Senior Manager - Legal Counsel Czech Republic and Slovakia
Date: Jun 18, 2026
Location: Praha, CZ, 15800
Company: McDonald's Corporation
McDonald’s is proud to be one of the most recognised brands in the world, with restaurants in over 100 countries and billions of customers served each year. As the global leader in the food and service industry, we have a legacy of innovation and hard work that continues to drive us. Today, we are growing with velocity and are passionate about modernising our experiences, not to make a different McDonald’s, but to build a better McDonald’s.
Role Overview
The General Counsel for the Czech Republic and Slovakia leads the Legal function across the market, is responsible for shaping the legal and compliance strategy and ensuring full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and McDonald’s corporate policies and standards.
This role serves as a trusted strategic advisor to senior leadership and plays a critical role in enabling the Company’s business strategy. The General Counsel ensures that legal considerations are effectively integrated into decision-making processes, balancing risk and opportunity while supporting sustainable business growth.
The role combines leadership of the Legal function, proactive business partnership, and ownership of the compliance and risk framework across the market.
As a Legal Leader – leads the Legal function, governance framework, and legal strategy across market
As a Business Partner – enables business decisions through practical, solution-oriented legal advice
As a Risk & Compliance Owner – safeguards the Company through proactive risk management and strong compliance culture
Core Accountabilities
Legal Leadership & Strategy
• Lead the Legal function across the Czech Republic and Slovakia, setting direction aligned to market priorities and Global Legal
• Provide clear, practical advice to senior leadership on complex legal and strategic matters
• Partner closely with the Managing Director and Regional/Global Legal leadership on key priorities
Business Partnership
• Act as a trusted advisor across all functions, ensuring legal input is embedded in business decisions
• Deliver pragmatic, solution-oriented guidance balancing legal risk and commercial objectives
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and drive legal awareness across the business
Risk, Compliance & Governance
• Oversee compliance with local laws and McDonald’s policies across both markets
• Lead the compliance framework, including risk identification, monitoring, training, and audit support
• Ensure strong corporate governance and advise on board, shareholder, and structural matters
Franchise & Commercial Operations
• Lead legal support for franchise operations, including strategy, relationships, and complex negotiations
• Oversee franchise agreements, lifecycle management, and franchisee transitions
• Support wider commercial activity, including contracts, leasing, and strategic transactions
Development, Regulatory & External Affairs
• Provide legal support for new store openings, real estate, and market development activity
• Manage relationships with regulators and external counsel, including performance and cost oversight
• Support licensing, inspections, and regulatory engagement
Specialist Legal Areas
• Ensure compliance across marketing, consumer protection, and competition law
• Oversee data privacy (including DPO) and whistleblowing frameworks
• Manage disputes, litigation, and internal investigations
Leadership & Capability
• Lead, develop, and resource the Legal team across the market
• Drive high performance, succession planning, and capability building
• Promote continuous improvement across legal processes, tools, and ways of working
Qualifications, Experience & Leadership Profile
- Law degree from a recognised university
- Qualified lawyer in the Czech Republic and/or Slovakia (or equivalent jurisdiction)
- 8–12+ years’ post‑qualification experience, including leadership responsibility
- Strong knowledge of Czech and Slovak legal frameworks
- Experience operating within an international or matrix environment is advantageous
Leadership Profile
- Strong commercial acumen and strategic mindset
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and guide decision‑making
- Demonstrated leadership capability, with experience building relationships across functions
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills
- Ability to navigate complex legal matters within a dynamic, multi-country environment
- High levels of integrity, sound judgement, and accountability
- Pragmatic, resilient, and solutions‑oriented approach
At McDonald’s, we are people from all walks of life…
People are at the heart of everything we do and they make the McDonald’s experience. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture that means people can be their best authentic self in our restaurants and offices, which helps us to better serve our customers.
We have a strong heritage of diversity and representation within our communities, which we are proud of. The diversity of our people, customers, Franchisees and suppliers give us strength.
We do not tolerate inequality, injustice or discrimination of any kind. These are hugely important issues and a brand with our reach and relevance means we have a very meaningful role to play.
We also recognise our responsibility as a large employer to continue being active in our communities, helping to develop skills and drive aspirations that will help people to be more aware of the world of work and more successful within it, whether with McDonald’s or elsewhere.