VP, Deputy General Counsel

Our restaurants are only the tip of the flame. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, innovative and welcoming workplace then a career with our Corporate Familia is right for you.

What’s in it for you!

• Hybrid work schedule
• Competitive pay and bonus
• Restricted Service Awards (RSAs) + Stock Options
• Medical + Dental + Vision Insurance + Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(K) Plan with match and immediate vesting
• Vacation + Sick Pay + 12 Paid Holidays
• Amazing office culture
• Free El Pollo Loco food (Dine Out Card) + Restaurant Discount
• Discounts on theme parks, movie tickets, sports events, hotels and more...


POSITION PURPOSE:
The Deputy General Counsel provides strategic legal counsel and practical business solutions across employment, corporate governance, franchising, litigation, commercial contracts, marketing, and risk management. Serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, this role ensures that El Pollo Loco achieves its objectives within legal, regulatory, and ethical boundaries while fostering a culture of collaboration and integrity.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Serve as a trusted advisor to internal clients, including senior leadership team members, on legal strategy, employment law, pre-litigation disputes and litigation management, securities law and corporate governance, commercial transactions, and regulatory and corporate compliance
• Assist the CLO in overseeing the legal and risk strategy
• Serve as El Pollo Loco’s Assistant Corporate Secretary
• Advise internal clients, including senior leadership and the Board of Directors, in an objective and unbiased manner that assists the company to achieve its business objectives within legal and ethical constraints. The successful candidate will be highly intelligent, with practical business sense, and a true believer in a servant-leader corporate culture.
• Provide leadership within the legal department and to internal clients, manage retained law firms cost-effectively and ensure that quality of outside legal services meet the Company’s high expectations
• Oversee the management and execution of matters relating to litigation, labor and employment law, risk management and all other compliance matters
• Support and advise the Human Resources department concerning personnel issues
• Monitor developments in the restaurant industry and federal law and state law in each state in which the company is doing business and assist to ensure that the company has developed appropriate systems, controls, procedures, and compliance reporting mechanisms to deal with anticipated statutory requirements
• Assist with Company’s SEC and public filings, corporate governance, including board and committee operations, corporate secretary function and oversight of organizational documents, corporate minute books, policies and board guidelines
• Assist CLO in managing legal affairs associated with the Company’s franchise systems and Company owned operations
• Negotiating, structuring, drafting and/or reviewing leases, commercial contracts and licensing agreements
• Provide legal and business advice to Marketing department in the areas of advertising and claims review and support, promotions, contests/sweepstakes, licensing, and agency management
• Oversee EPL’s regulatory and corporate compliance program, including Code of Conduct maintenance, investigations, and employee training
• Manage risk management matters, including General Liability and Workers Compensation matters, insurance procurement and coverage, and restaurant and employee safety and security
• Manage legal affairs associated with the Company’s intellectual property portfolio including providing legal support associated with the Company’s consumer products and food service licensing activities
• Other activities, duties or responsibilities that are assigned by your supervisor.


QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. The requirements listed below are representative of the education and/or experience required.

Education/Work Experience:
J.D. from an ABA accredited law school. Minimum of 10+ years of legal experience, including serving as a Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, or senior leader within the legal department of a similarly sized or larger company.

Preferred:
• Restaurant or retail experience as clients or as an in-house attorney strongly preferred
• 3-5 years of in-house experience as an attorney within the legal department of a similar-sized or larger c