Senior Legal Counsel - Bilingual

Egis; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Referral bonus program

Accommodations for candidates with disabilities

Job summary

A leading consulting engineering firm is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to provide legal support across its business lines in Canada. The ideal candidate will possess a J.D. or LL.B with at least 10 years of in-house counsel experience, ideally within the consulting engineering or construction sectors. Bilingual capability in French and English is essential for this role, which includes navigating complex legal matters and ensuring compliance across various regions. Join a company that values responsibility, collaboration, and creativity in its approach.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years post-qualification experience as an in-house counsel.
• Experience in commercial law and regulatory law in Canada.
• Ability to work independently and strategically.

Responsibilities

• Provide solution-oriented legal advice on commercial agreements.
• Manage and supervise claims, disputes, and litigation.
• Deliver day-to-day legal support to operations.

Skills

Bilingual in French and English

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

Excellent organizational and critical thinking skills

Ability to identify and manage risks

Stakeholder management

Education

J.D. or LL.B

Job description

Job Description

Are you ambitious and looking to make the right move in your career? Now is the perfect time to join Egis. Egis is experiencing substantial growth in North America, highlighted by our recent acquisition of McIntosh Perry—now made up of over 1,000 engineers, architects and planners across Canada and the USA. This strategic move underscores our commitment to investing in North America, propelling our expansion to new heights.

Our values showcase everything we believe in.

A Responsible Company - We care about people, and we care about our impact; acting responsibly wherever we work and whatever we do.

A People-First Company - This is an environment of mutual respect where every team member matters, no matter who they are.

A Creative Company - Creativity is in our DNA. This is the fuel that helps us tackle the major challenges of our time.

The more important question you likely have is: Are we the right company for you?

Joining Egis is an opportunity to make a valuable, positive impact on the world, while growing and developing as a person. Our culture is very collaborative, and we care about people and our impact. We take great pride in being responsible for our clients, for each other and for our planet and its people. You’ll work and innovate in an environment where high standards and personal consideration go hand-in-hand.

Learn more about the exciting opportunity below where you’ll be part of projects renowned for technical excellence, ambition and sustainability.

About the Role

As the Senior Legal Counsel, your primary focus will be on supporting the General Counsel in various legal matters for all Egis Business Lines in Canada. Experience in the engineering industry and on major projects is an asset. You will navigate complex legal landscapes offering strategic advice on contracts, corporate affairs, litigation, and compliance. Your work will support a diverse range of projects and business operations, ensuring legal integrity and risk management across the organization. As a member of the Group’s Legal, Ethics & Compliance (LE&CD) team, you will work in collaboration with the local team as well as with the teams based in France ensuring adherence to centralized practices of the department (corporate, IP, insurance, Ethics & Compliance, etc.). You will play an active role in contributing to the design, implementation and follow up of Group Legal E&C Department processes, developing and sharing best practices and procedures in Canada in coordinating with the other members of the Regional team.

The ideal candidate will be bilingual in French and English to support the operations in Quebec and can be based in either Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, or Edmonton.

Duties

• Provide solution-oriented legal advice and lead the review and negotiation of a wide range of commercial agreements, including customer contracts, consortium agreements, subcontracts, and leases. Ensure all agreements support the company’s objectives and comply with legal standards.
• Deliver corporate entity housekeeping, including changes of Directors & Officers, annual financial statement approvals, and operational license maintenance. Advise on corporate governance and contribute to best practices within the company.
• Support the M&A process under the lead of the M&A central team and actively participating in the integration of new acquired entities in Canada.
• Manage and supervise claims, disputes, legal actions, and litigation, providing strategic guidance and risk mitigation.
• Deliver day-to-day legal support to operations and functions, offering advice and training on legal issues and regulatory risks.
• Prepare and present legal reports to senior management and project teams.
• Contribute to the design, implementation and follow up of Group Legal E&C Department processes, developing and sharing best practices and procedures in Canada in coordinating with the other members of the Regional team.
• Implement and monitor ethics and compliance requirements, promoting a culture of integrity and ethical behavior throughout the organization.

Qualifications

• J.D. or LL.B with a minimum of 10 years post-qualification experience as an in‑house counsel in an international environment and preferable within the consulting engineering or construction space;
• Bilingual in French and English.
• Ability to identify and manage risks associated with high‑value engineering and construction projects;
• Extensive experience negotiating and drafting complex multi‑party agreements in the engineering and construction space;
• Demonstrated experience in commercial law, corporate law and regulatory or administrative law in Canada;
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues and business stakeholders and coordinating with cross‑functional and cross‑country teams on complex transactions;
• Ability to work independently, strategically and with sound judgement;
• Hands‑on business partner, professional, high integrity and capacity to challenge the status quo while striving for excellence and quality;
• Excellent organizational and critical thinking skills with the ability to manage multiple and competing projects under tight deadlines and fast paced environment;
• Stakeholder management combined with experience working with different cultures and champions DEI.

Additional Information

Egis Canada is an equal opportunities employer offering a competitive salary and benefits to those with the skills suited to the needs of our clients. The salary range advertised may exceed the range based on several factors, including relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

This role is eligible for a referral bonus in line with the Referral Program. If you have been referred, please provide the name of the employee who has referred you at the time of your application.

At Egis, we embrace innovation to tackle challenges and utilize AI in our recruitment process under stringent ethics and compliance policies and in alignment with our values of being a Responsible Company, a People First Company and a Creative Company. Committed to diversity, growth and collaboration, we may leverage AI to support the recruitment process.