Assistant Vice-President (AVP) & Senior Counsel, Litigation

TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario, London Economic Development Corporation; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Canada Life is seeking an AVP and Senior Counsel, Litigation, to lead a Canadian Litigation and Employment team. You will provide practical legal advice to business units across complex disputes, with a focus on life, health, and disability-related matters, while guiding external counsel.

You will manage a high-performing team, drive strategic initiatives, coach for succession, and work closely with senior management to align legal strategy with business goals.

Qualifications

• Member of the Law Society of Ontario, or Manitoba, and in good standing.
• 10+ years of relevant work experience in litigation, in-house, or a regulatory body.
• Strong experience leading and coaching a team of legal professionals.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for senior management.
• Excellent judgment and independent, practical problem-solving.
• Thorough understanding of current court procedures.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and detail-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Provide litigation advice and support to business units with practical solutions.
• Oversee retention and management of external counsel for litigation matters.
• Lead development and execution of strategic team initiatives and priorities.
• Coach, mentor, and develop team members for career growth.
• Coordinate litigation work with cross-functional partners and Canada Life Legal Group.
• Organize and lead litigation team meetings and ensure knowledge sharing.

Skills

Team leadership

Legal judgment

Oral & written communication

Analytical thinking

Independence

Attention to detail

Education

Ontario Bar admission

Law degree

Job description

Reporting to the Vice-President & Associate General Counsel, Litigation and Employment, as an AVP & Senior Counsel, Litigation, you will be a key leader of the Canadian Litigation and Employment team. You will support our Canadian business units by providing practical and timely legal representation and advice on a variety of legal disputes, with a focus on life, health, and disability-related litigation.

A key aspect of your role will be to lead a highly accomplished and engaged team of legal professionals with purpose and authenticity and to contribute to the strategic leadership of the team.

Your work will be wide-ranging, complex, and will provide the opportunity to develop expertise in dynamic practice areas within the litigation function. You will interact with and provide advice to senior management on a regular basis.

Your general responsibilities will include:

Litigation Advice and Support

• Offering deep litigation experience, creative legal skills, and a collaborative work ethic to deliver practical solutions to our business partners.
• Providing legal opinions, advice, recommendations to various business units on a range of litigation matters which affect or involve the Company.
• Managing the day-to-day requests for litigation advice, opinions and representation from various business units of the Company.
• Overseeing retaining, instructing, and managing external counsel retained to handle litigation.
• Working closely with business partners on select projects providing legal advice to further business goals and priorities.
• Assisting the Vice-President & Associate General Counsel, Litigation and Employment on select legal matters.

Team Leadership – Leading Others to Success

• Leading the development and implementation of strategic team initiatives and priorities that support team engagement and business objectives.
• Coaching, mentoring, and developing team members for in-role career development and succession planning.
• Recruiting, performance evaluation, goal setting and compensation activities for lawyers on your team.
• Providing guidance to the team and escalating issues proactively to senior leadership.
• Collaboratively working with various business groups and functional partners to establish priorities and coordinating litigation work and services.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues in the Canada Life Legal Group to ensure comprehensive and consistent advice is provided to the Company and to promote knowledge sharing and continuous learning.
• Organizing and leading a variety of litigation team meetings.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Member of the Law Society of Ontario, or Manitoba (required) and in another provincial bar, for example British Columbia (asset).
• 10+ years of relevant work experience (law firm, in-house, or regulatory body).
• Strong experience leading and coaching a team of strong legal professionals and guiding them in their practice and career development.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to synthesize and present complex issues with clarity to senior management in all business and functional areas.
• 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, particularly on complex matters.
• Thorough understanding and up-to-date knowledge of relevant court procedures.
• Self-motivated, intellectually curious, adaptable, and growth-oriented mindset with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Highly focused with attention to detail.

Given the size and scope of our organization, we have the flexibility for this position to be located in the following head office locations: Winnipeg, Toronto, or London.

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.

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 servesthe 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 employeehas the opportunity toreach 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 [e-mail].

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

Location

Winnipeg, MB, CA London, ON, CA Toronto, ON, CA

Date: Sep 2, 2026