Legal Counsel - Latin America & Caribbean

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY:

Legal Counsel for the Latin America & Caribbean region, providing strategic counsel and legal leadership to enable business growth while protecting the company's interests. And from time to time providing similar support to the EU and UK markets. This role partners closely with regional and global leadership to navigate complex commercial, regulatory, corporate governance, employment, franchise, and compliance matters across a diverse portfolio of markets.

The region's lead legal advisor, is responsible for structuring and negotiating commercial agreements, supporting franchise development and market transactions, managing legal risk, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and company policies, and driving effective governance across the region. The role also oversees external legal counsel, develops practical legal solutions that balance risk with business objectives, and fosters strong cross-functional partnerships to support sustainable growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation throughout the Latin America & Caribbean business.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Overseeing and delivering clear, timely and accurate legal advice and support, both proactively and reactively. Core of role will be to support the LAC market from Dallas but from time to time will be expected to support the EU and UK markets remotely. 
• Operating with significant autonomy, with more senior legal support needed for particularly complex and/or strategic matters only.
• Acting as a reliable and trusted thought partner and legal advisor to key business stakeholders, including at management level.
• Providing strategic, practical and commercial legal advice to enable and drive positive business outcomes.
• Taking full ownership of the quality and timeliness of your legal deliverables, and those of other members of the legal team as appropriate.
• Coaching members of the legal team, alongside flexible legal support as demand requires.
• Developing and retaining legal talent and driving a positive team culture
• Seeking and coordinating training opportunities for the legal team and business stakeholders as relevant.
• Manages legal budget and spend (either for the BMU, specific projects, specialisms or firms).
• Manages the relationship with, and costs of, external legal advisors.
• Responsibility for proactively identifying and driving improvements across the legal team.
• Responsibility for working with senior leaders to shape and deliver legal, risk and compliance strategy, vision and goals.
• Building and maintaining relationships with global legal peers, external networks, and key business stakeholders.

Competencies

• Demonstrate autonomy and sound judgement, knowing when to escalate.
• Act as a cultural role model by leading Yum! and PH values, showing smart, heart and courage.
• Take responsibility for driving a positive, high-performing team culture and holding others accountable.
• Take responsibility for recognizing and caring for others, showing vulnerability and understanding.
• Stand firm in the face of uncertainty and empower others to do the same.
• Take ownership of your professional development and contribute proactively to areas of interest.
• Develop bold ideas and make critical decisions with confidence.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Location: This position is required to work in person from the Plano, Texas office three days a week – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Remote work Monday and Friday is permitted.

• Juris Doctor (JD) Degree from an ABA accredited law school in the U.S. or a qualified solicitor in England and Wales or similar common law jurisdictions.
• 8+ years of legal experience, preferably in commercial or corporate law within a leading law firm or in-house legal team.
• Ability to assess and weigh risks against operational needs to develop reasoned recommendations, including risk mitigation strategies;
• Ability to work quickly and competently to prioritize, manage, and multi-task in a fast paced and dynamic working environment;
• Ability to deliver sound, clear and practical legal advice, both verbally and in writing; 
• Ability to develop strong working relationships with colleagues and internal clients;
• Ability to self-start and work proactively to advance business objectives to completion; 
• Solution-oriented and collaborative mindset, including ability to work successfully in a team environment; 
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to listen and effectively explain complex legal issues to non-lawyers in one-on-one and large presentation formats; 
• High personal and professional integrity, including the ability to establish personal credibility within the department and Company

The posted salary range is the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining pay, we'll consider the successful candidate’s location, experience, and other job-related factors.