General Counsel

INTER-STATE STUDIO & PUBLISHING CO•Sedalia, MO

7d•$150,000 - $210,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Inter-State Studio is a family-owned school photography and yearbook company that has been successfully serving schools for 90 years. By listening to the needs of our customers and utilizing the latest technologies, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality school portraits and yearbooks with affordable pricing and excellent service. About the Role We are looking for a strategic and collaborative General Counsel that will translate Inter-State Studio's vision into actionable legal strategy that protects and supports the company and its growing network of franchise partners. This is a business-minded leadership role that pairs broad corporate legal responsibility with focused ownership of our franchise regulatory program. Leading the company's Legal & Compliance function, will include supervision and development of the Legal & Compliance team, as well as partnering closely with executive leadership, teams across the organization, and our franchise partners. In addition to the legal work performed, success in this role will also include the business outcomes achieved, risks appropriately managed, and trust built across the organization.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

Experience in franchising, retail, or another multi-unit business model
Experience leading or supervising legal and compliance professionals
Hands-on experience leveraging AI tools, legal technology, and workflow automation to improve legal operations
Experience in manufacturing or with distribution agreements

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted legal advisor to executive leadership and department leaders on a wide range of legal and business matters
Lead and develop the Legal & Compliance team, providing direction, coaching, and oversight of departmental priorities
Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and business risks, including commercial disputes, regulatory matters, and contract breaches
Develop and implement legal policies, procedures, and compliance programs that support business objectives and mitigate risk
Coordinate with external counsel and represent the company in legal proceedings as needed
Partner with executive leadership to proactively identify organizational risks and develop appropriate response strategies
Oversee the drafting, review, and approval of the Inter-State's annual Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreements
Lead annual FDD filings and franchise registration and renewal processes across applicable states
Ensure ongoing compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Rule and applicable state franchise laws
Provide real-time legal guidance regarding disclosure requirements, exemptions, franchisee onboarding, territories, and transaction structuring
Lead the company's franchise compliance program in partnership with Franchise, Operations, and Legal & Compliance teams
Support process improvements and automation that enhance FDD production and franchise compliance
Oversee corporate governance practices and maintain corporate documents and the company's legal entity structure
Draft, review, and negotiate contracts and agreements, including vendor and supplier contracts, school bids, acquisition contracts, leases, and service agreements
Facilitate licensing, trademark, statutory, and business license filings
Ensure compliance with privacy regulations and other regulatory requirements relevant to the business
Collaborate with Sales, Operations, Finance, IT, Franchise, and other departments on contracts, agreements, and legal matters
Provide legal 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 the evaluation, implementation, and governance of AI-enabled legal tools and technologies
Identify opportunities to improve contract management, legal research, compliance monitoring, risk assessment, and legal workflows
Establish appropriate controls for the ethical and compliant use of AI and legal technology, including data privacy considerations
Continuously improve legal processes to increase efficiency, consistency, and business value