General Counsel at Inter-State Studio & Publishing Co. in Sedalia, MO 65301

Job description

• Salary Range
• General Counsel
• Inter-State Studio is a family-owned school photography and yearbook company that has been successfully serving schools for 90 years.
• By listening to the needs of our customers and utilizing the latest technologies, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality school portraits and yearbooks with affordable pricing and excellent service.
• We are looking for a strategic and collaborative General Counsel that will translate Inter-State Studio's vision into actionable legal strategy that protects and supports the company and its growing network of franchise partners.
• This is a business-minded leadership role that pairs broad corporate legal responsibility with focused ownership of our franchise regulatory program. Leading the company's Legal & Compliance function, will include supervision and development of the Legal & Compliance team, as well as partnering closely with executive leadership, teams across the organization, and our franchise partners.
• In addition to the legal work performed, success in this role will also include the business outcomes achieved, risks appropriately managed, and trust built across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Legal Leadership & Risk Management
• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to executive leadership and department leaders on a wide range of legal and business matters
• Lead and develop the Legal & Compliance team, providing direction, coaching, and oversight of departmental priorities
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and business risks, including commercial disputes, regulatory matters, and contract breaches
• Develop and implement legal policies, procedures, and compliance programs that support business objectives and mitigate risk
• Coordinate with external counsel and represent the company in legal proceedings as needed
• Partner with executive leadership to proactively identify organizational risks and develop appropriate response strategies
• Franchise Regulatory Compliance
• Oversee the drafting, review, and approval of the Inter-State's annual Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreements
• Lead annual FDD filings and franchise registration and renewal processes across applicable states
• Ensure ongoing compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Rule and applicable state franchise laws
• Provide real-time legal guidance regarding disclosure requirements, exemptions, franchisee onboarding, territories, and transaction structuring
• Lead the company's franchise compliance program in partnership with Franchise, Operations, and Legal & Compliance teams
• Support process improvements and automation that enhance FDD production and franchise compliance
• Corporate Governance & Commercial Matters
• Oversee corporate governance practices and maintain corporate documents and the company's legal entity structure
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements, including vendor and supplier contracts, school bids, acquisition contracts, leases, and service agreements
• Facilitate licensing, trademark, statutory, and business license filings
• Ensure compliance with privacy regulations and other regulatory requirements relevant to the business
• Collaborate with Sales, Operations, Finance, IT, Franchise, and other departments on contracts, agreements, and legal matters
• Employment & People
• Provide legal guidance on employment law, employee relations, labor matters, and regulatory compliance
• Draft and review employment agreements, non-disclosure agreements, non-compete provisions, and related documents
• Provide legal and compliance training to employees and franchisees
• Partner with leadership and HR on employment-related risk and compliance matters
• Legal Operations & Innovation
• Lead the evaluation, implementation, and governance of AI-enabled legal tools and technologies
• Identify opportunities to improve contract management, legal research, compliance monitoring, risk assessment, and legal workflows
• Establish appropriate controls for the ethical and compliant use of AI and legal technology, including data privacy considerations
• Continuously improve legal processes to increase efficiency, consistency, and business value

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school
• Eligible to practice law in Missouri or eligible for in-house counsel registration
• Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, including significant experience in a corporate legal department or law firm
• Franchise regulatory law experience, including FDD preparation, filings, and multi-state compliance
• Proven experience providing legal counsel at a senior level, ideally as General Counsel or senior in-house counsel
• Extensive knowledge of corporate, employment, commercial, and regulatory law
• Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills
• High ethical standards and professional integrity
• Experience in franchising, retail, or another multi-unit business model
• Experience leading or supervising legal and compliance professionals
• Hands-on experience leveraging AI tools, legal technology, and workflow automation to improve legal operations
• Experience in manufacturing or with distribution agreements
• *Please note: You do not need to meet every qualification listed to be considered. We encourage you to apply if you meet most of the requirements and are comfortable opening a dialogue about the role.

Skills

Required

• Strategic and collaborative
• Business-minded
• AI-enabled legal tools and technologies
• Legal technology
• Workflow automation

Benefits

• Competitive Salary based on experience
• Technology Allowance
• Annual performance merit and discretionary bonus
• Coverage and reimbursement for business travel expenses
• Benefits options include Medical, Vision, Dental, Life Insurance, 401k with a company match, and paid time off
• A supportive work environment that lives our values- People, Integrity, Innovation, and Quality
• Position Type