Data Privacy Legal Counsel

At McDonald’s UK & Ireland, we serve over 4 million customers every day, and protecting their data is central to maintaining trust in our brand. We’re looking for a Data Privacy Counsel to join our Legal team and help shape the future of privacy governance in one of the UK&I’s most successful restaurant businesses.

Reporting directly to the UK&I Data Protection Officer (DPO), you’ll be a trusted advisor across the business, ensuring compliance with UK, EU, and global data protection laws. This is a high-profile role with visibility across departments, offering the opportunity to shape the future of privacy governance in one of the UK&I’s most successful restaurant businesses.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Advise on new products, programmes, and digital initiatives involving personal data.
• Draft and update privacy policies, notices, and guidance for customers, employees, and franchisees.
• Lead DPIAs, LIAs, and TRAs for data processing and transfers.
• Negotiate and review Data Processing Agreements, including international transfers.
• Support with rights requests, data breaches, and regulator correspondence.
• Deliver training and raise awareness of data protection across the business.
• Provide practical, commercially minded advice on AdTech, loyalty apps, CRM, cookies, and AI.
• Stay ahead of evolving legislation and translate requirements into business‑friendly solutions.

Qualifications

What You’ll Need:

• Qualified solicitor with 4-6 years’ PQE in UK data privacy law.
• In‑house experience preferred, or from a leading law firm.
• Strong expertise in GDPR, UK Data Protection Act, and related frameworks.
• Proven experience advising on customer data, AdTech, digital marketing, and data breaches.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Commercially aware, pragmatic, and solution‑focused.
• Extra privacy qualifications (eg. CIPP/E, AI certifications) are a plus.

Additional Information

Company Vision and Culture…

Our Global vision is to build a better McDonald’s and in the UK and Ireland we are working hard to be the UK & Irelands best-loved restaurant company.

McDonald’s is defined by its culture. Our culture shapes and informs everything we think and everything we do. Our culture influences the way we interact with each other, and how we interact with customers, franchisees and suppliers. Our culture motivates and inspires us to attract and retain great talent, creating positive, energising, exceptional working environment for us all.

Our values drive our culture and shape our beliefs, our priorities and our actions. They influence the decisions we make, how we treat one another and how we show up as a brand to the world.

Serve: We put our customers and our people first
Inclusion: We open our doors to everyone
Integrity: We do the right thing
Community: We are good neighbours
Family: We get better together

At McDonald’s we are People from all Walks of Life... 

People are at the heart of everything we do, and they make the McDonald’s experience. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture that means people can be their best authentic self in our restaurants and offices, which helps us to better serve our customers. We have a strong heritage of diversity and representation within our communities, which we are proud of. The diversity of our people, customers, Franchisees and suppliers gives us strength.

We do not tolerate inequality, injustice or discrimination of any kind.  These are hugely important issues and a brand with our reach and relevance means we have a very meaningful role to play.

We also recognise our responsibility as a large employer to continue being active in our communities, helping to develop skills and drive aspirations that will help people to be more aware of the world of work and more successful within it, whether with McDonald’s or elsewhere.”

#LI-Hybrid

About the Company

About Us

McDonald’s has run its business in the UK since 1974 and currently operates over 1500 restaurants across the UK and Ireland, serving almost four million customers each day. McDonald’s is one of the UK’s largest private sector employers, employing over 170,000 people.

Hybrid Working

This role is based in our East Finchley office working 3 days in the office and 2 days remotely