General Counsel

Inter-State Studio & Publishing Co.

. Serve as a trusted legal advisor to executive leadership and department leaders on legal and business matters .

Posted 9/18/2026full-timeSedalia • Missouri • United StatesSeniorLead💰 $150,000 - $210,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive legal expertise with a focus on franchise regulatory law, corporate governance, and compliance. Proven ability to lead legal teams, implement policies, and provide strategic legal counsel to executive leadership.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Juris Doctor (JD)Franchise Regulatory Law ExperienceLegal Counsel at Senior LevelNegotiation SkillsAI-Enabled Legal Tools Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Corporate LawEmployment LawCommercial LawRegulatory LawFranchise Disclosure Document (FDD) PreparationContract Drafting and NegotiationCompliance MonitoringRisk AssessmentLegal ResearchMulti-State Compliance

Soft Skills

Communication SkillsInterpersonal SkillsLeadership SkillsEthical StandardsProfessional Integrity

Tools & Technologies

Legal TechnologyWorkflow AutomationAI Tools

Certifications & Qualifications

Eligible to Practice Law in MissouriIn-House Counsel Registration

Industry Keywords

FranchisingRetailMulti-Unit Business ModelCorporate GovernanceEmployment Relations

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Serve as a trusted legal advisor to executive leadership and department leaders on legal and business matters
Lead and develop the Legal & Compliance team
Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and business risks
Develop and implement legal policies, procedures, and compliance programs
Coordinate with external counsel and represent the company in legal proceedings as needed
Proactively identify organizational risks and develop response strategies
Oversee drafting, review, and approval of the annual Franchise Disclosure Document and franchise agreements
Lead annual FDD filings and franchise registration and renewal processes across applicable states
Ensure compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Rule and applicable state franchise laws
Provide legal guidance on franchise disclosure, exemptions, onboarding, territories, and transaction structuring
Lead the franchise compliance program and support process improvements and automation
Oversee corporate governance practices, corporate documents, and legal entity structure
Draft, review, and negotiate vendor, supplier, school bid, acquisition, lease, and service contracts
Facilitate licensing, trademark, statutory, and business license filings
Ensure compliance with privacy regulations and other regulatory requirements
Collaborate with Sales, Operations, Finance, IT, Franchise, and other departments
Provide guidance on employment law, employee relations, labor matters, and regulatory compliance
Draft and review employment agreements, non-disclosure agreements, non-compete provisions, and related documents
Provide legal and compliance training to employees and franchisees
Partner with leadership and HR on employment-related risk and compliance matters
Lead evaluation, implementation, and governance of AI-enabled legal tools and technologies
Improve contract management, legal research, compliance monitoring, risk assessment, and legal workflows
Establish controls for ethical and compliant use of AI and legal technology
Continuously improve legal processes for efficiency, consistency, and business value

Requirements

What you’ll need

Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school
Eligible to practice law in Missouri or eligible for in-house counsel registration
Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, including significant experience in a corporate legal department or law firm
Franchise regulatory law experience, including FDD preparation, filings, and multi-state compliance
Proven experience providing legal counsel at a senior level, ideally as General Counsel or senior in-house counsel
Extensive knowledge of corporate, employment, commercial, and regulatory law
Strong negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills
High ethical standards and professional integrity
Experience in franchising, retail, or another multi-unit business model preferred
Experience leading or supervising legal and compliance professionals preferred
Hands-on experience leveraging AI tools, legal technology, and workflow automation preferred
Experience in manufacturing or with distribution agreements preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Technology Allowance
Annual performance merit and discretionary bonus
Coverage and reimbursement for business travel expenses
Medical, Vision, Dental, and Life Insurance
401k with a company match
Paid time off
Supportive work environment
Accommodations available upon request during the recruitment process