The Legal Services Department plays a critical role in our organization by providing comprehensive legal support across various domains. Comprising Corporate Legal, Transaction Legal, and Real Estate Legal divisions, this department ensures legal compliance, safeguards the organization’s interests, and facilitates smooth project delivery.
We are seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to provide strategic and practical support to IO’s Asset Management and Modernization Division, with a focus on commercial leasing, asset and facility management, infrastructure, development, as well as related projects and governance initiatives. Projects are broad in scope and legal support is required through the full life cycle; from shaping business cases, informing policy decisions, designing transactions, to executing and managing the transaction into operations.
While we are primarily seeking to hire a Senior Legal Counsel, we also encourage applications from all candidates who may be aligned to the selection criteria for a Legal Counsel role.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

We are seeking an individual with a minimum of six (6) years of experience practicing law, preferably in one or more of the following areas: commercial leasing, asset/facility management, real estate, development or general corporate/commercial law.

• The individual must have a university degree in law (LLB or J.D.) and membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Knowledge of the litigation process, litigation management and dispute resolution experience would be considered an asset.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to effectively advise clients and collaborate with project stakeholders
• Ability to communicate complex legal issues in a clear manner to non-legal audiences.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Ability to understand business issues quickly, exercise good judgment in providing timely and practical legal advice.
• Collaborative style and the ability to work effectively in a team-based environment.

• Draft and negotiate a variety of commercial lease documents, including: leases, licenses, letters of intent, amendments, extensions, notices, consents, estoppels, assignment agreements, and other related documents as required;
• Support Real Estate and Operations teams to effectively manage the Province’s real estate portfolio, including administration of asset/facility management contracts, landlord-tenant matters, or other property-related matters.
• Provide comprehensive legal support to cross-functional project teams, ensuring thorough guidance and oversight on property-related matters, development projects, and other organizational initiatives.
• Draft, review, analyze and negotiate complex commercial and outsourcing agreements, opinions, memoranda, and procurement documents to manage risk and ensure that the government’s objectives are achieved.
• Oversee and direct external counsel; interpret and disseminate legal advice and recommendations to senior leadership, lawyers and internal client groups.
• Provide policy support to internal clients through review and interpretation of legislation and policies as well as providing advice and drafting language for amendments and new policies.
• Ensure compliance with Infrastructure Ontario’s governance requirements.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with Government Ministries and Agencies, industry players and other stakeholders.
• Update legal and internal client teams on legal matters, concepts and best practices through discussions and presentations.
• Assume other legal duties as assigned.