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 Governance & Tribunal Secretariat is an advisory branch of the Ontario Securities Commission that provides legal advice, support, and education to the Commission’s Board Directors and separately to the Capital Markets Tribunal’s Adjudicators. The Secretariat administers the OSC’s governance framework and Capital Markets Tribunal. 
 

The Commission regulates Ontario’s capital markets by making rules that have the force of law and by adopting policies that influence the behaviour of capital markets participants. 
 

The Tribunal is an independent division of the Commission established by the Securities Commission Act, 2021. The Tribunal is the administrative tribunal that is assigned the power to conduct hearings under the Ontario Securities Act and the Commodity Futures Act and to independently determine all questions of fact or law in any proceeding before it under those Acts.
The Governance & Tribunal Secretariat is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to provide legal advice, education, and support to Adjudicators of the Capital Markets Tribunal, and separately to Board Directors of the Ontario Securities Commission.
 

This role offers a unique opportunity to engage with both the adjudicative and governance functions noted above, with an emphasis on advising and supporting the adjudicative functions of the Capital Markets Tribunal. The Senior Legal Counsel will operate with a high degree of independence and professional judgment, addressing complex, novel, and sensitive legal and governance issues with significant institutional, legal, and public interest implications. The role reports to the Head of Tribunal Legal Advisory in the Governance & Tribunal Secretariat department.
 

What will you do?
Capital Markets Tribunal

• Provide senior-level legal advice and expertise to Capital Markets Tribunal Adjudicators on procedural and substantive issues, including administrative law, evidence, and statutory interpretation.

• Support all stages of the hearing process, including reviewing submissions, conducting legal research, preparing legal memoranda, assisting with drafting orders or decisions, and providing legal advice before, during and after hearings, as required by the hearing panel.

• Identify, analyze, and make recommendations on adjudicative policy and procedural issues of a general or systemic nature for consideration by the Tribunal.

• Prepare and deliver Adjudicator education and orientation sessions and materials.
   

Governance

• Provide senior-level governance related legal advice and support to the OSC’s Board of Directors.

• Act as counsel to committees of the Board and collaborate with committee chairs and OSC staff to plan and prepare meeting agendas, ensure all committee deliverables are satisfied, attend committee meetings and prepare meeting minutes.

• Prepare and deliver Board Director education and orientation sessions and materials.

• Support the development and advancement of governance policies, reporting, and initiatives within the OSC.

What do you need to be successful in this role?
 

• Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.

• Law degree (LL.B. or J.D.).

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant legal experience.

• Strong knowledge of and significant experience with procedural and evidentiary issues arising in litigation and/or administrative law.

• Experience providing legal advice to an administrative tribunal or adjudicative body is a significant asset.

• Good knowledge of Ontario securities law, the securities industry and capital markets regulation is an asset.

• Knowledge of corporate governance practices, board committee processes, and corporate reporting needs for a regulator is an asset.

• Experience providing governance-related legal advice is an asset.

• Excellent legal research, analysis, and drafting skills.

• Demonstrated action-oriented approach, with the ability to act decisively.

• Ability to demonstrate openness, patience and a high level of integrity.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills required to handle competing priorities and deadlines.

• Demonstrated ability to be fair, objective and handle difficult situations with tact and diplomacy.

• Highly developed communication skills, both oral and written, and demonstrated ability to produce concise, insightful legal submissions, opinions and summaries.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, exercise sound judgment and manage competing priorities.

• Forward thinking with respect to identifying, assessing and prioritizing risks, issues and challenges.

• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills. Fluency in both English and French is an asset.
   

  This opportunity is considered to be a business-critical role supporting the Governance & Tribunal Secretariat Department.

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.