Legal Counsel, Contracting

KPMG•Abbotsford, BC

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

KPMG Canada’s Office of General Counsel is seeking a contracting lawyer to join its in-house legal team. The OGC handles legal matters affecting KPMG, including litigation and dispute resolution, contracting, regulatory and compliance, and governance and operations. This role is suited to a corporate/commercial lawyer who enjoys working closely with the business on complex commercial arrangements. It is a hybrid position. Reporting to an Assistant General Counsel, the Legal Counsel will partner with KPMG business teams and internal stakeholders to draft, review, and negotiate a high volume of commercial contracts and support national initiatives across KPMG Canada. The role provides practical, business-oriented legal advice, helps assess legal and commercial risk, coordinates with internal specialists, and contributes to innovation and process improvements within the legal team.

Requirements

J.D. or LL.B. and a license to practice law in any Canadian province.
3–5 years of corporate/commercial experience at a leading law firm and/or in-house legal department.
Ability to propose creative, strategic, and pragmatic solutions to legal and business issues.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and deliver high-quality, detail-oriented work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Ability to build trust and effective working relationships across business lines and with internal and external stakeholders.
Excellent drafting, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Confident negotiation skills.
Proactive commitment to operational excellence.
Business-level English proficiency; written and oral fluency in English is required.

Nice To Haves

IT contracting and/or M&A experience.
Exposure to contracts related to technology, data, and digital initiatives.
Familiarity with artificial intelligence tools used to support legal and business workflows, such as Microsoft Copilot.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including engagement letters, access letters, direct spend agreements, and master services agreements.
Support national initiatives across KPMG Canada.
Advise business teams on key contractual terms and collaboratively assess legal and business risk in light of firm policy and market practice.
Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice and solutions on contracting matters, balancing risk mitigation with commercial objectives in fast-paced deal cycles.
Coordinate with internal stakeholders and specialists on risk management, privacy, litigation, regulatory compliance, data security, and information technology issues.
Contribute to the efficient functioning of the in-house legal team by adopting digital tools and strategies, driving innovation, and improving processes.
Translate legal concepts into plain, actionable language and communicate confidently with senior stakeholders.
Identify issues outside core expertise and triage them by handling, escalating internally, or managing them with oversight.