Legal Counsel

Armstrong Fluid Technology•Toronto, ON

52d•CA$120,000 - CA$170,000•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Legal Counsel will provide practical, business-focused legal support to our Canadian headquarters and global operations, with a primary focus on commercial contracts. This role will be responsible for drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and managing a wide range of commercial agreements, as well as supporting broader legal matters including corporate, compliance, employment, intellectual property, and dispute management. The ideal candidate is a commercially minded lawyer who enjoys working closely with business teams, can explain legal concepts in clear, simple language, and is comfortable operating in a fast-paced manufacturing and global supply chain environment.

Requirements

B. or J.D. degree from a recognized law school.
Called to the Bar in a Canadian province, with a strong preference for licensure in Ontario and in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
5–8 years of post-call experience, with a focus on commercial contracts.
Strong experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements, ideally in a cross-border context.
Experience with corporate/commercial, compliance, and employment law matters in Canada.
Commercial mindset: Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives and propose practical, workable solutions.
Clear communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain legal concepts in plain language to non-lawyers.
Negotiation: Confident negotiator who can represent the company’s interests constructively and collaboratively with counterparties.
Judgment & ownership: Sound judgment, with the ability to assess risk, make recommendations, and take ownership of matters from start to finish.
Organization & responsiveness: Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Collaboration: Proven ability to build strong working relationships across functions, levels, and geographies.
Integrity: High ethical standards, discretion, and a strong commitment to confidentiality and compliance.
Adaptability: Comfortable dealing with ambiguity, evolving business needs, and a wide range of legal issues.

Nice To Haves

A mix of top-tier law firm and in-house experience in a manufacturing, industrial, or similar environment is an asset.
Exposure to international legal issues (e.g., trade, sanctions, multi-jurisdictional contracts) is an asset.
Experience working with manufacturing, supply chain, or industrial operations is strongly preferred but not strictly required.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including sales representative and distribution agreements, supply and procurement agreements, manufacturing and service agreements, NDAs, licensing agreements, and framework/master agreements.
Support contract negotiations with customers, suppliers, distributors, and other business partners in Canada and internationally, balancing legal risk with commercial objectives.
Develop and maintain template agreements, standard terms and conditions, and contract playbooks to drive consistency and efficiency across the business.
Advise on contract interpretation, performance issues, amendments, renewals, and terminations, and support the resolution of contractual disputes.
Work with the business to implement and improve contract review, approval, and record-keeping processes.
Coordinate with internal stakeholders on protection and enforcement of the company’s IP portfolio (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets) as it relates to commercial agreements.
Support IP-related provisions in customer/supplier, R&D, technology, licensing, and development agreements, including ownership, licensing, confidentiality, and use restrictions.
Help manage confidentiality and data protection obligations in relation to customers, suppliers, and partners.
Assist with corporate governance matters for Canadian and international subsidiaries, including maintaining corporate records, supporting resolutions, and liaising with external corporate service providers.
Support internal approval processes for key transactions and corporate initiatives.
Assist with M&A, joint venture, and other strategic transactions, including due diligence, document review, and coordination with external counsel.
Assist with the early identification and management of disputes and potential claims involving customers, suppliers, employees, regulators, and other third parties.
Work with internal stakeholders to gather facts, assess risk, and develop resolution strategies (including commercial resolutions where appropriate).
Instruct and manage external counsel in litigation, arbitration, or regulatory matters, where required.
Support compliance programs related to competition/antitrust, anti-bribery and corruption, trade controls, sanctions, data privacy, and other applicable laws and regulations relevant to a global manufacturing business.
Help develop, implement, and update internal policies, procedures, and training materials.
Monitor legal and regulatory developments relevant to the company’s operations and communicate practical guidance to stakeholders.
Provide day-to-day legal support on Canadian employment and labour matters in coordination with HR, including hiring and termination, performance management, policies and handbooks, discipline, accommodations, and workplace investigations.
Review and update employment agreements, contractor agreements, confidentiality and IP assignment agreements, and incentive/bonus plan documentation.
Work with external labour and employment counsel as needed, particularly on complex or jurisdiction-specific issues.
Act as a trusted advisor to sales, procurement, operations, finance, HR, and other functions, providing timely, pragmatic legal advice.
Develop and deliver training to business teams on key legal topics (e.g., contract basics, competition law, anti-bribery, confidentiality, and IP protection).
Support continuous improvement in how legal services are delivered across the organization, including through process improvements and use of technology and tools.