Rachel Morgan began her tenure as chief legal officer at Dave & Buster’s by spending her first week engaging directly with employees and immersing herself in the company’s operations. The Dallas-Fort Worth–based entertainment and dining company, headquartered in Coppell, announced Morgan’s transition following the departure of former top lawyer Rudy Rodriguez.
Morgan, who previously served as general counsel at Nexstar Media Group, said her initial week involved meeting team members across various levels, shadowing managers, and experiencing the company’s dining and gaming offerings firsthand. She described the experience positively, noting the valuable insights gained into both the business and its workforce. Among her favorite food items were the pepperoni pizza with a cauliflower crust and the key lime pie cheesecake. Morgan also enjoyed playing newer games such as those based on Stranger Things and John Wick, and took part in activities at Main Event, including the ropes course and laser tag.
Rodriguez, who had served as the company’s chief legal officer before Morgan, announced plans to join General Counsel Solutions on July 1 alongside former Dell legal executive Janet Bawcom, providing fractional general counsel services.
A University of Texas School of Law graduate, class of 1999, Morgan’s legal career began at Fulbright & Jaworski and Morgan Lewis before shifting in-house. She spent nearly a decade at AT&T and subsequently four years as general counsel at Nexstar prior to joining Dave & Buster’s.
In discussing her motivations for accepting the chief legal officer role, Morgan highlighted the company’s people, culture, and strategic vision. She praised the “fun” environment central to Dave & Buster’s identity—reflected in the company’s stock ticker symbol, “PLAY”—and expressed enthusiasm about the brand’s potential to integrate dining, gaming, sports, and technology for long-term growth.
Morgan recognized challenges common to family entertainment businesses, citing economic fluctuations, evolving consumer preferences, and heightened competition for leisure spending. She emphasized Dave & Buster’s unique market position through its combination of social dining and interactive entertainment, outlining the opportunity to cultivate repeat customer engagement beyond special events.
In addition to her corporate responsibilities, Morgan remains active in pro bono and community service initiatives. She co-chaired the Dallas Bar Association’s Equal Access to Justice Campaign in 2023-2024, helping to raise over $1.3 million for pro bono legal services. Currently, she serves on the boards of the Dallas Bar Association’s Community Services Fund and the Dallas Bar Foundation, participates in the Texas A&M Foundation and other local organizations, and plans to integrate Dave & Buster’s legal team into similar outreach efforts.
Reflecting on the broader role of general counsel, Morgan noted the need to balance fast-paced, fiscally responsible legal advice with risk management in an increasingly complex environment. She acknowledged that chief legal officers face the ongoing task of aligning legal strategy with business priorities, a challenge she aims to address as she settles into her new position at Dave & Buster’s.