Associate General Counsel

Savory Fund; Draper, Northern (UT, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Savory Fund is seeking an experienced Associate General Counsel to join our legal team and support growth across our portfolio brands in the restaurant sector. The role focuses on commercial retail lease negotiation, contract review, and advising on governance and compliance.

You will collaborate with deal teams and brand leadership across real estate, contracts, litigation, and corporate governance. Reporting to the General Counsel, you’ll own a broad range of matters with opportunity for

Qualifications

• J.D. and active U.S. state bar membership (Utah preferred).
• 5–10 years of experience in commercial real estate/lease negotiation, commercial contracts, litigation management, and/or corporate/transactional law.
• Strong commercial retail lease negotiation experience strongly preferred.
• Restaurant, hospitality, franchise, multi-unit, or private equity experience a plus.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong drafting and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and draft commercial retail lease agreements and amendments across the portfolio.
• Support real estate development activity and site-related legal review for portfolio brands.
• Draft, review, and negotiate vendor and commercial contracts.
• Manage litigation and pre-litigation matters, including oversight of outside counsel.
• Advise on corporate governance, entity structuring, and formation for portfolio entities.
• Partner with deal teams on the legal aspects of acquisitions and brand transactions.
• Support board meetings, resolutions, and corporate filings.
• Develop and maintain internal policies (data privacy, anti-corruption, employment law, and more).
• Monitor regulatory developments and advise on compliance across the restaurant and investment industries.
• Review marketing and product materials for legal compliance.
• Independently manage a high volume of legal matters, escalating as appropriate.

Skills

Commercial real estate

Contract negotiations

Litigation management

Corporate/transactional law

Regulatory/compliance awareness

Education

J.D. (US)

Tools

Contract management software

Document management systems

Job description

Savory Fund is seeking an experienced Associate General Counsel to join our legal team and play a key role in supporting the growth of our portfolio brands. This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded attorney who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and wants direct ownership of a broad range of legal matters—with a particular focus on commercial retail lease negotiation.

Reporting to the General Counsel and Executive Leadership, you'll partner closely with deal teams and brand leadership across real estate, contracts, litigation, and corporate governance, serving as a trusted advisor at every level of the organization — from field leadership to the executive team.

What You’ll Do

• Negotiate and draft commercial retail lease agreements and amendments across the portfolio
• Support real estate development activity and site-related legal review for portfolio brands
• Draft, review, and negotiate vendor and commercial contracts
• Manage litigation and pre-litigation matters, including oversight of outside counsel
• Advise on corporate governance, entity structuring, and formation for portfolio entities
• Partner with deal teams on the legal aspects of acquisitions and brand transactions
• Support board meetings, resolutions, and corporate filings
• Develop and maintain internal policies (data privacy, anti-corruption, employment law, and more)
• Monitor regulatory developments and advise on compliance across the restaurant and investment industries
• Review marketing and product materials for legal compliance
• Independently manage a high volume of legal matters, escalating as appropriate

What You Bring

• J.D. and active U.S. state bar membership in good standing (Utah admission or eligibility preferred)
• 5–10 years of relevant experience in commercial real estate/lease negotiation, commercial contracts, litigation management, and/or corporate/transactional law
• Strong commercial retail lease negotiation experience strongly preferred
• Restaurant, hospitality, franchise, multi-unit, or private equity experience a plus
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong drafting and communication skills
• A collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to manage competing priorities under pressure
• Comfort with technology and document management systems
• Willingness to travel and provide occasional after-hours support

Why Savory Fund

Savory Fund invests in and scales emerging restaurant brands. We're guided by our core values — Competency, Humility, Integrity, and Positivity — and we're looking for a legal partner who shares that mindset and wants to make a tangible impact on our continued growth.

We use eVerify to confirm U.S. Employment eligibility.

• Compensation: Competitive salary