Franchise Attorney

Company: Sun Holdings

Location: Dallas, TX (Corporate Headquarters)

Department: Legal

Reports To: General Counsel / VP of Legal

About Sun Holdings

Sun Holdings is one of the largest multi-brand franchise operators in the United States, with over 1,000 restaurant and retail locations across multiple states. Our portfolio includes Burger King, Popeyes, Arby's, IHOP, Applebee's, McAlister's Deli, Papa Johns, Golden Corral, Taco Bueno, Uncle Julio's, Bar Louie, GNC, T-Mobile, and other leading brands. Founded in 1997, Sun Holdings has grown into a recognized leader in franchise development and multi-unit operations and has recently expanded into franchising as well as operating.

Position Summary

Sun Holdings is seeking an experienced Franchise Attorney to support the legal needs of a rapidly growing, multi-concept franchise organization. This role will provide counsel on franchise agreements, brand relationships, real estate and development matters, M&A transactions involving new brand acquisitions, and regulatory compliance across the many franchisor relationships in our portfolio. The ideal candidate has strong franchise law experience — ideally on both the franchisee and franchisor sides — and is comfortable working across a diverse, fast-moving multi-brand environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and negotiate franchise agreements, development agreements, and renewal/transfer documents with major franchisors.
• Advise on compliance with FTC Franchise Rule requirements, state franchise registration and disclosure laws, and franchisor operating standards.
• Support due diligence and legal structuring for acquisitions of new franchise brands, units, or franchisee organizations.
• Provide legal guidance on real estate matters related to new site development, lease negotiations, and construction agreements tied to franchise expansion.
• Advise on the company's own emerging franchisor relationships, including drafting franchise disclosure documents (FDDs) and franchise agreements.
• Partner with operations, real estate, and finance teams to assess legal risk in expansion and development decisions.
• Manage outside counsel relationships and legal spend related to franchise matters.
• Monitor changes in franchise law and regulatory requirements across the states where Sun Holdings operates.
• Assist with dispute resolution related to franchise agreements, vendor contracts, and brand compliance issues.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school; active bar membership in Texas (or eligibility for reciprocity/waiver).
• 5+ years of legal experience with a substantial focus on franchise law; experience representing either franchisors or large multi-unit franchisees strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with FTC Franchise Rule, state franchise relationship and registration laws, and FDD preparation.
• Experience with M&A transactions, particularly acquisitions of franchise units or brands, is a plus.
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage a high volume of matters across multiple restaurant and retail brands simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills and comfort advising non-legal business stakeholders (operations, development, real estate).
• Prior in-house experience at a multi-unit franchise operator, restaurant company, or franchisor is a strong plus.

What Sun Holdings Offers

• Opportunity to work at one of the largest and most diversified franchise organizations in the country.
• Exposure to a wide range of legal work spanning franchise law, real estate, M&A, and regulatory compliance.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• A collaborative, entrepreneurial legal team supporting rapid, multi-brand growth.

Ready to get started? Apply today and join a team that’s making a big impact—one location at a time.

At Sun Holdings, we’re committed to providing a safe, efficient, and supportive environment—for our team and the guests we serve. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Curious about who we are? Check us out at www.sunholdings.net.

Work schedule

• Monday to Friday

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Referral program

Work schedule

• Monday to Friday