Senior Legal Counsel - Litigation at Peoples Group

We are hiring for this position out of our Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary offices. Successful candidates who apply outside of these areas will be expected to relocate and reside in a location that is within a commutable distance.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced, practical and business-minded lawyer to join our Legal team as Associate General Counsel, Corporate Development. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, this role leads legal support for corporate structuring, strategic transactions, business transformation, partnerships, regulatory-enabled business initiatives, corporate governance support and other enterprise matters that support the organization’s strategic objectives. As a member of the Legal leadership team, this role helps shape departmental priorities, develop legal talent and support enterprise governance initiatives.

About The Day-to-day – Employment

• Advise HR and business leaders on employment law matters, including hiring, terminations, accommodations, workplace investigations, and performance management.
• Draft, review, and update employment contracts, severance agreements, and workplace policies.
• Monitor and interpret changes in employment legislation and case law across Canadian jurisdictions and provide proactive legal updates and training.
• Collaborate with external counsel as needed and manage legal costs effectively.
• Provide legal support for workplace health and safety, privacy, and employee data protection issues.

About The Day-to-day – Litigation Management

• Lead corporate structuring, legal entity management, reorganizations, and corporate simplification initiatives.
• Lead and support mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, joint ventures, partnerships, and other corporate development transactions.
• Provide practical legal and regulatory advice on business transformation initiatives, operating model changes, and new business opportunities.
• Partner with senior executives to evaluate and execute strategic initiatives in a regulated financial services environment.
• Support Board and committee governance, corporate records management, subsidiary governance, and corporate secretarial matters.
• Review, draft, negotiate, and advise on transaction agreements, partnership arrangements, governance documents, and other complex legal matters.
• Manage external counsel and advisors while ensuring cost-effective legal support.
• Mentor and develop legal professionals and contribute to Legal team leadership, planning, and succession development.

Qualifications

• LL.B. or J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing with a Canadian provincial law society.
• 10+ years of progressive legal experience, with significant expertise in corporate law, corporate governance, strategic transactions, and regulated financial services.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex corporate transactions, restructurings, business transformation initiatives, and enterprise-level projects.
• Strong knowledge of mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, partnerships, corporate structuring, and legal entity management.
• Ability to provide practical, business-focused, risk-based legal advice to senior leadership and key stakeholders.
• Exceptional drafting, negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.
• Strong judgment, professionalism, discretion, and ability to manage highly confidential matters.
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to mentor, develop, and lead legal professionals.
• Experience in mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments, and corporate development transactions is considered a strong asset.

Peoples Group is a boutique financial institution with offices located in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal that has been in the Canadian marketplace for over 35 years. Our mission is to exceed our customers' expectations by providing exceptional customer service backed by extensive product knowledge and experience.

Our culture here at Peoples Group is formed by our values: Trustworthy, Creative, Willing. We believe people don't choose a company to work for, they choose a company to join. We prioritize risk-based practices and procedures in order to remain risk intelligent and compliant. We value people, building relationships, and focusing on strengths; we execute with passion.

About The Work Environment

Peoples Group offers a flexible and hybrid work environment. In this role you will work a combination of in-office and remotely from home. Typically, you'll be working regular business hours, Monday to Friday between 8:00am and 4:30pm with flexibility around start/end times.

We Offer

• A hybrid work environment, enabling you to balance your personal and professional life seamlessly.
• Competitive salaries, profit sharing, RRSP matching and benefits from day one.
• Generous paid time off to help achieve a healthy work-life balance.
• A strengths-based approach, ensuring we work together more effectively.
• A commitment to your well-being in five key areas: Financial, Physical, Social, Career, and Community.

Compensation

Peoples Group is pleased to offer employees a competitive annual salary plus a discretionary profit share opportunity. Salary for this position will vary between $180,000 and $220,000 per year depending on the knowledge, skills, abilities and experience that the chosen candidate possesses.

Help us get to know you better by answering our application questions! Your participation is expected as an essential part of our selection process.

NOTE: This job posting is for an existing vacancy. Peoples Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Please accept our utmost appreciation for your interest; however, only those applicants under consideration will be contacted.

We value and celebrate individuality while fostering an inclusive workplace for everyone. If there's any way we can support or accommodate you during the selection process, please don't hesitate to let us know.