At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to tackle real commercial legal issues and support business leaders.
- Company: Gateway Services, a leading pet aftercare provider in North America.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, health benefits, retirement savings, and hybrid work options.
- Other info: Opportunity for meaningful work and career growth in a supportive culture.
- Why this job: Transition from advising to being part of the decision-making process in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 3-5 years post-call experience with a solid foundation in corporate and commercial law.
The predicted salary is between 150000 - 175000 $ per year.
If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.
Gateway Services is looking for an In-House Legal professional to join our team and work directly with our Chief Strategy Officer and leaders across our North American business. This is an opportunity for a lawyer with approximately 3-5 years of post-call experience who wants to make the move from private practice into corporate life - or accelerate an in-house career already underway.
You’ll work on real commercial issues, learn how a growing North American organization operates, interact directly with business leaders and develop experience across:
- Contracts
- Employment matters
- Litigation
- Corporate transactions
- Compliance
- Intellectual property
- Risk
What we’re looking for is a strong legal foundation, good judgment, commercial curiosity and someone who wants to become a great business lawyer, not simply a great technical lawyer.
Why Make the Move to Gateway?
- Get closer to the business.
- Broaden your legal experience.
- See what happens after the advice.
- Work with senior leadership.
- Develop your commercial judgment.
- Build an in-house career.
What You'll Work On
No two weeks are likely to look exactly the same. You will have the opportunity to:
- Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements.
- Advise business leaders on day-to-day legal questions.
- Help identify and manage legal and commercial risk.
- Partner with HR on employment-related matters.
- Support litigation, claims and commercial disputes.
- Coordinate matters with external legal counsel across Canada and the United States.
- Support corporate governance and entity-management activities.
- Participate in due diligence and M&A-related work.
- Assist with privacy, regulatory and compliance matters.
- Help protect Gateway's trademarks, patents and other intellectual property.
- Develop templates and processes that make legal support faster and more effective.
- Learn Gateway's business and become a trusted legal partner to the teams you support.
You Don't Have to Be an Expert in Everything
We're not looking for a 3-5 year lawyer who somehow already knows every aspect of Canadian and U.S. corporate, employment, privacy, regulatory, IP and litigation law. We're looking for someone who knows how to think like a lawyer and learn like a business partner.
Is This You?
- You've been called to the Bar for approximately 3-5 years.
- You have a J.D., LL.B. or equivalent law degree.
- You're a member in good standing of a Canadian provincial law society.
- You’ve developed a solid foundation in corporate and commercial law.
- You're comfortable drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts.
- You're interested in how businesses actually operate.
- You can explain legal issues clearly without unnecessary legal jargon.
- You enjoy solving problems rather than simply identifying them.
- You're comfortable saying, 'I don't know yet, but I'll figure it out.'
- You're looking for an opportunity to develop into a strong commercial and corporate legal professional.
What Success Looks Like
During your first year, we'd expect you to:
- Develop a strong understanding of Gateway and how our business operates.
- Build trusted relationships with the leaders and teams you support.
- Become increasingly independent in reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements.
- Provide clear, timely and practical legal guidance.
- Develop good judgment about what can be handled internally and when specialist counsel is required.
- Help improve Gateway's legal templates, processes and ways of working.
More Than a Legal Career
Gateway Services is North America's leading pet aftercare provider, supporting veterinary professionals and pet families during one of the most difficult moments of pet ownership. Our work combines a meaningful purpose with the complexity of operating a large organization across Canada and the United States.
Benefits You'll Appreciate
- Annual incentive opportunity, if applicable
- Health and dental benefits
- Paid vacation
- Retirement savings program
- Employee Assistance Program
- Pet-related benefits/discounts, where applicable
- Hybrid working arrangement, if applicable
If you’ve spent the first few years of your legal career building your technical foundation and are ready to get closer to the business, we’d like to hear from you. You don’t need to have every answer. Bring your legal foundation, curiosity, judgment and willingness to learn.
Gateway Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all Team Members.
In-House Legal Counsel employer: Gateway Services Inc
Gateway Services is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture in Guelph, Ontario. With a focus on employee growth, we offer opportunities for professional development and mentorship, allowing you to thrive as you transition from private practice to corporate life. Join us to be part of a dynamic team where your contributions directly impact our commercial success and governance strategies.
