Legal Director, Corporate and Regulatory

Dreaming big is in our DNA. It’s who we are as a company. It’s our culture. It’s our heritage. And more than ever, it’s our future. A future where we’re always looking forward. Always serving up new ways to meet life’s moments. A future where we keep dreaming bigger. We look for people with passion, talent, and curiosity, and provide them with the teammates, resources and opportunities to unleash their full potential. The power we create together – when we combine your strengths with ours – is unstoppable. Are you ready to join a team that dreams as big as you do?

VACANCY TYPE: This posting reflects a vacant position,

COMPANY:

Founded over 175 years ago, Labatt is one of Canada’s founding businesses and its leading brewer. We are proud of our history and our heritage in Canada, and we remain committed to brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Labatt has created exciting experiences with consumers through iconic brands like Budweiser, Bud Light, NÜTRL, Michelob Ultra, Corona, Stella Artois and many more. Through our broad portfolio, we are truly a national brewer, with over 3,600 employees, a portfolio of more than 60 quality beers and beyond, and 10 breweries from coast-to-coast, we are proud to serve Canada and the communities we call home.

ROLE SUMMARY: Leading the Corporate and Regulatory Legal Functions within Labatt’s Canadian legal team, this role serves as a senior, trusted advisor to Labatt’s commercial leadership, ensuring legal integrity while enabling business growth and safeguarding Labatt’s interests.

You will collaborate closely with the Canadian, North American, Ambev and AB InBev Global legal teams to support on a broad array of Canadian legal matters, including corporate governance, commercial contracts, finance and tax, litigation, intellectual property, food law and other regulatory compliance, digital commerce and other legal areas as needed. You will lead a talented team of lawyers and food scientists to execute on these priorities.

You will also collaborate with Labatt’s broader Legal and Corporate Affairs team, including regulatory, government relations, marketing, commercial, privacy and other legal specialists, to provide advice, drafting, negotiation and other legal services to Labatt’s broader marketing, sales and other commercial teams, as needed.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advising on corporate law matters, including governance, finance, tax, M&A, joint ventures, IP and licensing, distribution agreements, and corporate compliance.

• Advising on regulatory matters, including food law, competition law, advertising and marketing law, and other regulatory compliance areas.

• Conducting legal research and policy analysis, monitoring legal and policy developments, conducting legal risk assessments, planning and project management for regulatory changes, drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, conducting due diligence and document review, managing correspondence with regulators and responding to regulatory inquiries, document production, drafting legal letters and negotiating legal disputes, and maintaining legal knowledge management.

• Team- and culture-building experience, hiring/training/mentoring junior lawyers and other professionals, and attracting, retaining and growing a strong talent pipeline.

• Managing litigation and legal disputes, in coordination with external counsel, as needed, providing proactive advice to prevent disputes and mitigate risks.

• Taking a practical, collaborative and risk-based approach to legal files and negotiations, working closely with internal stakeholders to understand and prioritize desired outcomes, building relationships to unlock meaningful partnerships, and safeguarding Labatt’s reputation.

• Cross-functional consultation, tracking and monitoring, project management, and coordination between stakeholders and subject matter experts.

• Intellectual curiosity and flexibility, and passion for providing practical, agile, creative and solutions-oriented risk management advice.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education, Qualifications, and Work Experience: Law degree from a recognized law school, member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario, and at least seven (7) years of progressive experience as in-house counsel or in a leading law firm, with a focus on advising senior management and shaping legal strategy, ideally with experience in some or all of the areas outlined under Job Responsibilities. You must have a current license to practice law in the Province of Ontario (applicants not called to the Ontario bar will not be accepted).

• Technical Skills: Experience analyzing provincial and federal regulatory regimes, strong legal research, drafting, negotiation and communication skills are required for this role. Demonstrated strong project management skills are required. French-language proficiency would be an asset.

• Transferable Skills: Project management; oral and written communication; analytical; problem-solving; decision-making; organizational; time-management; computer and application literacy; ability to work in cross-functional, client-focused, and team-based environment; very strong attention to detail; willingness to learn and explain emerging areas of law; willingness to take on increasing levels of responsibility, accountability, and leadership; ability to bring new ideas, new ways-of-working, and innovative approaches in an evolving environment.

• Qualities: Highly practical, efficient, and diligent; open-minded, creative, and curious; ability to handle time pressure and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment; ability to plan and manage complex projects; excellent analytical skills and problem solving skills; ability to multi-task and prioritize various projects and workstreams; respectful, confident, client-service approach in working with colleagues of all levels in diverse areas of a large organization, including senior management and executives.

WHY LABATT:
As one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Labatt is a place where our people can bring out the best in themselves through a collective purpose of creating A Future With More Cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life’s moments, dream big to move our industry forward, and make a meaningful impact in our communities. We believe in brewing up a future that everyone can celebrate and share.

BENEFITS

• Health benefits plan, including competitive coverage for medical, dental, mental health, life, and disability insurance, that can be flexed to fit your needs.

• Additional flex credits for healthcare or wellness spending accounts

• Retirement plan with a generous company-matching contribution, and low-fee RRSP & TFSA savings opportunities to help you secure your financial future.

• Personalized support through an inclusive family-forming benefit, and generous financial support/top-ups for parental leave

• Access to many wellbeing resources, including Employee & Family Assistance Program support, Webinars, and more.

• An annual allotment of Beer and Beyond-Beer products for employees!

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

At Labatt Breweries of Canada, we are an equal opportunities employer, and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for every person – regardless of age, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, neurodivergence, or disability status.