Senior Counsel, Commercial Real Estate.

About the role

McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily. We continue to operate from a position of strength. Our updated growth strategy is focused on staying ahead of what our customers want and realizing further growth potential. Our relentless ambition is why McDonald’s remains one of the world’s leading corporations after almost 70 years. Joining McDonald's means thinking big and preparing for a career that can have influence around the world. At McDonald’s, we see every day as a chance to create positive impact. We lead through our values centered on inclusivity, service, integrity, community and family. From support of Ronald McDonald House to our Youth Opportunity project and sustainability initiatives, our values keep us dedicated to using our scale for good: good for our customers, people, industry and planet. We also offer a broad range of outstanding benefits including a sabbatical program, tuition assistance and flexible work arrangements.

McDonald’s Property Management Legal Team is a team of real estate legal professionals who are responsible for navigating real estate matters impacting any of McDonald’s properties in the United States, in order to protect and enhance our nearly 14,000 existing restaurants. More specifically, the Property Management Legal Team: enforces McDonald’s rights as a property owner, landlord, or tenant to maximize restaurant operations; negotiates real estate-related agreements to support and improve restaurant operations, such as the acquisition of additional adjacent property or easements to improve access, signage or parking; supports the remodeling and rebuilding of McDonald’s restaurants, including by conducting real estate due diligence for reinvestment projects and negotiating associated real estate agreements; resolves property-related disputes and litigation, including disputes with landlords or adjacent property owners, construction-related disputes, ADA lawsuits, and condemnation proceedings; oversees the leasing, management, and sale of McDonald’s excess properties, which are typically former McDonald’s restaurant locations where McDonald’s retains a real estate interest.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills to provide advice and counsel to business partners on a diverse array of complex, time-sensitive commercial real estate legal issues.
• Draft, negotiate, and analyze leases, contracts, easement agreements, license agreements, and other commercial real estate agreements.
• Review title and survey, existing real estate documents and other due diligence to determine property-related rights and obligations regarding our existing real estate portfolio, including in connection with the remodeling or rebuilding of existing restaurants.
• Partner with the Portfolio Management business team to align on practical solutions to legal issues, with a focus on business objectives while mitigating legal risk, avoiding litigation, and protecting the brand.
• Actively manage real estate-related disputes and litigation, including partnering with in-house litigation team and/or outside counsel to develop and execute litigation strategy for litigation with landlords or adjacent property owners, municipal violations, condemnations, ADA lawsuits, or construction litigation.
• Strategically engage with colleagues and business clients to anticipate future business needs and identify opportunities for efficiencies.