Form: S-8

Initial registration statement for securities to be offered to employees pursuant to employee benefit plans

March 2, 2010

Documents


Exhibit 5.1
   
March  2, 2010
  

Board of Directors
Papa John’s International, Inc.
2002 Papa Johns Boulevard
Louisville, Kentucky 40299-2367
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to Papa John’s International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) relating to the proposed offering of up to 200,000 shares of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), all of which are issuable pursuant to the Papa John’s International, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter expressed.  In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including telecopies). As to all matters of fact, we have relied on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so relied on.  This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.

This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended. We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations. As used herein, the term “Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended” includes the statutory provisions contained therein, all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws.

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, following (i) issuance of the Shares in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and any relevant forms of agreements issued pursuant thereto, and (ii) receipt by the Company of the consideration for the Shares specified in the resolutions of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors authorizing the issuance thereof, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

This opinion letter has been prepared for use in connection with the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Very truly yours,

/s/ HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.
 
HOGAN & HARTSON L.L.P.