LEGAL COUNSEL, FINANCING

Job description

Position Overview:

We are seeking a skilled and qualified lawyer to join our dynamic and collaborative Legal Affairs – Financing team in Montreal. The successful candidate will provide legal advice on various financing matters, while participating in and supporting strategic organizational projects. This position involves working closely with the Legal Affairs team, internal business units, and external counsel. The Legal Affairs team consists of internal legal counsel and legal assistants (paralegals).

The role requires the ability to advise on issues related to loan structuring, financing, security taking, administration, and enforcement. The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience in providing clear legal advice on security documentation, addressing priority and other security issues related to real and personal property, and ensuring that all legal advice aligns with a practical business approach. Knowledge of bankruptcy, insolvency, and enforcement proceedings is an asset for this role.

Challenges to be Met:

Act as an advisor, making recommendations to business centers and operational units on client financing matters and internal projects impacting the organization’s operations.
Provide strategic advice to business centers, special accounts (enforcement), and restructuring groups on handling problem accounts. Assist in developing plans of action, instruct external counsel when needed, and ensure compliance with BDC’s loan security enforcement policies.
Liaise between external counsel and internal partners, delivering business-focused legal advice.
Negotiate and revise loan security agreements as required, drafting new clauses when necessary.
Provide support, coaching, training, and direction to the Legal Affairs team, including lawyers and legal assistants.
Prepare and deliver legal training to internal partners.
Monitor and provide opinions on national and regional laws, regulations, and decisions that may impact BDC’s financing activities, reporting necessary changes to management.
Advise management on any deficiencies in BDC security forms or procedures, offering recommendations for improvement and drafting standard forms and procedures.
Collaborate with various business units to provide advice on business initiatives.
Lead cross-departmental or multi-jurisdictional strategic projects.
Stay current with technological developments that apply to BDC processes.

Required experience and qualifications

What We Are Looking For:

Bachelor of Laws.

Membership in good standing with the Québec Bar or Chambre des notaires du Québec.

5 to 7 years of relevant experience in commercial law, financial services law, or commercial real estate. Bankruptcy, insolvency, and liquidation experience as in-house counsel is an asset.

Bilingual in French and English.

Ability to collaborate effectively to resolve complex issues and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Strong analytical skills, with the ability to make timely and decisive judgments.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Strong presenter and trainer, with the ability to simplify and explain loan practices and procedures.

Positive attitude, focusing on team-building and a client-centric approach.

Salary:

Based on experience.

Application Process:

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online by submitting their resume and cover letter through our career portal. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

The BDC is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from women, Indigenous people, visible minorities, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities.