A little more than a year after his award-winning tenure as general counsel of Chuck E. Cheese came to an end, Rudy Rodriguez has found a new home with another strong brand with a fiercely loyal customer base serving kids and families.
Rodriguez joined Dave & Buster’s as the Dallas-based food and entertainment company’s chief legal officer and corporate secretary in January. In an interview with The Texas Lawbook, he called it a “perfect continuation of a career that I genuinely love.”
At CEC, Rodriguez built a team that grew from two lawyers and one paralegal to 33 employees at its peak. He was recognized by the DFW Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel and The Texas Lawbook as the General Counsel of the Year for a Small Legal Department in 2020 for his leadership guiding CEC through a pandemic-induced Chapter 11 restructuring.
Rodriguez will lead a team of 12 at D&B, including four lawyers, and his responsibilities include risk management and business licensing. Plus, D&B owns Main Event, so even more family fun for Rodriguez.
Rodriguez succeeds Bryan McCrory as D&B’s top lawyer. McCrory retired at the end of the year.
The son of two educators, Rodriguez created the Denton High School Family Assistance Foundation, which provides financial assistance in the form of grants to current and former students, faculty, and staff of Denton High School in times of sudden and unexpected medical or other crises. You can learn more here.
The Lawbook visited with Rodriguez to learn more about his new post, which is one of the most notable corporate in-house placements so far this year.
Texas Lawbook: What was it about the Dave & Buster’s CLO position that attracted you to the job?
Rudy Rodriguez: I was drawn to the chief legal officer position at Dave & Buster’s because it represents a natural and exciting progression in my career. During my time at CEC Entertainment, I gained invaluable experience and refined my leadership style. Dave & Buster’s allows me to build on that foundation in a new and challenging environment.
As a public company, Dave & Buster’s presents a unique set of responsibilities, particularly in the areas of board relations, corporate governance, SEC reporting, and shareholder engagement. I’m eager to contribute my expertise while continuing to grow as a corporate attorney and a key member of the executive team. Becoming part of another company with a tremendously strong brand and vibrant culture is an incredible opportunity, and I’m excited to help drive its success.
Texas Lawbook: Going from CEC to D&B’s, it seems like you are developing a niche in the world of food and entertainment. Is that intentional or are the positions vastly different?
Rodriguez: I’ve certainly developed a deep affection for the dining and family entertainment industry over the past decade, so this opportunity was especially attractive to me. What I find so rewarding and fulfilling about this industry is its underlying purpose of bringing joy to kids and families, fostering connections, and creating memorable experiences for families and friends, all of which are values that are tremendously important to me.
The throughline of the companies I’ve had the privilege of working with in my career is strong brand recognition and a fiercely loyal customer base. There’s a special pride in being part of brands so many people immediately recognize and connect with. Joining Dave & Buster’s, a company that brings people together for fun and good food is a perfect continuation of a career that I genuinely love.
Texas Lawbook: What are some of the legal and compliance issues that companies such as Dave & Buster’s are facing?
Rodriguez: In our current challenging economic environment, the primary role of any corporate legal department is to support the company in achieving its financial and strategic goals while navigating an increasingly complex legal and regulatory landscape. For Dave & Buster’s and Main Event, key areas of focus include driving domestic and international growth, increasing store traffic, and ensuring exceptional guest satisfaction — all of which of course contribute to delivering strong shareholder returns.
The legal department plays a critical role in enabling these priorities by ensuring that the company operates in full compliance with its obligations, promotes and follows the highest ethical standards, and effectively manages risk. Whether it’s navigating regulatory requirements, supporting expansion efforts, or protecting the brand’s reputation, the goal of my team is to be a strategic partner in the company’s success.
Texas Lawbook: How many lawyers and legal professionals are in the D&B’s legal/compliance departments?
Rodriguez: My team includes four attorneys (including myself), all of whom are generalists who have developed areas of special expertise supporting specific functions within the company. I also lead the Risk Management and Business Licensing groups and an SEC-reporting specialist, bringing the total size of my team to 12 professionals.