Franchise Corporate Paralegal

Annual Salary: $70,000–$90,000

Location: Dallas, TX | Work Model: In-Office

Overview

This is a franchise paralegal role built for someone who wants real ownership, not busywork. You'll support two attorneys inside the legal department of one of the nation's largest multi-brand franchise operators, with a portfolio of more than 1,200 restaurants across 30-plus states. The platform spans company-owned brands, brands where the company is both franchisor and operator, and brands where the company operates as a franchisee based in Dallas, Texas.

You'll work directly with the Chief Compliance Officer, who handles legal matters across franchisors, franchisees, and franchise regulatory agencies, and with M&A Counsel, who leads the purchase and sale of individual restaurants and entire franchise systems. A core part of this role is reorganizing and modernizing the legal team's electronic file infrastructure so it keeps pace with the company's growth. If you take pride in turning an under-structured system into one that's reliable, well-organized, and easy to use, you'll thrive here.

Reports To: Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) and Mergers and Acquisitions Counsel

Key Responsibilities

Document Organization and Management Across Multiple Brands

• Lead the organization of large, unstructured franchise files and documents, including acquisition data rooms.
• Build and maintain a master franchise agreement key-dates tracker for all brands and locations.
• Manage franchise agreements, amendments, transfers, guaranties, and related documents at the unit level.
• Identify missing, inconsistent, or conflicting legal documents and lead corrective efforts, file by file.
• Implement standardized file-naming conventions, folder structures, and document management protocols.
• Manage the legal team's electronic document systems and lead document retention policy implementation.

Franchise Regulatory Compliance

Where We Are Franchisor:

• Assist with the annual update and maintenance of Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs).
• Support franchise registration filings and communications with franchise regulatory agencies.
• Assist with state business opportunity and other franchise-related filings, where applicable.

Where We Are Franchisee:

• Manage the execution of franchisor-required legal documents for new sales, renewals, and transfers.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and well-organized electronic legal files for all franchisee-owned locations.

Franchise Contractual Compliance and Enforcement

Where We Are Franchisor:

• Prepare and administer franchise agreement default and termination notices to franchisees.
• Assist the attorney in enforcing franchisee post-term obligations, such as non-compete and de-branding.
• Support pre-litigation dispute resolution, including mediation and settlement agreements.

Where We Are Franchisee:

• Track compliance and cure deadlines when the franchisor sends notice of default or termination.
• Assist the attorney in investigating and responding to franchisor compliance legal actions.

M&A and Recurring Transaction Support

• Support a range of business purchase and sale transactions, including new single-unit and multi-unit franchise sales, renewals and term extensions, franchisee-to-franchisee transfers, relocations, buy-backs, and refranchising.
• Support M&A Counsel during due diligence, especially document review.
• Conduct UCC lien searches and coordinate lien releases where applicable.
• Support the legal document integration of newly acquired franchise systems and brands.
• Align acquired systems with existing legal processes for compliance, enforcement, and transactions.

General Legal and Cross-Functional Support

• Maintain calendars and track deadlines for all franchise and M&A matters.
• Collaborate with Real Estate, Franchise Development, Operations, Finance, and Marketing.
• Coordinate with outside counsel on special franchise and transactional projects.

Required Qualifications

• At least two years of experience as a transactional and regulatory compliance paralegal.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage complex, high-volume document files.
• High attention to detail with strong analytical and document review skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel, and document management systems.
• Ability to work independently and take proactive ownership of projects under attorney supervision.
• A positive, contributive attitude and the ability to work well within a tight-knit team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working for a franchisor or a law firm whose clients are franchisors.
• Experience with complex agreements, including FDDs, franchise agreements, and franchise regulatory filings.
• Experience with M&A due diligence and post-acquisition integration of franchise systems.
• A paralegal certificate or relevant legal training in lieu of certification.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, and more).
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Complimentary meals and employee discounts across multiple brands.

How to Apply for the Franchise Paralegal in Dallas, Texas,

Ready to take ownership of a role that grows with the business? Send your resume to TexasJobs@geckohospitality.com or call 469-498-2282 to learn more.