Counsel, Technology/IT

Inspire Brands; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

The Inspire Brands Legal Department seeks an experienced technology and commercial transactions attorney to support the company’s technology and IT initiatives across its portfolio of brands, including Dunkin, Arby’s, Jimmy John’s, and Sonic. You will negotiate complex tech agreements, provide practical legal advice, and help govern AI-related initiatives.

Ideal candidates will have 5+ years of tech contracting experience, a JD from an accredited U.S. law school, and active bar admission.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of technology and commercial transactional experience in a law firm and/or in-house
• Experience with SaaS, software/hardware licenses, data licensing, and related tech agreements
• Experience advising on AI-related matters and AI governance is preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiation, drafting, and execution of complex technology and data-related agreements including SaaS, license, hardware, and data licenses
• Interpret and advise on contract provisions and legal implications for internal clients
• Provide strategic legal counsel on licensing, technology, and commercial matters with emphasis on AI
• Support AI governance by vetting use cases and ensuring contractual protections
• Stay current on AI-related laws, regs, and market-standard provisions
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage risk and enable fast, responsible business decisions
• Develop and maintain contract templates and playbooks for the Tech/IT legal group
• Complete projects and provide general team support

Skills

Technology contracts

Negotiation

Drafting & editing

AI governance awareness

Education

Juris Doctor from an accredited U.S. law school

Active state bar admission (U.S.)

Job description

The Inspire Brands Legal Department is seeking an experienced technology and commercial transactional attorney to join its Technology/IT legal team. This role will provide comprehensive, proactive legal support to the Inspire Brands businesses that power and support the company’s portfolio of brands, including Dunkin, Baskin-Robbins, Arby’s, Jimmy John’s, SONIC, and Buffalo Wild Wings. The team focuses on supporting Inspire’s Technology and IT organization, as well as the technology needs of commercial and corporate functions, including marketing, data and analytics, finance, human resources, and legal. The role requires close collaboration with internal stakeholders and the ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice on a broad range of technology, commercial, contracting, and AI-related matters.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the negotiation, drafting, and execution of complex, strategic brand-level and enterprise-wide technology transactions critical to the operations of Inspire, its brands and restaurants, including SaaS agreements, software license agreements, hardware purchase agreements, data licensing agreements, consulting agreements, proof-of-concept agreements, statements of work, and similar arrangements supporting technology initiatives across the portfolio of brands.

• Interpret and advise internal clients on the company’s rights, obligations, restrictions, and other contractual provisions in technology and commercial agreements, including explaining the legal and business implications of proposed actions under existing contracts.

• Provide strategic legal advice and counsel on a variety of licensing, technology, commercial, and related legal matters, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence.

• Support the company’s AI governance program by advising on AI-related issues, reviewing and vetting use cases, and helping ensure appropriate contractual protections are in place.

• Stay current on market-standard AI contractual provisions and legal, regulatory, and industry developments applicable to artificial intelligence and related technologies.

• Support strategic enterprise-level initiatives and innovation efforts, including analyzing legal risks associated with new and existing technology initiatives from ideation through implementation.

• Communicate, coordinate, and collaborate with cross-functional teams, including privacy, cybersecurity, technology, procurement, and business stakeholders, to develop strategies for addressing legal issues, managing risk, and enabling the business to move quickly and responsibly.

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with technology and business teams at both the Inspire Brands enterprise level and individual brand level.

• Assist with the development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of contract templates, playbooks, and standard provisions used by the Technology/IT legal team.

• Complete projects and tasks as assigned and provide general support to the team.

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

• Juris Doctor from an accredited U.S. law school.

• Active member in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar.

EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of technology and commercial transactional experience at a law firm and/or in-house legal department.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Substantial experience with technology and commercial contracting, including enterprise technology agreements, SaaS agreements, software and hardware license and purchase agreements, consulting agreements, and statements of work. Experience contracting for AI technologies and advising on AI-related matters is preferred.

• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills, including the ability to lead contract negotiations that achieve appropriate legal protection for the company and strong commercial outcomes.

• Ability to analyze, interpret, and clearly communicate legal strategies, contract requirements, and risk considerations to business stakeholders.

• High level of agility, initiative, sound judgment, and ability to manage a high volume of work with minimal supervision while prioritizing multiple deadlines.

• Highly motivated self-starter with a strong work ethic and the ability to work effectively under pressure with tight deadlines and manage competing priorities efficiently.

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trusted internal client relationships, work effectively across all levels of the company, and contribute to a collaborative, team-oriented culture.

Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,300 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide. We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.