Corporate Counsel - Major Food Group - New York

Major Food Group (MFG) is seeking an experienced, commercially minded Corporate Counsel to serve as the company’s primary in-house legal resource.

Reporting directly to the Chief Business Officer, this individual will provide legal support across MFG’s portfolio of restaurant and hospitality brands, with a particular emphasis on commercial real estate, corporate transactions, joint ventures, and hospitality management agreements.

The ideal candidate will possess substantial experience in both real estate and corporate law, preferably combining the rigorous legal training of a major law firm with in-house experience at a hospitality or real estate company, with experience practicing in New York, Florida and/or EMEA regions.

In addition to supporting MFG’s continued growth and expansion, the Senior Corporate Counsel will advise on general commercial contracts, litigation, insurance, intellectual property / trademarking, employment matters, and other legal issues affecting the company’s operations.

This position requires a sophisticated, business-oriented attorney capable of working independently, supporting operational departments within MFG, managing outside counsel, and providing practical legal guidance in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Real Estate & Hospitality Transactions

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial leases, lease amendments, guarantees, and related real estate agreements.
• Advise on restaurant development, construction-related agreements, and other real estate matters.
• Support the negotiation and documentation of restaurant and hotel management agreements, licensing arrangements, and strategic partnerships.
• Work closely with the Chief Business Officer on transaction structuring, negotiations, due diligence, and execution.

Corporate Law & Strategic Transactions

• Advise on corporate structuring, entity formation, joint ventures, partnerships, and other strategic transactions.
• Draft and negotiate operating agreements, shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements, and other corporate documentation.
• Provide legal guidance on corporate governance, ownership structures, organizational matters, and related corporate transactions.
• Assist with corporate reorganizations, acquisitions, financing arrangements, and other strategic initiatives, as applicable.
• Draft, review, and negotiate vendor, supplier, consulting, sponsorship and other commercial agreements.

Litigation, Insurance & Risk Management

• Manage and coordinate with outside counsel on litigation, disputes, and other legal proceedings.
• Collaborate with Finance and insurance brokers on insurance coverage, claims, contractual indemnities, and risk management matters.
• Evaluate legal and contractual exposure and recommend practical risk mitigation strategies.

Employment & Human Resources

• Collaborate with Human Resources on employment-related legal matters, workplace policies, employment agreements, and sensitive personnel issues.
• Coordinate with outside employment counsel on employment disputes, litigation, and regulatory matters.

Outside Counsel & Legal Operations

• Manage relationships with outside legal counsel, including legal workstreams, budgets, and deliverables.
• Provide legal guidance to senior management and operating teams across the organization.
• Develop standardized agreements, legal procedures, and contract management practices.
• Identify opportunities to improve legal efficiency by negotiating rates and reduing reliance on outside counsel.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with a U.S. state bar, with authorization or eligibility to practice in-house in New York and/or Florida.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of relevant legal experience, with substantial experience in both commercial real estate and corporate transactional law.
• Demonstrated experience independently drafting and negotiating complex commercial leases, corporate agreements, and joint venture or partnership agreements.
• Strong understanding of corporate structuring, entity formation, governance, and commercial contract negotiation.
• Experience at a major national or international law firm, combined with subsequent in-house legal experience at a hospitality company, strongly preferred.
• Experience representing restaurant groups, hotel operators, hospitality management companies, or similarly complex multi-unit businesses.
• Familiarity with litigation management, insurance, risk management, and employment-related legal matters.
• Exceptional drafting, negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.
• Strong commercial judgment, attention to detail, and a practical, solutions-oriented approach.

The ideal candidate is a sophisticated transactional attorney who began their career at a major law firm, developing a strong foundation in commercial real estate and corporate law, and subsequently transitioned in-house at a restaurant group, hotel operator, or hospitality company.

This combination of experience is particularly important. The successful candidate will bring both the technical expertise necessary to independently negotiate complex transactions and the commercial judgment required to navigate the operational realities of the hospitality industry.

The candidate should be comfortable negotiating sophisticated leases, structuring joint ventures, drafting management and operating agreements, advising on corporate matters, and overseeing outside counsel across a broad range of legal disciplines.

Given MFG’s presence in both New York and Miami, the ideal candidate will also have expertise in both Florida and New York law, particularly as it relates to commercial real estate, corporate, and hospitality matters.

Above all, MFG seeks a pragmatic, business-oriented attorney who understands how to balance legal protections with commercial objectives and can serve as a trusted legal adviser to senior leadership.

The Corporate Counsel will report directly to the Chief Business Officer, supporting the company’s strategic transactions and business affairs while exercising independent professional legal judgment.

BENEFITS:

• Competitive Salary
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance with Company subsidy
• Growth Opportunities
• Progressive Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Generous Dining Allowance
• Unlimited Referral Program
• TransitChek Discount

COMPENSATION: $175,000 - $200,000 annual salary

Equal Employment Opportunity

Major Food Group considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status. Major Food Group is an equal opportunity employer.

More detail about Major Food Group - New York part of Major Food Group