Lawyer - Sole Practice - Ontario, Canada
(2020-01)
Built a solo successful practice advising start-ups and small to medium sized businesses, in various industries, including recruitment start-ups, including drafting and negotiation of commercial transactions, assisting with and resolving contractual disputes, negotiating employee severance packages, advising on various aspects of corporate strategy ranging from company policies, legal opinions and corporate restructuring.
- Created and structured contractual templates for a mobile healthcare company and 3 recruiting companies.
- Negotiated an instrumental sales agreement for a software company which resulted in the closing of a $500,000 deal.
- Created a suite of custom in-house commercial contract templates for a start-up company, creating efficiencies in the sales cycle process.
- Resolved a contractual dispute for a business client, which concluded in a settlement agreement and avoidance of litigation which resulted in cost savings for the client.
- Built an excellent reputation through dedicated client service, solution driven, passion, integrity and high-quality work, resulting in 98 five-star reviews.
- Assisted students and university professors through an Ontario student group, Concerned Students of Ontario, in navigating the unprecedented COVID mandates and legal landscape.
Senior Legal Counsel - Infrastructure Ontario - Ontario, Canada
(2013-06 - 2020-12)
Provided transaction legal services support to project delivery and procurement, teams on commercial and infrastructure public-private partnership transactions. Projects include Mount Sinai hospital, Highway 407 Phase 1 and Phase 2, Tolling Services for Highway 407, Casey House Hospice, Joseph Brant Hospital (Burlington), New Oakville Hospital, Milton Hospital and Toronto Detention Centre.
- Closed 9 complex infrastructure transactions, which included non-standard project specific and lending provisions, and which also included legal support from cradle to grave (RFQ, RFP, close, post-close and ongoing contract management support).
- Trouble shoot internal commercial project issues which have a commercial impact.
- Review, draft and propose template changes to the province's standard project agreement template, for project specific or portfolio wide application.
- Prepare applications for project specific Ministry of Finance approvals.
- Establish and improve upon key client relationships with internal and external clients (project delivery, government groups) which result in client achieving targeted goals.
- Participate in legal services RFP selection process.
- Manage legal budget and work with outside counsel.
- Research and prepare legal memos to address issues in dispute and participate in, and guide project delivery teams on strategies for resolving dispute resolution issues.
Legal Counsel - Accenture Inc. - Ontario, Canada
(2006 - 2013-03)
Provided efficient and timely delivery of legal services to project account senior leadership and delivery team on a wide variety of commercial matters. Projects included Walmart, Best Buy, State Farm, Loblaws, Hudson's Bay, Target, Kellogg, Chrysler, Levi Strauss, Ross Stores, Enbridge, Canadian Tire and Presto fare card.
- Negotiated key complex agreements with high profile clients including project specific master services outsourcing and consulting agreements, statements of work and work orders.
- Managed contract management professionals (from staff of 1 to staff of 4) on various projects.
- Provided ongoing project legal support by advising the business on contractual analysis and interpretation and business issues.
- Engaged and worked with outside counsel on the preparation of key Legal Memos with outside counsel, with participation of key Senior Executives.
- Drafted and reviewed correspondence, NDA's, contract assignments, contract notices, amendments, change orders.
- Reviewed and approved contract management processes.
- As Canadian Legal lead for Corporate Citizenship, developed relationships with charitable organizations and organized numerous successful events with Dress For Success, Special Olympics, Usher's New Look Foundation and Junior Achievement.
Legal Manager - VoiceGenie Technologies Inc. - Ontario, Canada
(2003 - 2006)
- Managed outside counsel relationships (litigation files) resulting in highest level of legal support in a cost-effective manner.
- Created standard template contracts for company, enabling sales team to close transactions quickly and efficiently.
- Actively participated in the negotiation and drafting of major contracts with key joint partners, suppliers and customers.
- Supported CEO, CFO and other executive management team members regarding business and legal strategy, ongoing legal matters and risk management.
- Drafted, reviewed and negotiated various types of agreements including, Value Added Reseller, enterprise license agreements, NDA's, sales and maintenance agreements.
Contracts Manager - Daimler Chrysler (Orion Bus Industries) - Ontario, Canada
(2002 - 2003)
- Assisted in the negotiations of a $10 million dollar breach of contract liability case, resulting in substantial cost savings to the company.
- Created and managed the contract process, including the creation of a Contracts course and training materials for the Sales, Contracts Administration and Engineering department for the benefit of minimizing risks and legal exposure for the company.
- Consulted on legal issues and conducted legal research on issues affecting and impacting the company's business.
- Managed product liability litigation.
Contracts Manager - Philips Medical Systems Canada (formerly Agilent Technologies) - Ontario, Canada
(2000 - 2002)
Was recruited by Philips' Canadian President and joined Philips when this business unit was acquired from Agilent Technologies, a Hewlett Packard spin-off.
- Facilitated approximately 45 national sales contracts with healthcare establishments ranging in size from $200,000 to $10 million dollars.
- Assisted sales with negotiating purchase agreements with IT clients such as Celestica, RIM.
- Drafted, reviewed and negotiated purchase and sale agreements, NDA's, VAR's, RFP's, standard PO terms and conditions and partnership agreements.
- Managed the relationship with an ultrasound customer through the trade-in program, resulting in an increase in sales of 20%.
- Structured and assisted President in closing six $10 million dollar deals with major hospitals and negotiated with hospital Presidents and CFO's.
- Developed business relationship with venture capital start-up company, resulting in end-user sales to McDonald's and Mercedes-Benz and an increase in 32% in sales.
- Presented 6 training seminars to high level executives and field on Contracts 101.
- Reduced turnaround time for Bidding Process by 50% through implementation of standardized practice.
Legal and Business Affairs - Groove Girl Film & Art Inc. - Ontario, Canada
(1996 - 1999)
- Drafted, reviewed and negotiated entertainment industry agreements, including licensing, development, production, financing, distribution and script writer agreements.
- Handled a variety of legal matters, including corporate governance and intellectual property.
- Negotiated joint venture production agreements.
Bilingual Business Analyst - The Cable Production Fund - Ontario, Canada
(1995 - 1996)
- Approved financing for Canadian television programs as mandated by the CRTC.
- Managed and oversaw an account base of approximately 60 television producers.
- Delivered formal presentations to the Board of Directors making my recommendations.
- Represented the Fund at high-level industry functions, resulting in positive media exposure.
- Presented national seminars to potential and current clients, explaining the Fund's role and requirements which lead to high level of client satisfaction.
Lawyer - Sole Practice - Ontario, Canada
(1993 - 1995)
- Areas of practice included litigation, family, real estate and corporate law, with a specific focus on entertainment industry clients.
- Specific focus on advising business clients including corporate governance and sales contracts.
- Clients included Mitsubishi automobile franchise dealers, small to mid-size business clients, and a particular emphasis on clients in the Canadian film and television industry.
