In-House Counsel

Mandrake; Toronto; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Mandrake, based in Ontario, seeks an Ontario-based In-House Legal Counsel with 1–3 years of post-call experience to join its legal team. This broad corporate and commercial role will provide exposure to transactional and business issues across the company and its portfolio.

The successful candidate will work directly with the General Counsel and portfolio leadership, developing commercially minded and practical solutions while taking increasing ownership of matters.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years post-call experience in corporate/commercial law or related practice
• Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario
• Strong drafting, analytical and research skills
• Able to communicate complex legal issues clearly and concisely
• Demonstrates sound judgment and ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously
• Comfortable working independently with guidance when needed

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements including customer/supplier contracts, NDAs, leases and related documents
• Support portfolio companies on corporate matters including entity management, resolutions and filings
• Collaborate with business leaders to develop practical legal solutions for strategic initiatives
• Assist with M&A activities including due diligence, integration and post-closing matters
• Support regulatory, environmental, employment and cross-border issues across Canada/US

Skills

Post-call experience

Corporate/commercial law

M&A exposure

Drafting and negotiation

Analytical research skills

Communication of complex legal issues

Business acumen

Judgment and risk assessment

Independent work

Cross-border Canada/US familiarity

Education

Ontario Bar admission

Job description

Our client seeks an Ontario based In-House Legal Counsel, with 1 to 3 years of post-call experience, to join its legal team. This is a broad corporate and commercial role that will provide significant exposure to the legal, transactional and business issues that arise across the company and its portfolio of companies. The successful candidate will work directly with the company’s General Counsel and the leadership teams of its portfolio companies. The role is well suited to a lawyer who is commercially minded, intellectually curious, and interested in developing beyond a traditional legal specialty. The successful candidate will be expected to become familiar with the businesses they support, exercise judgment, and increasingly take ownership of matters rather than simply identify legal issues.

Ideal Candidate:

• Be a member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario.
• Have approximately 1 to 3 years of post-call legal experience.
• Have experience in corporate/commercial law, M&A or a related practice area, whether at a law firm or in-house.
• Have strong drafting, analytical and research skills.
• Be able to communicate complex legal issues clearly and concisely.
• Demonstrate sound judgment and an ability to distinguish material issues from immaterial ones.
• Be highly organized and capable of managing multiple matters simultaneously.
• Be comfortable working independently while knowing when to seek guidance.
• Have a genuine interest in understanding businesses and how they operate.
• Experience with private M&A, manufacturing businesses, employment matters, corporate governance, environmental matters or cross-border Canada/U.S. transactions would be an asset, but is not required.
• Commercial judgment - You should want to understand the business objective behind a legal question and help determine a practical path forward.
• Curiosity - The matters handled by the legal team vary considerably. You should enjoy learning about unfamiliar businesses, industries and areas of law.
• Ownership - We are looking for someone who wants responsibility and who will follow matters through from identifying an issue to implementing a solution.
• Pragmatism - Not every legal risk requires the same response. You should be capable of assessing the significance of a risk and communicating it in context.
• Clear communication - You should be able to communicate with executives, operators, external counsel and other stakeholders in a straightforward and practical manner.
• A desire to develop as a business lawyer and executive - This role offers exposure to the broader decisions involved in acquiring, owning and operating businesses, and we are looking for someone interested in developing that broader perspective.

Commercial Matters

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements, including customer and supplier agreements, NDAs, consulting agreements, leases and other operating contracts.
• Helping portfolio companies identify and manage contractual and commercial risks.
• Working directly with business leaders to develop practical solutions to legal issues.

Corporate Matters

• Supporting entity management for the company and its portfolio companies in Canada and the United States.
• Preparing resolutions, minutes and other corporate documentation.
• Assisting with corporate formations, incorporations, dissolutions and other entity matters.

Legal Operations & Special Projects

• Helping develop and improve legal processes, templates, policies and knowledge-management systems.
• Supporting the use of technology and artificial intelligence within the legal function.
• Conducting legal and business research and preparing concise recommendations for senior management.
• Participating in strategic and other cross-functional initiatives across the company and its portfolio companies.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Supporting acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic transactions.
• Assisting with legal due diligence, including reviewing corporate, commercial, employment, environmental, litigation, real estate and regulatory matters.
• Coordinating with external counsel, internal stakeholders and portfolio company management throughout transactions.
• Assisting with post-closing matters and integration initiatives.
• Acting as a legal resource to management teams across the company’s portfolio.
• Assisting with employment, regulatory, environmental, insurance, real estate and other matters affecting portfolio companies.
• Helping management teams assess legal risk while remaining focused on practical business outcomes.
• Assisting with litigation, claims and other disputes.
• Reviewing insurance coverage and assisting with claims.
• Supporting regulatory matters and responses to government authorities.

Why should you engage in a conversation?

The Organization - Successful corporation with a significant portfolio of assets throughout North America. The Work - Varied and high caliber with smart and committed colleagues. Impact -Accountable for results – make a measurable difference. Reports - to a proven SVP & General Counsel. Culture – Mission focused, Collaborative, Innovative.