partner with Communications, Food Safety and Quality, Public Relations, Supply Chain and Operations in developing and enforcing crisis protocols.

Requirements

This position requires an active license to practice law in Texas (or ability to obtain in-house counsel registration where required), 4 - 8 years of experience in a law firm or in-house legal department, with a preferred focus on internal investigations, corporate compliance, and/or corporate governance.

Qualifications

• Strategic growth mindset and passion for providing world-class legal support by collaborating across business units while consistently modeling Pizza Hut’s cultural values.
• Solution-oriented and collaborative mindset, including ability to work successfully in a team environment.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to listen and effectively explain complex legal issues to non-lawyers in one-on-one and large presentation formats.
• High personal and professional integrity, including the ability to establish personal credibility within the department and Company.

Skills

Active license to practice law in Texas (or ability to obtain in-house counsel registration where required)

Benefits

Compliance Monitor developments in relevant legal areas and policy, and proactively coordinate with and provide day-to-day compliance-focused legal advice to Global HR, Development, Operations, Finance, Legal partners, and others to ensure ongoing compliance with legal and policy requirements.

Pay

$125,200 to $147,200 annually + bonus eligibility.

Schedule

This position is required to work in person from the Plano, Texas office three days a week - Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Remote work Monday and Friday is permitted.