Senior Legal Counsel

Holt Renfrew; Toronto; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discount

Pension

Health & dental benefits

Tuition assistance

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

Holt Renfrew in Toronto seeks a Senior Legal Counsel to partner with business leaders across Product, IT, Finance, Privacy, Marketing, Procurement and Operations. You will lead complex contracts, provide strategic advice on governance, and mentor junior associates.

This in-house role requires a JD/LLB, Ontario bar, and 8+ years of post-call experience in corporate and commercial law, with exposure to real estate, IP, employment, and privacy matters in fashion and luxury retail.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing with the Ontario bar.
• Minimum of 8 years of post-call experience ideally at a large national law firm or in-house setting, or a combination of both.
• Strong background in corporate and commercial law, contract review and negotiation, corporate governance, intellectual property, employment, real estate, and privacy matters.
• Demonstrated leadership and ability to influence across an organization.

Responsibilities

• Commercial Contract Support: draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements; provide guidance on interpretation and risk.
• Marketing and Real Estate Support: advise on IP, real estate matters, lease negotiations, and licensing agreements.
• Corporate & Governance: review board materials, ensure regulatory compliance, advise on governance matters.
• Regulatory & Compliance: monitor laws, support privacy, data security, anti-bribery, and competition compliance; conduct internal training.
• Cross-Functional Legal Support: collaborate with HR, Finance, and other teams on strategic initiatives.

Skills

Corporate & commercial law

Contract review & negotiation

Corporate governance

Intellectual property

Employment law

Real estate law

Privacy matters

Education

JD or LLB

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Holt Renfrew offers you an inspiring, fashion-driven environment with opportunities to learn and grow. From our incredible partnerships with iconic luxury brands, to our commitments to corporate social responsibility, you will be inspired every day.

A job at Holt Renfrew offers a competitive total compensation, a generous employee discount, pension, and health & dental benefits, tuition assistance, and continuous learning and development.

The Senior Legal Counsel (in-house) is a senior level corporate and commercial lawyer responsibleforproactively advising internal clients and providing support to Holt Renfrew on a variety of legal matters. The Senior Legal Counsel works cross-functionally with business leaders from the Product, IT, Finance, Privacy, Marketing, Procurement, and Operations teams as well as external counsel. The Senior Legal Counsel will be expected to lead project teams, advise on company- wide strategic initiatives, advise on governance and policy matters, and mentor junior associates.

Specific responsibilities include (but are not limited to) the following:

Commercial Contract Support

• Independently draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements (e.g., vendor agreements, master service agreements & SOWs, product agreements, NDAs, licensing agreements, IT service and support agreements, and marketing agreements).


• Provide guidance on contract interpretation, risk allocation, and negotiation strategy


• Support product, marketing, and procurement teams in structuring commercial transactions with vendors and service providers


• Lead project teams and advise on legal and regulatory requirements related thereto

Marketing and Real Estate Support

• Provide guidance on a variety of legal areas including assisting on matters involving Intellectual Property and Real Estate law


• Support lease negotiations and construction projects related to existing retail network and future developments


• Support marketing led initiatives and events – including the review of trademark usage, promotional materials, and licensing agreements

Corporate & Governance

• Review of board materials, corporate records, and minute books


• Ensure ongoing corporate compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements


• Advise on Corporate Governance matters and assist in the refinement or enhancement of overall Corporate Governance


• Corporate policy development and refinement


• Support Finance on matters such as contract audits, insurance questions, and corporate filings

Regulatory & Compliance

• Monitor changes in laws and regulations relevant to the business and advise on required actions


• Support compliance programs, including privacy, data security, anti-bribery, competition law, and workplace policies


• Conduct internal training on legal and compliance topics as needed


• Identify legal risks and provide pragmatic solutions that balance risk mitigation with business objectives


• Support internal investigations and respond to regulatory inquiries where appropriate


• Support privacy related matters, breaches, and investigations – working directly with the Chief Privacy Officer


• Manage litigation matters, working with external counsel as needed

Cross-Functional Legal Support

• Work closely with HR on employment-related matters (e.g., employment agreements, policy updates, workplace investigations).


• Support Finance on matters such as contract audits, insurance questions, and corporate filings


• Provide legal consultation on strategic projects and organizational change initiatives

The ideal candidate:

• Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from an accredited law school


• Member in good standing with the Ontario bar


• A minimum of 8 years of post-call experience ideally gained at a large national law firm or comparable in-house setting, or ideally a combination of both


• Strong background in corporate and commercial law, contract review and negotiation, corporate governance, intellectual property, employment, real estate, and experience dealing with privacy matters is an asset


• Demonstrated leadership and influencing skills at all levels of the organization


• Excellent interpersonal skills; a team player who is able to act as both a leader and an individual contributor as required


• Confident and effective communication (written & verbal)


• Highly service-oriented with exceptional organizational and follow up skills


• Passionate about fashion and luxury retail


• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Holt Renfrew is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our future success depends on the perspectives and contributions of all our employees -- their diverse backgrounds, abilities and experiences make our business stronger. If you are contacted for a job opportunity and require accommodation, please email [e-mail] and let us know so we can ensure you have an accessible candidate experience throughout the recruitment process. All requests are confidential and used only to meet candidate needs.

Final compensation for this position will be determined based on the candidate's unique skills, expertise, individual qualifications, and assessed contributions to the role following the completion of the interview process. The range stated is the starting range for this position. Offers may vary with experience, qualifications, performance, and local market conditions. We strive to offer competitive compensation that aligns with a candidate's contributions to our team, along with a comprehensive benefits package, enticing perks, pension matching, incentives, and our coveted employee discount.