Corporate Counsel

Why FirstOntario?

• Competitive compensation packages
• Top-tier health and wellness benefits, including comprehensive benefits packages and health spending account
• Enhanced mental health benefits through SunLife and TELUS Health
• Exclusive banking benefits
• Up to $1000 per year towards professional development
• Pension Plan
• Company-wide Employee Volunteer program (Blue Wave Program)
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
  
  

Job Overview

The Corporate Counsel is accountable for providing expert counsel on a wide array of legal, business and strategic issues directly pertaining to FirstOntario Credit Union. The incumbent will assist with government relations, litigation, contracts, regulatory compliance, and external counsel relations.

Role

• Provide legal services and advice to FirstOntario while ensuring compliance with applicable legislation; provide representation for legal proceedings, agreements, and regulatory compliance matters
• Assist with acquisition opportunities by conducting due diligence, creating sound business cases, negotiating and drafting relevant transaction agreements and completing closing activities
• Assist with the structuring and documentation of financings, investments, new business initiatives and novel products
• Ensure all policies, by-laws and documentation are fully compliant under applicable legislation; stay up to date on new/changing legislation and relay changes to appropriate business partners
• Assist in the implementation, administration and monitoring of legal and regulatory compliance requirements relating to FirstOntario and our members
• Draft, negotiate, and manage all legal and corporate documents including but not limited to all contracts, as well as regulatory and compliance filings and responses
• Advise management on contractual rights and obligations and respond to internal and external inquiries relating to contract issues
• Impact corporate initiatives and projects by keeping inventory of corporate projects, working with the governance team to manage a project up through the Board and completing legal work on strategic initiatives where applicable
• Liaise regularly with department heads and various stakeholders to ensure operational compliance
• Assist in the preparation and review of various business documents and communications, including but not limited to corporate communications, business cases, press releases, advertising, marketing materials and other documents that impact the business
• Participate in organizational negotiation and mediation, as required
• Assist with risk management activities to ensure credit and liability risks are mitigated appropriately
• Provide strategic advice for workouts of both retail and commercial credit files that have progressed to collections
• Manage and maintain contract database for all organizational contracts
• Assist with the management of Government Relations at the Federal, Provincial and Municipal levels
• Advocate for sensible legislative and regulatory change where applicable, and contribute to drafting any related documents
• Attend industry meetings and conferences as a representative of FirstOntario
• Work closely with Corporate Investments on their many initiatives and provide legal services to support their objectives
• Assist in the development and implementation of programs around several strategic initiatives, including a social purpose, strategic plan, and execution of mergers & strategic partnerships with other Credit Unions in the System
• Conduct legal research and prepare reports and presentations
• Perform other duties as required
  
  

Required Skills

• Have a Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B or J.D) and be a member in good standing with the Law Society of Upper Canada; having an MBA or other business degree is considered an asset
• Have strong business acumen and have three (3) or more years of experience as a lawyer practicing corporate and/or commercial law
• Knowledge of and experience with legislation and regulations relating to the financial services industry in Canada including but not limited to the Credit Union and Caisses Populaires Act, 2022
• Have sound experience managing a high performing team, with a focus on people leadership and coaching
• Demonstrate superior written and verbal communication skills with experience drafting high-quality agreements and legal documents
• Be extremely detail-oriented, highly analytical, have good judgment and have sound risk-mitigating skills
• Have strong negotiation skills
• Have the demonstrated ability to adjust to multiple demands and shifting priorities
• Be quick to respond to requests for service from all of your clients
• Inherently demonstrate a high level of integrity and be trustworthy
• Use your courage to take action in difficult and challenging situations and deal with uncertainty
• Be aware of and mitigate enterprise risk factors and ensure compliance with applicable regulations, legislation, and FirstOntario policies and procedures
• Be willing to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends as the job demands and travel as required
  
  

Interested in this role, but don't meet every requirement? We encourage you to apply! We know from experience that a candidate doesn't need 100% of the qualifications listed to bring incredible value to our team. We're actively seeking diverse backgrounds and perspectives to help make FirstOntario better. At FirstOntario, inclusion, diversity, and equity aren't just "nice to have" - they're essential to our success.

Our inclusive work environment welcomes diversity and supports accessibility. If you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know.