Senior Legal Counsel - in-house

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 responsible for proactively 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

Risk Management

• 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 [email protected] 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.

Hiring Range / Échelle salariale à l’embauche :Minimum Wage / Salaire Minimum (per year / par an)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. / La rémunération finale pour ce poste sera déterminée sur la base des compétences uniques du candidat, de son expertise, de ses qualifications individuelles et de l'évaluation de sa contribution au poste à l'issue de la procédure d'entrevue. La fourchette indiquée est la fourchette de départ pour ce poste. Les offres peuvent varier en fonction de l’expérience, des qualifications, du rendement et des conditions du marché local. Nous nous efforçons d'offrir une rémunération compétitive qui corresponde à la contribution du candidat à notre équipe, ainsi qu'un ensemble complet de garanties, d'avantages attrayants, de cotisations de retraite assorties par l'employeur, de primes d'encouragement et notre très convoitée remise d'employé.