AVP & Senior Counsel Litigation

Permanent Full Time 

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We are looking for an Assistant Vice-President (AVP) & Senior Counsel, Litigation. 

Reporting to the Vice-President & Associate General Counsel, Litigation and Employment, as an AVP & Senior Counsel, Litigation, you will be a key member and leader of the Canadian Litigation and Employment group and support our Canadian business units by providing practical and timely legal representation and advice in legal disputes and on strategic and tactical legal and regulatory issues, particularly in Québec. Your primary focus will be on litigation, human resource matters in Québec, and advice on Québec regulatory matters, but will also include supervision, advice and carriage of common law matters. Your work will be wide-ranging and will provide the opportunity to develop expertise in dynamic practice areas within the litigation function. You will have responsibility for a broad portfolio of legal matters and interact with and provide advice to senior management on a regular basis. You will work with, and lead, a highly accomplished team of legal professionals and your general responsibilities will include:

• Contributing as a member of the Canadian Legal group by bringing your experience, creative legal skills, and collaborative work ethic to deliver practical solutions to our businesses.
• Providing legal opinions, advice, recommendations to various business units on any legal matter which affects or involves the Company (both civil and common law), and being a specialist on legal matters involving Québec, including advice on regulatory compliance questions related to the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) and the Commission des normes de l’équité de la santé ed de la sécurité du travail (CNESST).
• Managing the day-to-day handling of requests for litigation advice, opinions and representation from various business units of the Company.
• Overseeing retaining, educating, instructing, and managing external counsel retained to handle litigation (civil and common law), Québec employment, and/or Québec regulatory matters involving the Company.
• Working closely with business units on select projects providing legal advice to further the business goals and meeting the business’s needs and goals.
•  Supporting a wide variety of business units in connection with legislative and regulatory matters, including advising on new legal and regulatory developments in Québec and/or with respect to litigation risk.
• Assisting the Vice-President & Associate General Counsel, Litigation and Employment on select legal matters and litigation team development, and broader Legal group initiatives.

Management/Leadership Function:

As an AVP & Senior Counsel, Litigation, you will be responsible for the efficient provision of litigation services through management of the litigation team’s work and associated administrative resources. You will also have senior leadership and oversight responsibilities for our Montreal legal team for Québec law matters. Your leadership responsibilities will include:

• Coaching, mentoring, and developing team members for in-role, career development and succession planning.
• Collaboratively liaising with various business groups and functional partners to establish priorities, monitoring business unit satisfaction and coordinating litigation work and services.
• Working collaboratively with your colleagues in the Canada Life Legal Group to ensure comprehensive and consistent advice is provided to the Company.
• Recruiting, performance evaluation, goal setting and compensation activities for lawyers on your team.
• Co-ordinating and/or contributing to strategic projects that support the business groups we support and the development of the litigation function, efficiencies and capabilities.
• Organizing and leading a variety of litigation team meetings and team meetings for our Montreal legal office.
• Managing various data collection and reporting processes, including for example, reviewing/approving all team member expenses, monitoring budget issues, reviewing and monitoring caseloads, file cycle metrics, and business unit reporting metrics.
• Coordinating leadership objectives and team management with the Litigation Leadership Team to ensure one team approach across various geographic locations, in both civil and common law jurisdictions.

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Member of the Barreau du Québec (required) and of the Law Society of Ontario (strongly recommended).
• 10 years of relevant work experience (law firm, in-house, or regulatory body)
• Bilingual in French and English (verbal and written).
• Experience leading a team of strong legal professionals and guiding them in their practice and career development, including both inside and outside Québec.
• Strong knowledge of the Québec regulatory environment, practices, procedures and principles applicable to the Company (e.g. AMF, CNESST)
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to synthesize and present issues with clarity to senior management in all business and functional areas.
• Strong drafting, legal and communication skills with a practical solution-oriented approach and the ability to use clear, plain language.
• Excellent judgment, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to identify key issues and provide an independent view to management in a clear and practical manner.
• Thorough understanding and up-to-date knowledge of court procedures and the Québec regulatory environment.
• Self-motivated, growth-oriented mindset with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Superior negotiating skills.
• Highly focused with attention to detail.

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Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Be your best at Canada Life- Apply today!

Being a part of Canada Life means you have a voice. This is a place where your unique background, perspectives and talents are valued, and shape our future success.

You can be your best here. You’re part of a diverse and inclusive workplace where your career and well-being are championed. You’ll have the opportunity to excel in your way, finding new and better ways to deliver exceptional customer and advisor experiences.

Together, as part of a great team, you’ll deliver on our shared purpose to improve the well-being of Canadians. It’s our driving force. Become part of a strong and successful company that’s trusted by millions of Canadians to do the right thing.

Canada Life serves the financial security needs of more than 13 million people across Canada, with additional operations in Europe and the United States. As members of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies, we’re one of Canada’s leading insurers with interests in life insurance, health insurance, investment and retirement savings. We offer a broad portfolio of financial and benefit plan solutions for individuals, families, businesses and organizations. 

We are committed to providing an inclusive, accessible environment, where all employees and customers feel valued, respected and supported. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we live, and to creating an environment where every employee has the opportunity to reach their potential. 

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Canada Life policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact talentacquisitioncanada@canadalife.com.

Canada Life would like to thank all applicants, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted.

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