Senior Counsel, BMO Insurance

BMO Financial; Toronto; On-site; CAD 111,000 - 208,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to provide expert guidance on insurance products, financial services regulatory law, and corporate law. The ideal candidate will have at least 7 years of experience and a law degree. This role involves advising senior leaders, shaping strategic initiatives, and mitigating risks, with a competitive salary range between $111,800 and $208,000.

Benefits

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Retirement plans

Qualifications

• Typically 7+ years of legal practice or equivalent experience.
• License to practice law in relevant jurisdiction.
• Experience in regulatory environments is a plus.
• Strong understanding of business and legal requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal guidance on insurance products.
• Advise senior leaders on strategy and initiatives.
• Exercise judgment on complex legal matters.
• Identify and mitigate risks.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Data-driven decision-making

Education

Law degree (LLB or JD)

Job description

Application Deadline: 09 / 11 / 2025

Address: 100 King Street West

Job Family Group: Legal

We are hiring! Our BMO Insurance business continues to grow. The Legal team supporting this business is also expanding. In this Senior Legal Counsel role, you will provide expert guidance on insurance products, financial services regulatory law, investments, corporate law, and compliance. You will advise senior leaders, shape strategic initiatives, and mitigate risk. If you have a strong background in Insurance, Financial Services Regulatory Law, Investments, and/or Pension Risk Transfers (related to a federally regulated insurance company), along with deep industry knowledge, this is your opportunity to make a difference.

• Make recommendations to senior leaders on strategy and new initiatives based on an in-depth understanding of the business/group.
• Participate in designing legal advice strategies & approaches for the unit, recommending measures to minimize legal issues.
• Act as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders.
• Exercise judgment on complex, confidential, and sensitive matters.
• Identify and resolve moderately complex issues.
• Determine root causes and negotiate resolutions.
• Deliver legal advice, instruct external counsel, and ensure compliance with internal policies & procedures for a specific function.
• Act as a subject matter expert on relevant laws, regulations, and policies.
• Resolve daily issues or escalate with appropriate analysis/recommendations.
• Identify risks and implement actions to mitigate them.
• Implement areas of improvement to ensure market consistency.
• Build effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Scope: up to global.
• Operate enterprise-wide, serving as a resource for senior leaders.
• Apply expertise and creative thinking to address complex or ambiguous situations.
• Implement changes in response to market trends.
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications:

• Typically 7+ years of legal practice or equivalent experience.
• Law degree (LLB or JD) and license to practice in relevant jurisdiction.
• Experience in private practice, in-house, or regulatory bodies related to business/group activities.
• Knowledge of legal fields, with specialization in a functional or business line area.
• Understanding of the business and regulatory environment of BMO Financial Group.
• Advanced knowledge of legal requirements and operations of a client group.
• In-depth negotiation skills.
• Professional with a combination of education, experience, and industry knowledge.
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective influence skills.
• Collaborative with cross-group teamwork skills.
• Able to manage ambiguity.
• Data-driven decision-making skills.

Additional industry-specific experience preferred:

• Life Insurance regulation and products
• Investment management, including asset-liability matching
• Understanding of OSFI and provincial insurance regulators
• Pension plans and risk transfer transactions
• Knowledge of life products, segregated funds, and relevant asset classes
• General corporate-commercial and contract drafting skills

Salary: $111,800.00 - $208,000.00

Pay Type: Salaried

The pay range and type are representative of BMO Financial Group. Salaries vary based on location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications, and may include bonuses or commissions. Benefits include health insurance, tuition reimbursement, life insurance, and retirement plans. For more details, visit our website.

About Us

At BMO, we are driven by our Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. We aim to create positive change for our customers, communities, and employees. We support your growth and impact, providing tools, training, coaching, and opportunities to broaden your skills.

Learn more at our website.

BMO is committed to an inclusive, equitable, and accessible workplace. Accommodations are available upon request for all candidates during the recruitment process.

Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes except directly from candidates. Resumes sent unsolicited will be considered BMO property. Agencies must have a valid contract to submit resumes.