Director Legal Counsel

Fairstone; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services company located in Toronto is seeking a Director Legal Counsel. This role involves providing strategic legal advice for residential and commercial mortgage lending, managing compliance, and supporting business operations. The ideal candidate will have a Law Degree, be licensed to practice in Canada, and possess 5-7 years of Corporate Law or Real Estate experience. Join a dynamic legal team in a growing company recognized for its workplace culture.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of Corporate Law or Real Estate experience.
• Licensed to practice law in Canada.
• Experience in residential and/or commercial mortgage lending.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to the mortgage lending line of business.
• Draft and negotiate agreements and review contracts.
• Manage regulatory filings and support HR and employment law matters.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Strategic Planning

Operational Excellence

Decision Making & Analysis

Legal Skills

Education

University Degree, Law Degree

Job description

Overview

Reporting to Chief Legal Officer, the Director Legal Counsel is responsible for supporting the company’s residential and commercial mortgage lending line of business operating under the Home Trust brand, and for ensuring that corporate risk and compliance are managed to the highest level of governance for the Company. Experience with and a strong knowledge of real estate and the regulatory requirements applicable to mortgage lending are essential for this role. You will provide strategic and legal advice to other company business units, work independently or as part of a team in a fast-paced environment, and bring a positive, creative can-do attitude, a desire to learn, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves to get work done. Based in Toronto, you will be a key member of a dynamic in-house legal team located in Montreal and Toronto and have an opportunity to grow and develop the skills required of in-house lawyers by working directly with business colleagues to advise and manage legal and regulatory risk while enabling the business to grow.

General Corporate Matters

• Provide general in-house legal advice and counsel to, including marketing, procurement and Compliance.
• Support other areas of the Company’s operations by working with all levels of the business to develop and implement effective legal and business strategies and processes.
• Draft and negotiate agreements and review contracts and other material agreements entered by the Company.

Mortgage Lending & Securitization

• Advise on residential and commercial mortgage business, including review of mortgage transaction agreements, broker agreements and mortgage securitization programs.

In-house Legal Department Operations

As a member of an in-house legal department, you will be expected to support the day-to-day operation of the legal function; you may be asked to:

• Manage regulatory filings for the Company.
• Administer the Company’s trademarks.
• Support HR and employment law matters.
• Manage litigation.
• Apply experience and knowledge of the regulatory framework applicable to mortgage lending, including but not limited to the Trust and Loan Companies Act, the CMHC securitization framework and the National Housing Act.

Qualifications

• Education Requirement: University Degree, Law Degree, licensed to practice law in Canada and a lawyer in good standing with a provincial law society.
• Years of Experience: 5–7 years of Corporate Law or Real Estate experience, obtained in a law firm and/or another regulated in-house environment with expertise in residential and/or commercial mortgage lending.

Additional Qualifications, Certifications, Skills

• Collaboration: Works collaboratively as part of the Legal team with business colleagues to achieve the highest levels of performance in alignment with the Company’s values.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Shares information in a timely, clear, simple and consistent manner. Balances honest communication with confidentiality and business relevance.
• Strategic Planning: Anticipates upcoming issues and identifies solutions, inspiring others to take initiative and ownership to deliver business results.
• Operational Excellence: Drives continuous improvement of departmental processes and practices to simplify and improve efficiency and effectiveness. Implements change with understanding, participation and ownership.
• Decision Making & Analysis: Acts as a credible source whose opinion is valued both within and outside the company. Can make decisions with organization-wide impact and identifies risks and mitigates them.
• Legal Skills: Demonstrates problem solving, decision making, judgment, reasoning and planning; professional maturity; exceptional negotiation and influencing skills; commitment to broaden legal skills.

We are proud to be recognized as: Great Place to Work Canada for 2025 and Montreal’s Top Employers 2025 by Canada’s Top 100 Employers.

Learn more: https://www.fairstone.ca/en/about/canadian-lender

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fairstone/mycompany/

If you have a preferred language for communication, please inform us whether you prefer French or English on your application.

Fairstone is an equal opportunity employer. We will make reasonable accommodations to respond to the needs of people with disabilities. Individuals who view themselves as Aboriginal or members of visible minorities, and disabled, are encouraged to apply in confidence.

Time Type: Full time

Job Type: Permanent