Director, Legal Counsel

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Date: May 15, 2026

Location: Chicago, IL, US, 60607

Company: McDonald's Corporation

Company Description: 

McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognized brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries that serve 70 million customers daily. We continue to operate from a position of strength. Our updated growth strategy is focused on staying ahead of what our customers want and realizing further growth potential. Our relentless ambition is why McDonald’s remains one of the world’s leading corporations after almost 70 years. Joining McDonald's means thinking big and preparing for a career that can have influence around the world. 

At McDonald’s, we see every day as a chance to create positive impact. We lead through our values centered on inclusivity, service, integrity, community and family. From support of Ronald McDonald House to our Youth Opportunity project and sustainability initiatives, our values keep us dedicated to using our scale for good: good for our customers, people, industry and planet. We also offer a broad range of outstanding benefits including a sabbatical program, tuition assistance and flexible work arrangements. 

Department Overview

McDonald's is looking for a dynamic and experienced lawyer to join our Global Intellectual Property & Marketing Practice Group.  In this position, the candidate will have primary responsibility for handling a broad range of commercial transactions, including advertising and media partnerships and marketing, licensing, and intellectual property agreements.  This role will also include providing strategic legal advice to the Marketing teams on a wide range of commercial matters relating to the brand, including advertising campaign review.  This role requires keen analytical abilities and excellent judgement, and a pragmatic approach to problem solving. Experience with digital advertising and transactions that includes working with ad tech and/or media companies in the ad tech space is preferred.

 

Duties

  • Negotiate and draft media and ad tech agreements, including insertion orders and data usage agreements
  • Legal review of vendor, ad tech, and platform agreements
  • Advise on media and ad tech ecosystem, including issues related to advertising, data privacy, consumer protection and digital platform regulations
  • Counsel national and global marketing teams regarding a wide array of marketing, licensing and promotion matters
  • Review advertising and communication materials for compliance with applicable laws and brand requirements
  • Analyze advertising substantiation issues
  • Counsel clients on trademark, copyright, trade secret and rights of publicity and privacy matters
  • Counsel and advise clients on marketing to children guidelines and policies, both in the US and globally.

Qualifications

  • JD degree and admitted to practice in the U.S.
  •  8+ years of experience in-house, in private practice or with the federal government
  • Position requires in-depth knowledge of advertising and intellectual property law
  • Experience with digital advertising, media, digital platforms, and transactions that includes working with ad tech and media companies in the ad tech space
  • Strong understanding of the media and ad tech ecosystem
  • Deep expertise in U.S. advertising and intellectual property law, data privacy, consumer protection regulations (e.g., FTC, state privacy laws including CCPA/CPRA) and international requirements
  • Outstanding communications and leadership skills with proven success in building internal and external partnerships
  • Ability to communicate complex issues effectively to senior level business leaders
  • Ability to be a strategic partner and trusted advisor for national and global business clients
  • Ability to find practical solutions to business challenges
  • Ability to participate effectively and constructively as a member of a team
  • Comfortable handling a wide variety of matters, including issues in new, unchartered territory
  • Strong negotiation skills
  • Strong analytical and transactional skills
  • Must exercise sound judgment, be able to work efficiently under time pressures and deadlines in a fast-paced, demanding environment
  • Ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams in fast-paced, matrixed environments
  • Excellent academic credentials

Salary Range

$195,000 to $244,000

Compensation

Bonus Eligible: Yes

Long - Term Incentive: Yes

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Additional Information: 

Benefits eligible: This position offers health and welfare benefits, including but not limited to comprehensive health insurance, which includes medical, prescription drug, mental health, dental and vision coverage, as well as, life insurance.

McDonald’s is an equal opportunity employer committed to the diversity of our workforce. We promote an inclusive work environment that creates feel-good moments for everyone. McDonald’s provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities as part of the application or hiring process or to perform the essential functions of their job. If you need assistance accessing or reading this job posting or otherwise feel you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact mcdhrbenefits@us.mcd.com. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

McDonald’s provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to sex, sex stereotyping, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), race, color, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, disability status, medical condition, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, protected military or veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

Nothing in this job posting or description should be construed as an offer or guarantee of employment. 


Nearest Major Market: Chicago