Lead Legal Counsel

WSP; Toronto; On-site; CAD 123,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in Toronto (hybrid) seeks Lead Legal Counsel to advise the Transportation & Infrastructure sector across Canada on complex contracts and strategic opportunities. You will help project teams make informed decisions while protecting WSP’s interests.

You will lead negotiations, draft and review commercial agreements, assess legal risk, and provide timely guidance through the project life cycle in a collaborative, team-based environment.

Qualifications

• Canadian provincial bar membership in good standing.
• 10+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably in-house, with transportation/infrastructure projects.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements in construction/engineering.
• Experience with traditional and alternative delivery models (design-build, JV, partnering).
• Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable advice for senior management and multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Strong business judgement and risk-management with ability to manage multiple urgent priorities.
• Collaborative and autonomous approach with initiative and attention to detail.
• Bilingual in French and English; proficiency with Microsoft Office 365; hybrid role requiring three days/week in the office.

Responsibilities

• Lead the negotiation, drafting and interpretation of contracts for major projects across Canada.
• Advise project teams with strategic, practical legal guidance through the project life cycle.
• Review and negotiate responses to RFPs and support service offers for major pursuits.
• Assess legal risk and present recommendations to internal committees.
• Guide compliance with authorization matrix, policies and applicable laws.
• Partner with Claims & Litigation to assess disputes and advise responses.
• Draft and review legal documents, including contract templates, and engage with stakeholders.
• Support ongoing projects and broader Legal Team on priorities.

Skills

Bar admission (Canada)

10+ years experience

Commercial contracts drafting

Construction/engineering industry

Alternative delivery models

English/French bilingual

Microsoft Office 365

In-house experience

Tools

Office 365

Job description

TORONTO OR ANY MAJOR LOCATION IN CANADA | HYBRID

What if you could redefine what's possible?

With us, you can. You want Purpose. Growth. Opportunity. People who get it.

We are the home of ambitious, passionate, and innovative world shapers.

With an unmatched breadth and depth of engineering, advisory and science-based expertise, our global minds unite to power local solutions.

We are pathfinders and impact makers.

We are Visioneers .

We are WSP

The Opportunity

Shape What Comes Next

Bring your legal judgement to major transportation and infrastructure projects across Canada. As Lead Legal Counsel within the Commercial & Contracts Team, you will advise the Transportation & Infrastructure sector on complex contracts, strategic opportunities and project delivery, helping teams make informed decisions while protecting WSP’s interests.

Your Impact

• Lead the negotiation, drafting and interpretation of contracts for major, mega and alternative delivery model projects across Canada.
• Advise project teams throughout the project life cycle with strategic, practical and timely legal guidance.
• Review and negotiate public and private requests for proposals and support service offers for major and strategic pursuits.
• Assess the legal risk profile of business opportunities and present informed recommendations to internal decision-making committees.
• Guide compliance with WSP’s authorization matrix, corporate policies, governance requirements and applicable laws and regulations.
• Partner with the Claims & Litigation Team to assess contractual disputes and claims and advise on appropriate responses.
• Draft and review legal documents, including WSP contract templates, and engage with internal stakeholders, clients and project partners.
• Support ongoing projects and the broader Legal Team on emerging priorities and business needs.

The Skills That Set You Apart

• Membership in good standing with a Canadian provincial bar.
• At least 10 years of relevant legal experience, preferably in-house, with experience supporting transportation and infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements in the construction and/or engineering industry.
• Experience with traditional and alternative delivery models, including collaborative agreements, progressive design-build, integrated project delivery, joint ventures, teaming and partnering agreements.
• Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable advice for senior management, executives and multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Strong business judgement, risk-management capability, conflict-resolution skills and the ability to manage multiple urgent priorities.
• A collaborative and autonomous approach, with initiative, sound organisation and careful attention to detail.
• Bilingualism in French and English is an asset; proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 is required. This hybrid role requires a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Why Choose WSP?

• Proudly Canadian – we are a Top 100 Employer in Canada for 2026.
• A global community of brilliant minds – your next idea, mentor, or opportunity is always within reach.
• Limitless opportunities start here. Whether it’s across the country or around the globe, we help you tailor your role to match your ambition — because your growth drives ours.
• Flexible work, real balance – we recognize the importance of balance in our lives and encourage you to prioritize the balance in yours.

#WeAreWSP

Compensation

Region

Salary range

AB, BC, NT, NU, SK & YT

$135,200 - $179,100

MB & ON

$123,300 - $169,800

NB, NL, NS, PE & QC

$122,100 - $162,200

Disclosure: The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The wage range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.

About Us

At WSP, we exist to shape communities to advance humanity.

It’s why we bring people together who are wired to solve complex challenges - engineers, scientists, advisors, and technical experts who are driven by a common passion - to redefine what’s possible and shape what comes next. We are Visioneers.

As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, we partner with clients across transportation, infrastructure, environment, buildings, energy, water, mining and metals. We pair deep local knowledge with global insights to pioneer solutions designed to leave a lasting, positive impact.

At WSP, you’ll join a community of brilliant minds that push boundaries every day - applying deep expertise and fuelling innovation to help create a more connected and resilient future. Here, your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and you are encouraged to bring your authentic self to work. We empower our people to collaborate across disciplines, challenge the status quo, and shape a career with purpose.

Join us.

Please Note:

Health and Safety is a core paramount value of WSP. Given the importance of keeping one another safe it is expected that you comply with our Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) policy at all times as well as client HSE policies when working at client locations. Full details here .

Some safety-sensitive positions involve fieldwork and may include work in a variety of environmental conditions, such as remote or isolated areas, working alone, and in inclement weather (within safe and reasonable limits).

WSP welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

WSP is committed to the principles of employment equity. Only the candidates selected will be contacted.

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Full details here .