Legal Counsel

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 88,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute is hiring a Legal Counsel to join its legal team. This role focuses on negotiating contracts, providing legal advice on data and privacy matters, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws. Candidates should possess a law degree, be in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario, and have extensive experience in contract law and legal counsel in the health sector.

Benefits

Competitive benefits package

Pension plan

Standard 8-hour workday

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in legal counsel, especially in contracts.
• Extensive experience drafting and negotiating contracts.
• In-depth understanding of contracts and tort law.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on contracts and risk assessment.
• Negotiate high-risk research agreements.
• Advise on matters related to data and privacy law.

Skills

Negotiating

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Interpersonal communication

Organizational skills

Education

Degree in law (LL.B / J.D.)

Good standing with the Law Society of Ontario

Job description

The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) is the research arm of The Ottawa Hospital – one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals. We are proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa and supported by The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. With more than 2200 scientists, clinician investigators, trainees and staff, and total revenues of more than $120 million, we are one of the foremost Canadian hospital-based research institutes. Our research spans more than a hundred different diseases, conditions, and specialties with an overall focus on translating discoveries and knowledge into better health.

Job Description

OHRI is looking to add a Legal Counsel to its legal team. Legal Counsel must understand and be comfortable with creating, interpreting, and negotiating contracts. Legal Counsel should expect to spend at least 50% of their time working with contracts. In addition, the Legal Counsel will be asked to advise the OHRI and its staff on a variety of other legal matters, including data laws, privacy, intellectual property, and general liability and risk. Legal Counsel will be asked to advise on matters such as using personal health information for research purposes, the creation and governance of databanks and biorepositories, international data transfers, ownership of intellectual property, and various other matters related to health law.

While reporting to Legal Counsel & Manager, Research Contracts, the Legal Counsel will :

• Assess risks associated with OHRI research projects, and provide legal advice to OHRI on next steps regarding those risks;
• Provide expert guidance and advice on legal matters regarding research at OHRI, including but not limited to matters related to data and privacy, medical research, liability, and intellectual property;
• Independently review, draft, and negotiate a range of high-risk research agreements with private industry, funding agencies and other national and international research institutions. Examples of such agreements include clinical trial agreements, master agreements, and collaborative inter-institutional agreements.
• Work with and advise other members of the Research Contracts Office on matters related to clinical research agreements;
• Create precedents, legal guidelines, contract resources, and write memos as requested by Legal Counsel & Manager, Research Contracts
• Liaise with the Research Ethics Board and external negotiators to advance the OHRI’s contractual and legal needs of each study.

Basic Requirements (Education / Experience) :

• Degree in law (LL.B / J.D.).
• A lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario;
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience providing legal counsel within Canada or a similar jurisdiction, particularly regarding contracts or transactions.
• Extensive experience drafting and negotiating contracts.
• In-depth understanding of contacts and tort law within Canada.
• Service-oriented focus.
• Excellent negotiating, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal and written and oral communication skills. Ability to develop good working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities among competing and shifting demands. Must be highly organized and able to work independently to meet deadlines without sacrificing accuracy, customer service, collegiality or ethics.
• Ability to learn and adapt to new policies, procedures, and requirements.
• Experience in data and privacy law.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Extensive experience in data and privacy law.
• Experience in health law, intellectual property law, or biomanufacturing law.
• Experience working with the following laws, regulations, and guidelines : Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, and applicable regulations thereunder, Canada Food and Drugs Act, and applicable regulations thereunder, the Tri-Council Policy Statement 2, EU General Data Protection Regulation, and American health privacy laws.

Salary : Min : $88,134 – Max $117,513 per annum, commensurate with skills, experience, and year of call. We offer a competitive benefits package, pension, and a standard 8-hour workday.