Senior Legal Counsel

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Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto’s subway system, to get people where they need to go, better, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.

Our award-winning Legal Services team is currently seeking a talented Litigation lawyer to join our busy and collegial legal team, located in downtown Toronto. Reporting to a Director, Legal Services, the successful candidates will be required to provide proactive, timely and strategic advice to senior business leaders and their teams, or business units, gaining exposure to a wide variety of work on a broad range of litigation or pre-litigation matters, including commercial litigation, complex infrastructure construction projects, regulatory issues, and day-to-day operations. Successful candidates will also work through collaboration and partnership with other transit agencies, multiple regional and municipal governments in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, the federal government, and the private sector.

Ideal candidates will have 5 - 8 years of Litigation experience, gained from a major firm, corporation, or government agency. Experience working on general civil litigation and complex commercial files will be required. Experience in any of the following areas would be an asset: Construction Law, Expropriation Law, Municipal and Real Property Law, Environmental Law, Land Use Planning, Contract and Claims Management and Insurance Defence.

What will I be doing?

Provides high-quality, clear, pragmatic, and timely legal advice, strategic advice, research, opinions, guidance and service on matters pertaining to emerging and active litigation and dispute resolution involving large complex transactions, capital infrastructure projects, utilities issues, procurement, land use matters, and contract and claims management.
Drafts and reviews complex litigation documents, such as pleadings, motion records, facta, and settlement agreements.
Directs and manages external counsel on multiple projects/files making recommendations, as necessary, to the Legal Services Management Team and other Metrolinx stakeholders.
Drafts and negotiating commercial contracts, memorandum of understanding and other legal documentation as may be required.
Contributes to and drafts corporate policies, standards, and procedures to minimize corporate legal risk and protect position and assets.
Accountable for matters within an assigned portfolio of legal work grouped by business unit, program or project as assigned by a senior lawyer.
Works effectively with various agencies, departments and levels of management within and external to the organization, including engineers, program managers, business and financial analysts, consultants, insurers and executives.
Advises and leads presentations to all levels of management, including briefings of Senior Management and Division Heads.
Understands how to prioritize tasks, push files forward and escalate issues appropriately.
Maintains an awareness of case law and current provincial and federal legislation and regulations that may impact Metrolinx; recommends amendments to existing policies and procedures arising from relevant legislative or regulatory changes; provides advice/opinions on the interpretation of legislation.
Provides proactive and strategic legal advice to the organization outside of specific legal assignments.
Assists with developing training and mentorship programs for junior lawyers and students.
Provides feedback and directions to paralegal and administrative staff.

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

Completion of a degree in law (JD or LLB)
Demonstrated litigation experience; additional experience in any of: Construction Law, Contract and Claims Management, Insurance Law, Municipal Law, Environmental Law, Land Use Planning, Infrastructure Law, and Procurement Law, would be an asset.
Membership of the Law Society of Ontario as a Lawyer in good standing is required.
Ability to provide sound legal advice and suggest business-oriented solutions to complex legal issues in commercial and political contexts.
Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, oral/written/presentation skills to draft documentation, provide legal opinions and interpretations, and direct and manage external legal counsel effectively.

Don’t Meet Every Requirement?

If you’re excited about working with Metrolinx but your past experience doesn’t quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

Accommodation:
Metrolinx is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are also committed to offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants in accordance with applicable legislation. If you require assistance or an accommodation at any point during the hiring process, please contact us at: 416-202-5601 or email hr.recruitment@metrolinx.com.

Application Process:

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Metrolinx will be using email to communicate with you for all job competitions. It is your responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time-sensitive correspondence, we recommend that you check your email regularly. If no response is received, we will assume you are no longer interested in pursuing the opportunity. Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate.

For Internal applicants, with the recent implementation of the Internal Mobility Policy, the internal recruitment process has changed for non-union roles. Candidates must be in their current role for 12 months prior to applying for another role and each applicant must be in good standing (not participating in a Performance Improvement Plan). Please review all provisions of the policy before submitting your application.

Should it be determined that any background information provided is misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, Metrolinx reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.

#LI-MM3 and #LI-Onsite

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Senior Legal Counsel

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