Sr. Corporate Counsel

Position Overview:

At Caribou Coffee, we're not just brewing coffee-we're brewing up moments of joy that spark chain reactions of good. As our Senior Corporate Counsel, you'll be more than a legal expert-you'll be a strategic partner, a trusted advisor, and a key player in fueling Caribou's mission-driven growth.

In this dynamic role, you'll collaborate with functional areas across the company -from store operations and HR to marketing, IT, and franchise teams-offering practical, business-savvy legal guidance that keeps us moving forward with confidence. You'll lead the charge in negotiating and drafting a wide variety of commercial agreements, including vendor contracts, franchise and license deals, and employment-related documents.

But that's just the beginning.

You'll also be the go-to guardian of our brand's integrity-resolving disputes, managing our trademark portfolio, ensuring compliance with advertising and franchise laws, and helping us navigate the legal landscape with heart and hustle.

Reporting directly to our Chief Legal Officer, you'll lead a talented team of legal professionals, championing high-quality work that reflects our values and supports our purpose: to create day-making experiences that make the world a little brighter, one cup at a time.

Core Responsibilities:

General Legal Advice, Regulatory Compliance & Dispute Resolution/Litigation Management

• Review, research, interpret, and provide advice on a wide variety of legal issues that impact the organization, including but not limited to, employment matters, franchise, intellectual property, and regulatory issues.

• Participate in various cross-functional meetings to provide legal counsel for company initiatives.

• Partner with human resources to provide counsel on multi-jurisdiction employment laws, including wage and hour compliance, accommodations and leaves of absence, discrimination and harassment, and ensuring company policies are compliant in these areas.

• Manage Caribou's trademark portfolio and assist Brand team with proper trademark usage and registration issues.

• Provide legal advice and guidance on advertising, marketing, and promotional activities (e.g., the Caribou Perks loyalty program), ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Draft and review the company's policies on industry-specific issues, corporate governance and regulatory matters.

• Research and provide advice on global data privacy and compliance with various data privacy and information security regulations and frameworks and coordinating cross-functional information governance efforts.

• Provided strategic direction and management of litigation and dispute resolution efforts, working with external counsel as needed to assert and defend the company's interests in court or arbitration.

• Assist the Chief Legal Officer with company M&A activity and corporate governance.

• Assist in outside counsel management and monitoring legal spend and departmental budget.

Management of Corporate Counsel, Contract Administrators and Law Clerks

• Develop and manage a team of high-performing individuals including corporate counsel, contract administrator, franchise contract administrator, and law clerk by providing strategic direction and support.

• Take ownership of the team's deliverables, ensuring high-quality legal work that meets business needs, mitigates risk, and aligns with organizational priorities.

• Work with the team to ensure the matter management, contract management, and franchise contract management systems are accurately administered and provide insightful reporting.

Contract Drafting & Negotiation and Franchise Legal Support

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts in support of various business functions including supplier/vendor agreements, franchise and license agreements.

• Collaborate with business units and external counsel to ensure contracts are executed efficiently and effectively.

• Oversee and manage the franchise-related legal processes including the annual review and distribution of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), state registration process, and managing exemptions.

• Periodically review and update commercial contract templates to ensure they are capturing the day-to-day needs of the company.

Skills & Requirements:

• Brings the Core Values to life in all that you do: Support One Another, Make Fun Happen, Be Yourself, Take Ownership, Serve with Love.

• Significant experience in corporate law, contracts, litigation, and regulatory compliance.

• Ability to negotiate complex deals and achieve favorable outcomes for the company in high-stakes negotiations.

• Ability to provide legal advice that aligns with the company's business objectives, balancing legal risks with corporate strategy.

• Responsiveness and sense of service in providing legal advice to various business units.

• Excellent written, verbal and analytical skills, with an ability to communicate complex legal concepts in a simple way to non-legal stakeholders, and to orchestrate plans to resolve issues and mitigate risks.

• Curiousness in researching emerging issues and an appetite for continued learning.

• Self-starter who will jump in and assist with new areas within the legal field or matters impacting Caribou without the need for significant oversight.

• Demonstrates accuracy with attention to detail and excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work independently, issue spot and resolve legal issues for the benefit of the company.

• Technologically inclined and willing to learn and adapt to new software systems and processes.

• Clear and engaging communication style rooted in a desire to understand others and cocreate solutions.

• Reacts willingly and positively to urgent and/or changing priorities.

Qualifications:

Required:

• 4-10 years' experience as a practicing attorney with experience in contract drafting and negotiation and employment law

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school

• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. state

• Proven ability to provide strategic legal advice in a fast-paced business environment

• Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office

• Position may require occasional travel

Preferred:

• Prior in-house experience

• Experience with franchise law

• Experience with trademark law

Physical Requirements:

The physical requirements for this position include sitting, standing, bending, lifting, and moving intermittently during working hours. These physical requirements must be accomplished with or without reasonable accommodation.

The duties of this position may change from time to time. Caribou reserves the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of Caribou or its managers. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Caribou Coffee Operating Company, Inc. and itsaffiliatesare proud to be Equal Opportunity Employersto all applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on any characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.