EX-5.1 3 ex5-1.txt EXHIBIT 5.1 1 EXHIBIT 5.1 Opinion of Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, A Professional Corporation STRADLING YOCCA CARLSON & RAUTH A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION ATTORNEYS AT LAW 660 NEWPORT CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 1600 NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA 92660-6441 TELEPHONE (949) 725-4000 FACSIMILE (949) 725-4100 SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE 44 MONTGOMERY STREET, SUITE 2950 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94104 TELEPHONE (415) 765-9180 FACSIMILE (415) 765-9187 July 12, 2000 CKE Restaurants, Inc. 401 W. Carl Karcher Way Anaheim, California 92801 RE: Registration Statement on Form S-8 Ladies and Gentlemen: At your request, we have examined the form of Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") being filed by CKE Restaurants, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock"), issuable under the Company's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the "Plan"). We have examined the proceedings heretofore taken and are familiar with the additional proceedings proposed to be taken by the Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and sale of the securities referred to above. Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that the 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock, when issued under the Plan and against full payment therefor in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, will be legally and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, /s/ STRADLING YOCCA CARLSON & RAUTH