Corporate Paralegal

About Sarku Japan 

Sarku Japan is the largest Japanese quick-service restaurant chain in the United States, with 150+ locations across the country. Backed by Garnett Station Partners, we're entering an accelerated phase of growth and transformation. 

Great restaurants are built by great people. We believe our success starts with the people who bring our values to life every day. By investing in our employees, creating opportunities for growth, and recognizing meaningful contributions, we will become America’s Favorite Japanese Restaurant---because of you. 

Overview 

Reporting to the Vice President, General Counsel, the Corporate Paralegal provides hands-on legal and corporate governance support for Sarku Japan’s growing, multistate restaurant business. This Phoenix office-based role organizes entity records and approvals, supports contracts, claims, and legal projects, and performs notarial services under an active Arizona commission. The position supports the corporate secretary function under the General Counsel; formal officer decisions and signatures remain with authorized company leaders. 

Essential Responsibilities 

The Corporate Paralegal is accountable for the following essential responsibilities: 

• Maintain accurate entity records, minute books, organizational charts, officer and director lists, resolutions, written consents, and other corporate governance materials across the company’s entities. 
• Prepare draft board and committee agendas, minutes, consents, and certifications for the General Counsel’s review; coordinate meeting materials, approvals, signatures by authorized officers, and secure filing of final records. 
• Track entity filing calendars, annual reports, registrations, registered agent notices, and service of process. Coordinate timely submissions with internal owners, outside counsel, and filing vendors. 
• Support commercial and real estate work through contract intake, template preparation, redline coordination, signature routing, lease and agreement files, renewal tracking, and closing checklists. 
• Assist with claims, litigation, investigations, and regulatory matters by organizing documents, tracking deadlines, coordinating with outside counsel and other external stakeholders, and coordinating legal holds and evidence preservation as directed. 
• Monitor deadlines and follow-up items 
• Coordinate meetings and action items across stakeholders (internal and external) 
• Perform notarial acts in accordance with Arizona law, using independent notarial judgment and maintaining the commission, seal, journal, and other required records. 
• Maintain legal department files, matter trackers, template libraries, dashboards, and confidential records; help improve workflows and reporting; and support special projects, including entity simplification, as assigned. 
• Assist with various Legal Department initiatives, including template reviews, policy updates, and legal operations process improvements. 
• Identify missing information, deadlines, and issues requiring attorney judgment. Escalate them promptly and work under counsel’s direction without providing independent legal advice. 

Qualifications 

Minimum qualifications include: 

• Typically requires knowledge normally obtained through a paralegal certificate and 5+ years of experience as a paralegal or equivalent legal experience. Current, active Arizona Notary Public commission in good standing and ability to maintain that commission while in the role. 
• Experience with corporate records, entity filings, contracts, litigation support (including discovery management and legal holds), and/or legal operations. In-house, multientity, restaurant, retail, or other multistate business experience is preferred. 
• Strong organization, accuracy, discretion, attention to detail, customer-service orientation, and follow through; ability to manage competing deadlines simultaneously and work effectively with executives, field partners, and outside counsel 
• Excellent communications skills and experience with collaboration and cross-functional work. 

Leadership Expectations 

The Corporate Paralegal is expected to model reliable, service-minded support and reinforce a people-first culture. 

• Take ownership of deadlines and records, communicate progress clearly, and bring solutions when an issue needs attention. 
• Protect confidential and privileged information, use sound judgment, and know when to involve the General Counsel. 
• Build cooperative relationships across Legal, Finance, Human Resources, Operations, Development, and outside partners. 

Knowledge and Experience 

The role requires practical paralegal, corporate governance, and notarial knowledge across the following areas: 

• Corporate entity administration, board and officer documentation, filing calendars, record retention, and execution authority. 
• Contract and matter management, document organization, legal holds, confidentiality, and basic litigation support processes. 
• Arizona notarial requirements, including identity verification, journal and seal practices, and proper completion of notarial certificates. 
• Strong use of Microsoft Office, document management, spreadsheets, electronic signatures, and legal or contract tracking tools. 

Physical Requirements 

This role requires the ability to carry out office and document-based responsibilities, including: 

• Regular use of a computer, phone, and video tools to prepare and review documents, manage records, and communicate with colleagues and outside parties. 
• Moving within the office to retrieve records, attend meetings, and perform in-person notarial services. 

Working Conditions 

Works on-site in Sarku Japan’s Phoenix-area corporate office and handles confidential legal and business information. 

• A regular office schedule is expected, with occasional flexibility for time-sensitive filings, transactions, meetings, or notarial needs. 
• Limited local travel for filings, meetings, or other company business may be required. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Sarku Japan strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. 

Founded in 1987, Sarku Japan began with four entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to introduce Japanese teppanyaki cooking to the United States. Starting with a single location in the Liberty Tree Mall in Boston, Massachusetts, they built the company through hard work, shared responsibility, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
From the beginning, the vision was simple: serve fresh, made-to-order meals cooked directly in front of customers while delivering an experience that stood apart from traditional food court dining. Through energy, showmanship, and quality, Sarku Japan quickly built a loyal customer following.
The early years required determination, long hours, and an unwavering belief in the brand. As the company grew throughout the Northeast, Florida, Texas, and eventually across the country, the founders stayed committed to the philosophy of Kaizen — continuous improvement. That mindset continues to shape how we operate today, from refining recipes and operations to investing in our people and guest experience.
Today, Sarku Japan has grown into a nationally recognized brand with locations across the United States, including shopping centers, street-front restaurants, and military bases. While we have grown significantly since 1987, our commitment to quality, teamwork, innovation, and growth remains at the center of everything we do.

Salary

$80000.00 - $100000.00 per year

Benefits

Bonus pay, Paid time off

Job Type

Full time