Paralegal

This is a hybrid position, based in Orlando, FL

The Paralegal provides substantive legal, operational, and project management support in a fast-paced, multi-unit casual dining restaurant environment. This role serves as a key partner to attorneys and business stakeholders, supporting day-to-day operations of the Legal Department across contracts, litigation and claims, corporate governance, compliance, legal operations, and other matters as assigned.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, analytical, and resourceful with the ability to gather and evaluate information, identify issues, exercise sound judgment, and prepare drafts for attorney review. This individual must manage competing priorities, take ownership of assigned matters, proactively advance matters, and recognize when escalation to counsel is appropriate.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal Department Support

· Provide day to day substantive paralegal support, including legal research, document preparation, issue analysis, project management, and other matters as assigned.

· Gather, organize, and synthesize information from multiple sources and assist in preparing drafts of legal documents, correspondence, reports, summaries, and other work product for attorney review.

· Coordinate communications and information requests among internal stakeholders, outside counsel, consultants, vendors, government entities, and other third parties.

· Manage competing priorities while maintaining confidentiality, exercising sound judgment, and appropriately escalating legal issues.

· Support counsel in preparing for meetings, negotiations, presentations, investigations, and other legal matters.

Contract Management

· Support the contract lifecycle, including intake, review coordination, approval, routing, execution, tracking, renewal, amendment, and retention.

· Maintain accurate files and records; proactively monitor critical obligations, deadlines, renewal dates, and termination rights, and notice requirements.

· Assist with contract templates, standard provisions, and related documentation.

Corporate Governance and Entity Management

· Maintain entity records and governance documents, including organizational documents, resolutions, consents, certificates, officer records, and ownership records.

· Assist with preparation of documents and records related to corporate actions, officer appointments, organizational changes, and other governance matters.

· Support corporate actions, annual filings, registrations, licenses, and other entity compliance requirements.

· Coordinate document execution and maintain calendars and tracking tools for recurring legal obligations and filing deadlines.

Litigation, Claims and Dispute Support

· Analyze and organize facts and information to support litigation, claims management, and investigations, and attorney decision-making.

· Prepare matter summaries, chronologies, reports, and other substantive work product for attorney review.

· Coordinate litigation, claims, subpoenas, demand letters, and other legal matters under the direction of counsel.

· Coordinate with outside counsel, insurance carriers, claims administrators, and internal business partners regarding active matters.

· Assist with gathering, organizing, and preserving relevant documents, records, photographs, communications, and other information.

· Maintain litigation and claims files and calendars and assist with subpoenas, document requests, notices, correspondence, reporting, and status tracking.

Regulatory and Compliance Support

· Help monitor and document regulatory and compliance requirements applicable to the Company's operations.

· Support compliance matters, including alcohol licensing, food and beverage regulation, employment, advertising and marketing, privacy, accessibility, consumer, and other applicable operational requirements.

· Assist with organizing and maintaining licenses, permits, registrations, and other compliance documents and records; monitor and help meet related deadlines and renewals. Coordinate follow-up with stakeholders.

· Support internal and compliance audits and information-gathering projects

Legal Operations and Process Improvement

· Develop and maintain systems for tracking legal matters, contracts, corporate records, litigation, licenses, deadlines, and other Legal Department activities.

· Identify process inefficiencies, risks, and operational gaps and suggest practical solutions.

· Maintain appropriate matter documentation from intake through resolution and prepare status reports, dashboards, summaries, and other management information as requested by counsel.

· Support budgeting, outside counsel management, and matter tracking.

· Review outside counsel invoices for accuracy, appropriate matter allocation, and compliance with established billing requirements; escalate questions or discrepancies as appropriate.

· Administer legal tools and technology, contract and matter management systems, and document repositories.

· Support the implementation, documentation, and adoption of new legal processes and systems.

Business Partnership

· Build effective working relationships with leaders and Team Members across the organization.

· Serve as a responsive resource for legal processes and documentation and help business partners identify when counsel should be involved.

· Anticipate needs, coordinate stakeholders, and support timely advancement of assigned matters.

· Maintain a service-oriented approach while protecting the Company's legal interests and ensuring appropriate escalation to counsel.

Special Projects

· Support counsel in advancing strategic initiatives, organizational changes, transactions, due diligence, investigations, and other special projects.

· Assist with research and analysis, gather information, prepare documentation, and coordination of time-sensitive, confidential, and other matters.

· Coordinate assigned projects and support timely completion through effective communication and follow-up.

Requirements:

Bachelor's or Associate degree, or paralegal certificate from an accredited institution, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

· 5+ years of progressively responsible paralegal or legal operations experience, preferably in an in-house restaurant, hospitality, retail, or similarly complex operating environment.

· Experience supporting an in-house counsel, a corporate legal department, or law firm.

· Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to gather information, identify key issues, and support attorney decision-making.

· Strong written communication and drafting skills, including the ability to prepare first drafts of legal documents, correspondence, summaries, reports, and presentations for attorney review.

· Ability to organize and synthesize information from multiple sources and communicate findings clearly and effectively.

· Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments, deadlines, and competing priorities.

· Ability to work independently on assigned tasks, exercise sound judgment, and appropriately escalate matters requiring attorney involvement.

· Strong attention to detail and ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.

· Ability to build effective working relationships with attorneys, business partners, outside counsel, and third parties.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Preferred

· Paralegal certification.

· Experience working within a multi-unit restaurant, hospitality, retail, or other multi-location organization.

· Experience with contract-, matter-, or document-management solutions.

· Experience supporting real estate development and/or asset management, corporate governance, litigation, or regulatory matters.

· Familiarity with corporate legal processes and working with outside counsel.

· Experience working in an in-house legal department.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The Paralegal is expected to perform the job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. Physical demands include:

· Remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time.

· Bending, squatting, and lifting (up to 20 lbs.).

· Occasional movement about inside the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc.

· Consistently operates a computer and other productivity machinery (calculator, copy machine, printer)