When most people hear “McDonald’s,” they picture golden arches, Big Macs, or their morning coffee runs. Heather Maly, however, thinks about motion strategy, risk management, and brand protection. She joined McDonald’s Corporation as senior counsel of commercial litigation in 2024 and now resolves disputes, manages complex cases, and advises teams at one of the world’s most recognizable brands.
Heather did not grow up surrounded by lawyers. Her family worked in the haircare business, so her decision to pursue law was a clear departure from the norm. Long before joining McDonald’s, she recognized the traits that drew her toward law. “I’ve always been on the path to becoming a lawyer. I’m analytical, I’m a problem solver, and I like to read,” she reflects.
Even with that clarity, she took time to explore other paths before starting law school. Internships and early jobs helped her see if the profession matched her expectations. In college, she interned in a Public Relations department. After graduation, she worked as a paralegal for two years. While preparing for law school, she spent a year at a magazine, choosing something different to make sure law was right for her.
The early experiences laid the foundation for her future growth. The variety of roles, environments, and workloads reinforced the adaptable, solution-oriented mindset that would come to define her career and shape her next steps in commercial litigation.
Litigation foundations
Heather found her footing in commercial litigation at Venable. The New York office worked with a small team, so younger lawyers got to contribute beyond casework. “I really liked the litigators I was working with, and that felt like a natural fit,” she remembers. Along with her litigation work, she helped run the summer associate program and joined in recruiting, which let her shape the office’s culture and build her legal skills.
After several years at Venable, Heather made her next move for personal reasons. She wanted to be closer to her family in the Midwest, and Chicago offered the right balance of geography and opportunity. She joined Ice Miller, a firm with deep roots in Indianapolis. “I was familiar with Ice Miller. It’s an Indianapolis based firm, where I grew up,” she notes.
At Ice Miller’s Chicago office, Heather built her litigation applied ability with a close-knit team. After nearly 20 years in private practice, she handled disputes that called for careful navigation between legal analysis and business realities. Through that experience, she developed a practical, partnership-focused approach to advising clients. “You build trust by being responsive, prepared, thoughtful, creative, calm, and reliable,” she explains.
For Heather, providing good counsel is more than spotting risks. Early in her career, she learned to think through possible solutions before bringing problems to colleagues. If she found a tough case or document, she didn’t just hand it to senior team members; she looked for stronger sources, better documents, and ways to soften the impact. That habit of coming with options, not just obstacles, became a key part of how she worked with litigation teams.
As her foundation at Ice Miller grew, Heather became more reflective about her own development and the evolving demands of legal practice. Such reflections ultimately led her to consider new career directions and, eventually, to explore an in‑house role.
The in-house shift
Moving in house started a new chapter for Heather as she shifted from outside advisor to business partner. Joining McDonald’s gave her the chance to put her litigation skills to work in a dynamic, global organization.
The transition meant working with teams across the company. Every day, she collaborates with colleagues in the legal department and with groups throughout McDonald’s. Working in house changed how she sees her “clients.” Now, they are her business colleagues, responsible for operations, strategy, and growth.
Understanding how her colleagues operate is essential to giving practical advice. Heather focuses on their goals and how their work fits into McDonald’s larger operations. That outlook shapes her approach to litigation. She highlights partnership in problem-solving, not just legal analysis in a vacuum.
Seeing the whole picture
One of the biggest differences between private practice and an in‑house role is perspective. Outside counsel often enters after a dispute has begun and must get up to speed quickly on a narrow slice of the business. Internally, the legal team works with stakeholders much earlier in the process and more consistently over time.
Since joining McDonald’s, Heather has devoted significant effort to learning about its operations, culture, and strategic priorities. That knowledge directly influences her legal guidance. As her familiarity with the organization deepens, her ability to collaborate, anticipate issues, and offer tailored counsel grows.
Such holistic insight is harder to achieve for external lawyers who are typically engaged for specific matters. In-house, Heather sees the fuller picture: how a single dispute fits into larger initiatives, reputational considerations, and long‑term business plans.
Litigation at McDonald’s often means working with several teams. Heather relies on colleagues with specialized knowledge, from real estate to marketing to operations, to inform legal strategy. She brings legal analysis and judgment, while they offer subject matter expertise. Together, they shape approaches that balance legal risks and broader business needs. Collaboration across departments isn’t just helpful; it’s essential.
A shifting view of success
As Heather has grown as a professional, her view of success has changed too. Early in her career, external recognition such as performance reviews, assignments, or the senior lawyers she worked with played a bigger role in measuring progress. Over time, she shifted her focus to the substance of her work and the value she brings.
That change now influences how she approaches her role at McDonald’s. She places greater weight on being a strong collaborator, a trusted partner to the business, and someone who adds genuine value in each interaction. She also measures progress based on her own assessment of whether she is moving matters forward in a thoughtful, effective manner.
Outside the office, Heather takes time out to help her reset after busy days and maintain perspective. Cooking is one outlet. “I like to cook, and I find it very therapeutic,” she says. She enjoys both following recipes and improvising, finding the process of chopping, measuring, and assembling meals almost meditative.
Time with family offers another important counterbalance. “My family and I play a lot of games,” she notes, describing the laughter and connection that come with those gatherings. Even quiet moments at home matter. “I have a very sweet blind geriatric dog,” she adds, whose presence provides a simple, grounding comfort.
The transition to McDonald’s continues to deepen Heather’s perspective on legal work. Each matter strengthens her understanding of the business and her colleagues, reinforcing her belief that there will always be more to learn. Looking ahead, she sees continuous development as part of the job. “It’s going to be a constant opportunity to learn and grow,” she predicts, highlighting her commitment to evolving alongside the company and its needs.
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