When our square shaped burgers made their first sizzle on the scene more than 50 years ago, people knew our approach wasn’t like any other. Same goes for the way we support our employees. Our culture of openness, flexibility, and inclusiveness allows everybody to flourish in their own way. If you’re looking for a career where you can be part of the action as we continue to grow our iconic brand – We got you!

The Legal Counsel will report to the Director, Global Real Estate Counsel and work closely with Wendy’s Real Estate legal team including Sr. Legal Counsel and Paralegals and will work cross-functionally with the entire legal department. 

This role will support our new restaurant growth plans in the US and Canada, including a new build-to-suit program sponsored by the Company.  They will provide legal advice to key Company partners (Real Estate Directors, Construction Managers, and Asset and Portfolio Management teams and Franchisees) and negotiate a wide variety of real estate lease and purchase agreements and assist in the servicing of a large portfolio of real estate assets for Company.  They will oversee the negotiation and execution of agreements and manage due diligence reviews (title, survey, environmental) and interact regularly with the new restaurant development teams and franchisees from deal approval through restaurant opening.

They will also provide support for the Asset Management and Portfolio Management groups throughout the life cycle of occupancy or ownership of the Company’s real estate, and assist those teams with easements, lease amendments, purchase and sale agreements, and construction agreements, as well as estoppels, SNDAs and lease administrative matters.  The Legal Counsel will have opportunity for cross-functional work with other Legal Counsel and Company departments on special projects (e.g. M&A, contracts, franchise).

Responsibilities

• Lead lease or contract negotiations for assigned new restaurant locations in the U.S. and Canada, including drafting and negotiating new leases and purchase agreements, subleases, and related new development real estate documents.  Work closely with internal real estate directors, construction managers, and lease accounting to ensure objectives and timelines are fully documented and modified as needed.  Self-manage and/or work closely with outside legal counsel to assign projects based upon complexity or geography of the new development project.  Perform and oversee due diligence and contingency tasks (title, survey, environmental, permitting) and manage other transactional contingencies/requirements pertaining to new development of Company and Franchise restaurants. 
• Act as primary working attorney contact for Asset Management and Portfolio Management teams for ongoing real estate issues, including easement and agreement interpretation, estoppels, SNDAs, defaults and demands.  Work closing with other Sr. Counsel on condemnation matters.  Work closely with paralegals and portfolio management team on lease amendments.
• Assist System Optimization Team with portfolio transactions involving the disposition or acquisition of real property assets, including lease and document review, consents and preparation of lease assignments and subleases and transactional closing documents.

• Education: J.D degree from top tiered law school
• Top 20% of Law School class
• Admitted, in good standing, to the Ohio Bar (or other state bar)
• 3-4 years working as commercial real estate attorney (law firm or in-house experience)
• Customer-oriented, collaborative, and able to make independent decisions and use own judgment within company guidelines
• Demonstrated skill in disciplined execution. Able to achieve goals among competing priorities and deadlines with high attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite of products, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook.
• Excellent English language written and oral communication, including persuasive and constructive feedback skills; Non-English written and/or spoken language skills (e.g. French) a plus

“Wendy’s was built on the premise, "Quality is our Recipe®," which remains the guidepost of the Wendy's system. Today, Wendy's and its franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide with a vision of becoming the world's most thriving and beloved restaurant brand.

The base pay range for this position is listed below. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and budget for the open position and also may vary depending on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other relevant factors.  This range does not include an estimated value for any benefits, bonus, or other incentives that may be applicable based on position. *  The target annual bonus for this role is XX% of annualized base salary, based on actual company and personal performance. 

Our square burgers make us different and so do our benefits!  Our restaurant support roles are eligible for a wide array of benefits, including things such as parental leave, free EAP sessions, company 401k match and other great offerings.  For more details about our benefits, including an overview of eligibility and terms for certain benefits, please visit our benefits website,www.wendysbenefits.com.*

*NOTE: Wendy’s benefits, bonus, and other incentives are governed by the applicable legal plans and policies and, where appropriate, may be subject to Board approval an individual award agreement terms.  Those documents supersede all other information regarding Wendy’s benefits, bonus, and other incentives.  Wendy’s retains the right to amend or terminate its plans and policies at its sole discretion, in accordance with applicable plans, policies and laws.”

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Travel: 5%

Pay Range: $112,000 - $196,000 Annually