Corporate Services Manager

ABOUT GOWLING WLG

At Gowling WLG, our dedication to excellence and quality service begins with our people. As a global law firm with offices across Canada, the U.K., Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we pride ourselves on sourcing and retaining top talent who bring energy, passion and commitment to the delivery of outstanding client service.

Employee satisfaction is important to us. We work hard to ensure that our people are motivated, engaged and empowered. We are guided by our firm’s Core Values - The Power of Teamwork, Always Striving to be Better, We all Bring Something Different - in all that we do.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are an integral part of our firm’s core values. We are always striving to build a more equitable, engaging and rewarding workplace by attracting and retaining talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. Our aim is to help everyone reach their full potential and achieve their personal and professional goals.

PROFILE

The Gowling WLG team comprises seasoned professionals and support staff who are well-versed in Corporate Finance, M&A, Securities and Tax Law. We are consistently ranked as a leading global firm in the top legal directory listings, and our dedicated legal professionals have been recognized for their experience and success in handling complex deals. From local startups to global powerhouses, we offer unparalleled expertise and efficient service that covers a full range of corporate and commercial law matters. Our team is equipped to handle everything from landmark transactions and major reorganizations to routine business filings and agreements.

Our Corporate Services Manager will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Corporate Services Department which includes providing leadership, management, and direction to the law clerks and the legal administrative assistant. This position continues to play a role in client and matter management, acting as the subject matter expert and mentor with unique inquiries, escalations, and corporate services projects.

The successful candidate will be an excellent leader and mentor, with a proven skillset and passion for Corporate Finance, M&A, Securities and Tax Law.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide high level operational, strategic, and administrative support for the Corporate Services Department;
2. Manage work allocation and workflow between the corporate law clerks and the legal administrative assistant;
3. Responsible for talent management of the Corporate Services Department which includes learning and development, performance, team management, onboarding and recruitment;
4. Coaches and mentors the corporate law clerks and legal administrative assistant in day-to-day client work;
5. Leads teams to support key national and provincial focused projects including but not limited to process standardization and transformation, digitization of the practice group, practice specific systems support and implementation;
6. Responsible for creating, maintaining, and delivering reports that provide insights into performance, trends, and challenges of various aspects of the department operations and projects;
7. Works with other national teams to implement legislative changes within the Corporate Services Department to ensure compliance with federal and provincial business law guidelines;
8. Maintains a small client workload with a reduced annual billable hours target;
9. Attends meetings with professionals and clients to take instructions, obtain required information, review corporate records, compile information, report on status and recommend course of action;
10. Assists with and supports closings, transactions, and the management of key projects;
11. Assists with the preparation of all documentation within the scope of the Corporate Services Department;
12. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. A Law Clerk Diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution is preferred, but relevant experience will be considered;
2. Eight years of demonstrated experience in Corporate Finance, M&A, Securities and Tax Law, and three years of supervisory experience is preferred;
3. Experience with Athennian is preferred;
4. Minimum Level III CORES Accreditation;
5. Ability to communicate effectively with the Corporate Services Department, business law department leaders, and other firm members with the aptitude and business acumen to understand, appreciate and take care of client’s needs in a professional and courteous manner;
6. Demonstrated experience of building relationships, gaining deep industry knowledge and providing proactive and responsive solutions to business needs;
7. Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to motivate, work collaboratively, and mentor others;
8. Ability to work under urgent deadlines and manage time effectively;
9. Exceptional organizational, prioritization, and teamwork skills;
10. Advanced problem-solving skills, including the ability to set priorities while dealing with conflicting and emerging priorities for the department.

Gowling WLG employees benefit from a hybrid work environment.

Not sure if you meet all the requirements? If you are excited about this opportunity but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Gowling WLG is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know.

While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.