Director, Legal Services

Metrolinx•Toronto, ON

5h•Onsite

About The Position

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. This role is an in‑office position based at our 97 Front Street, Toronto location. Our team is highly collaborative, and much of our work benefits from in‑person co‑creation, relationship‑building, and hands‑on partnership with leaders across the organization. Our Legal Services Team is seeking a Lawyer to serve in a Director role in our busy and collegial legal team. Reporting to a Vice President, Legal Services, the successful candidate will be required to provide proactive, timely and strategic advice to senior business leaders and their teams. 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.

Requirements

Completion of a degree in law (JD or LLB).
Minimum eight (8) years’ legal experience within the area of commercial real estate law, leasing or property development.
Membership in the Law Society of Ontario as a Lawyer in good standing.
Ability to provide sound legal advice and suggest business-oriented solutions to complex legal issues in commercial and political contexts.
Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and oral/written/presentation skills.
Ability to effectively direct and manage external legal counsel.

Nice To Haves

8-10 years of leasing and/or commercial real estate law experience, gained from a major law firm, corporation, or government agency.
Excellent drafting skills and experience working with complex commercial contracts.
Experience with real estate transactions in the context of development projects.
Some experience with municipal planning and heritage law.

Responsibilities

Act on real estate and property development matters, including commercial leasing, purchase and sale transactions, development and construction agreements, operating and maintenance easements, limiting distance agreements, utility easements and crossing agreements, licences and other commercial agreements required in the development context.
Draft, review, analyze, and negotiate complex agreements, opinions, memoranda, and other legal documents to manage risk and ensure that the organization’s objectives are achieved.
Provide high-quality and timely legal advice, strategic advice, research, opinions, guidance, and service on matters pertaining to large complex transactions, including the real estate, development and planning components of such projects.
Be accountable for matters within an assigned portfolio of legal work grouped by business unit, program or project.
Build and maintain effective working relationships with government (e.g. Ministry of Transportation, Infrastructure Ontario, municipalities), utilities, consultants, project partners, and other stakeholders.
Direct and manage external counsel on multiple projects, making recommendations, as necessary, to the Vice President, Legal Services.
Advise and lead presentations to all levels of management, including briefing senior management and division heads.
Prioritize tasks, push files forward, and escalate issues appropriately.
Contribute to corporate policies, standards, and procedures to minimize legal risk and protect assets.
Maintain an awareness of current provincial and federal legislation and regulations that may impact Metrolinx; recommend amendments to existing policies and procedures arising from relevant legislative or regulatory changes; provide advice/opinions on the interpretation of legislation.
Assist with developing training and mentorship programs for junior lawyers and students.
Provide feedback and direction to paralegal and administrative staff.