Head of Legal, MEA

About This Role

As the Head of Legal, you will be a key legal advisor and leader, responsible for providing strategic guidance and ensuring legal compliance across Pizza Hut's MEA region. You will work closely with senior leadership, franchise partners, and various internal teams to navigate legal complexities, manage risks, and support the company's growth initiatives. Your role is crucial in maintaining strong governance, protecting the brand, and ensuring a commercially sound decision-making process.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to senior leadership, offering strategic and commercial counsel.
• Translate legal requirements into practical guidance for business growth and operational effectiveness.
• Oversee franchise governance, ensuring consistent application of franchise agreements and strong franchisee relationships.
• Provide legal support for commercial agreements, corporate matters, and mergers and acquisitions.
• Lead the legal risk framework, ensuring compliance with franchise law and regulatory requirements.
• Protect the brand and intellectual property, managing marketing, advertising, and licensing matters.
• Resolve complex disputes and franchisee escalations, partnering with internal and external stakeholders.
• Support transformation initiatives and strategic projects, managing legal and reputational risks.
• Establish clear governance frameworks and ensure consistency in legal processes across markets.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including franchise and license agreements, vendor and service contracts, technology agreements, and other key business documents.
• Lead and develop the regional legal function, managing resources and external counsel effectively.
• Support investigations, employment matters, and crisis situations where legal leadership and negotiation strategy are required.
• Support transformation initiatives including digital, customer experience, and development strategies.
• Influence decision-making at the highest levels while maintaining strong alignment with global strategy

Experience Required

• Minimum of 5 years of post-call experience in a top-tier corporate/commercial law firm or similar in-house role.
• Exposure to franchise, retail, digital, or technology law is advantageous.
• Proven commercial mindset with excellent stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to handle complex situations, manage priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Inspirational leadership skills with a coaching and mentoring approach.
• Excellent communication skills to explain legal matters simply and effectively.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Out-of-the-box thinking, business acumen, and a courageous, integrity-driven approach.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders.
• Intellectual curiosity, a business-minded approach, and adaptability to different situations.