Transaction & governance paralegal director/shared services team lead – toronto

Manulife seeks a senior-level Paralegal Director/Shared Services Team Lead based in Toronto to manage and lead a global team of paralegals, law clerks, and legal support specialists who service our investment transactional, governance, public company, and related groups, and to be an individual contributor supporting private investment transactions in the fixed income, private equity, commercial mortgage, derivatives and similar areas.

Specific people leadership responsibilities include:

• Manage and lead a professional and highly-engaged team with members located in Canada, US and Asia and servicing multiple global businesses.

• Manage incoming requests for paralegal coverage from multiple sources.

• Develop and mentor team members to enhance performance and support career advancement.

• Monitor workloads and optimize allocations of resources.

• Propose and champion process improvements; identify areas of concern.

• Coordinate and provide subject matter training for both incumbents and new joiners; ensure appropriate balance of skill sets across team and cross-train team members.

• Communicate with Legal team leaders to assist in assessment of needs and resource planning; manage or escalate issues as appropriate.

Specific individual contribution responsibilities include:

• Support complex private equity and debt transactions, demonstrating ability to facilitate multiple moving pieces simultaneously.

• Compile deal documents and other information including obtain signatures, prepare officer certificates, facilitate notarizations, upload materials and more.

• Complete private equity fund subscription documents and liaise with Legal and Tax colleagues.

• Coordinate preparation of “Know-Your-Client” documentation discreetly and confidentially.

• Assist in transaction management by tracking deadlines, outstanding deliverables, and documentation for pre- and post-closing obligations.

• Create and review documents relating to incorporation and governance of business subsidiaries; coordinate procurement of licenses and registrations.

• Support strategic company projects and initiatives as needed.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and/or Paralegal or Law Clerk Certification.

• 15+ years’ experience in a large law firm or corporate legal department, with a minimum of 5+ years as a people manager.

• Understanding of mechanics of private equity and debt transactions.

• Knowledge of corporate, partnership and other business entity structures and governance, as well as related filing obligations.

• Ability to work independently on multiple competing demands with limited supervision.

• Flexibility to handle shifting individual and team priorities.

• Professionalism and pride in work product; very strong focus on detail and accuracy; collaborative approach.

• Excellent organizational and resource management skills.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Strong sense of accountability and ownership of responsibilities.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe and DocuSign.

We bring a bold ambition and set of goals to drive transformation in our industry, a mission for “Decisions made easier. Lives made better,” a leadership team dedicated to your growth and success as well as our best, every day!

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