Senior Legal Counsel

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is the statutory body responsible for regulating Ontario’s capital markets in accordance with the mandate established in the provincial Securities Act and the Commodity Futures Act. The mandate of the OSC is to provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, to foster fair, efficient and competitive capital markets and confidence in the capital markets, to foster capital formation, and to contribute to the stability of the financial system and the reduction of systemic risk. This mandate is performed through policy, operational, and enforcement activities. The OSC also contributes to national and global securities regulation development.

We offer a diverse, fair, and flexible work environment and take pride in our challenging and rewarding work.

The OSC’s Enforcement Division is recruiting for a Senior Legal Counsel to join its newly created Professional Practices Team. The Senior Legal Counsel will be responsible for managing and maintaining practice materials and knowledge resources for the Enforcement Division, and for ensuring that training and professional development needs are met. Reporting to the Manager, Professional Practices, the Senior Legal Counsel will be a collaborative and innovative lawyer who will work closely with the Enforcement Division’s multi-disciplinary teams. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic and collegial environment. This role will suit a candidate with an academic interest in law, a desire to work in the public interest, and someone who is keen to build a leading-edge knowledge and resource program that contributes to the overall success of the Enforcement Division.

This opportunity is considered to be a business-critical role supporting the Enforcement Division.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Through your knowledge of the Securities Act (Ontario) and other relevant legislation, the Canadian regulatory environment, and the capital markets industry:
  • Interpret how legislation, case law, and regulatory developments may affect the Enforcement Division’s practices and procedures.
  • Monitor and communicate relevant legal and regulatory developments and keep teams up to date on the latest knowledge and best practices.
  • Proactively identify and respond to the complex and evolving practice needs of investigators, forensic accountants, investigation counsel, and litigation counsel.
  • Provide strategic advice on matters relating to professional practices and lead initiatives to support evolving practice and knowledge needs.

Developing and Updating Practices:

• Develop, update and maintain guidelines and other practice materials (templates, precedents, checklists, toolkits, FAQs) for efficient and effective case assessments, disruptions, investigations and litigation.
• Develop a strategy to effectively communicate current policies and procedures and provide support and training surrounding them.
• Provide timely advice and support on matters relating to professional practices to investigators, forensic accountants, investigation counsel, and litigation counsel.
• Identify and support initiatives to create efficiencies in our practices, including optimizing the use of existing and new technologies.

Knowledge Management:

• Design, implement and monitor a centralized knowledge centre for Enforcement Division resources, which will include guidelines and other practice materials, legal research, and legal precedents.
• Determine knowledge needs and assist in the creation of accessible, effective and current resource materials for lawyers, investigators and accountants.
• Conduct legal research and analysis into novel legal issues and how they may affect our professional practices.

Professional Development and Training:

• Identify training needs of different teams within the Enforcement Division and develop a plan to meet those needs, including training programs, workshops, and other professional development opportunities.
• Provide guidance, coaching, training, and mentoring regarding policies and procedures, and best practices to investigators, forensic accountants, investigation counsel, and litigation counsel.
• Promote awareness of the various resources available, including by leading meetings, training, and presentations as appropriate.

Qualifications:

• Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario with at least 6 years of relevant experience preferred (e.g. securities law, administrative law and/or criminal law).
• Knowledge of the Canadian securities regulatory environment, capital markets industry, trading products, and securities legislation.
• Experience with investigations and/or litigation with respect to securities-related matters and/or other regulatory or criminal matters.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts in a clear and concise way to various audiences.
• Excellent analytical and organization skills with demonstrated attention to detail.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and various priorities across different groups.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships and to work collaboratively with various teams.
• Strong ability to problem-solve in a thoughtful and responsive manner that considers the various stakeholders and their interests.
• Familiarity with knowledge management systems and legal research tools.
• Knowledge management experience gained at a leading law firm, in-house environment or the public sector would be an asset.
• Interest in and aptitude for new technologies and the ability to determine how they could be integrated into team workflows to achieve efficiencies.
• Completion of the Canadian Securities Course would be an asset.

The OSC has partnered with ZSA Legal Recruitment to support the recruitment process. To be considered for this opportunity, please submit your application through Workday and your application will be shared with the recruiter for further review. If you have questions about the opportunity and/or process, please contact Warren Bongard at [email protected].

Grow your career and make a difference working at the OSC.

* OSC Employees: please apply in Workday using the Browse Jobs feature within your Jobs Hub *

We thank all applicants for their interest in the Ontario Securities Commission. We will contact those selected for an interview.

The OSC is committed to diversity and providing an inclusive workplace and providing accommodation in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Human Rights Code. It is our priority to ensure employment opportunities are visible and barrier-free to all under-represented groups including but not limited to, Indigenous, Black and racialized groups, people with disabilities, women and people from the 2SLGBTQI+ community, to achieve an employee demographic profile reflective of the demographic profile of Ontarians.

The OSC is a proud partner with the following organizations: Ascend Canada, BlackNorth Initiative, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, and Pride at Work Canada

If you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know by contacting our confidential inbox [email protected].  
 

Visit Accessibility at the OSC to review the OSC’s policies on accessibility and accommodation in the workplace.