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Chief Counsel - Walt Disney World

Job ID 10118023 Location Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States Business The Walt Disney Company (Corporate) Date posted Apr. 02, 2025
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Job Summary:

The Chief Counsel – Walt Disney World (WDW) has overall responsibility for legal matters affecting the WDW business as part of the Disney Experiences (DX) segment of The Walt Disney Company. 

This position will have substantial leadership and management responsibility overseeing a team of legal professionals supporting various lines of business within WDW, including theme parks and resorts.  The Chief Counsel is a member of the WDW Steering Committee and provides advice directly to the President of Walt Disney World Resort as well as other senior WDW executives. 

Responsibilities:

  • Quickly and accurately identify and evaluate legal risks in a complex business environment and provide expert and strategic legal advice to the business unit leaders.

  • Anticipate issues and proactively develop creative business-oriented and brand-consistent solutions to mitigate legal risks encompassing a wide range of practice areas, including product development, transactional matters, sales and marketing, IP, transportation, environmental compliance, customer service, regulatory compliance, safety, public affairs, joint ventures, unions, risk management (worker’s compensation and guest claims), and other related areas.

  • Protect the interests of The Walt Disney Company as a whole and effectively collaborate with legal and business leaders outside of WDW to achieve the best result.

  • Quickly make strategic risk-based decisions and elevate to senior legal and business leadership as necessary.

  • Attract, develop, mentor, direct, motivate and drive performance from the WDW legal team.

  • Provide inspiring leadership to consistently maintain a high standard of excellence.

  • Collaborate with leaders in the practice areas of employment, litigation, real estate, and government affairs.

  • Create associations of trust and respect with key stakeholders and the legal team, including senior executive business leaders, legal leaders, and external parties (e.g., regulators, external counsel, partners).

  • Keep abreast of relevant legislative and regulatory changes.

  • Ability to work in matrixed environment leveraging resourcing from different teams to drive results.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 15 years of experience in a business legal leadership role, leading and overseeing business legal advisor in multiple disciplines, in an in-house environment.

  • Demonstrated ability to evaluate risk, to advise business units of the risk and to exercise sound legal judgment.

  • Exceptional business acumen and ability to creatively develop business-oriented solutions to complex legal problems in a fast paced, consumer-facing environment.

  • Experience with a wide variety of commercial law practice areas including transactional matters, litigation, sales and marketing, IP, real estate, transportation, environmental, customer service, regulatory compliance, employment, litigation, safety, public affairs, joint ventures, unions, risk management (worker’s compensation and guest claims), and other related areas.

  • Proven leader experienced in managing a legal team operating in a multi-disciplinary environment. Experience in efficiency and productivity in managing a legal function at scale, demonstrable expertise in organizational design and change management.

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to collaborate.

  • Ability to operate independently, escalating to senior leadership as appropriate.

  • Law firm and budget management experience demonstrating creative thinking about law firm spend and legal technology usage.

  • Active license in good standing to practice law in a US jurisdiction and capable of meeting admission requirements in Florida.

  • Understanding of theme park, cruise ships, resort, consumer product and/or media industries is a plus.

Required Education:

  • Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree or equivalent international degree

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About The Walt Disney Company (Corporate):

At Disney Corporate you can see how the businesses behind the Company’s powerful brands come together to create the most innovative, far-reaching and admired entertainment company in the world. As a member of a corporate team, you’ll work with world-class leaders driving the strategies that keep The Walt Disney Company at the leading edge of entertainment. See and be seen by other innovative thinkers as you enable the greatest storytellers in the world to create memories for millions of families around the globe.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc., which is part of a business we call The Walt Disney Company (Corporate).

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, genetic information or disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS

The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliated Companies are Equal Employment Opportunity employers and welcome all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or apply for a position, visit the Disney candidate disability accommodations FAQs. We will only respond to those requests that are related to the accessibility of the online application system due to a disability.

Having technical issues? View the FAQs for help.

Hiring Process

  • Where Does Your Story Begin?

    Explore Disney Careers and the Life at Disney blog to learn about all the amazing opportunities waiting to be discovered at The Walt Disney Company.

  • Be Part of the Story

    There are many different brands and businesses to explore. Once you've found the opportunity that is right for you, take the next step by completing your application.

  • The Next Chapter

    Once you've applied, you will receive an email allowing you to access your candidate dashboard. Create your login and make sure to check your dashboard often to see your application progress.

Explore this Location Lake Buena Vista, FL

Lake Buena Vista is home to the Disney Springs retail, dining and entertainment complex, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course and several resort hotels are located with the City limits.

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