A Getaway in the Heart of the City

On May 31, join us at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, Toronto Island for an intimate event designed for in-house leaders like you.

While we are finalizing the timing for the day, here is the line-up of sessions: 

From Investigation to Rebuilding: Ethics, Scandals and Solutions                               

Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP    

As in-house counsel, we’re often called on to help manage or oversee an investigation.  Whether it’s an investigation into internal HR-related matters or public regulatory issues, how we handle it goes well beyond just legal compliance.  We need to understand stakeholder expectations, employee dynamics and media relations at a minimum. 

Join our expert panel as they discuss real-world case studies, shedding light on investigatory issues that go beyond the legal realm. From internal HR-related matters to public regulatory challenges, we'll explore the multifaceted landscape you navigate. 

Here's a glimpse of what to expect:                                                                                       

  • The ethical dimensions of the in-house counsel role, and your professional responsibilities during and after an investigation. 
  • Tips for dealing with public scandals: what to embrace and, more importantly, what to avoid, including how to manage employees during this sensitive time. 
  • What to do with the investigation report: how to implement recommendations and rebuild relationships and trust after an investigation. 

Speakers:


Elevating Legal: The Crucial Interplay of In-House and External Counsel                            

McCarthy Tétrault LLP 

Over the years, the General Counsel’s role has evolved, becoming more demanding and complex. They are now the linchpin for boards and leadership, providing strategic advice and embodying the organization’s conscience. 

Developing and leveraging a collaborative relationship between their in-house team and outside counsel is crucial to identify knowledge gaps while delivering multidisciplinary, top-tier client service, particularly in the face of emerging challenges like AI, cybersecurity and privacy, and navigating a fast-paced regulatory environment and ESG opportunities.

Join us in this session to explore:                                                                           

  • Next-level client and law firm relationships founded on shared values, mutual accountability and trust within an overall governance structure.
  • Best practices and experiences in investing in the relationship between in-house and external counsel.
  • Fostering ongoing two-way open feedback, enhancing value and deepening the relationship beyond providing legal services.

Speakers:

  • Matthew Peters, National Innovation Leader and Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
  • TBD

Enhancing Financial Integrity: A Forensic Accountant’s Insights into Commercial Agreements and Terms             

MNP

Unlock the power of precise contract language to safeguard your organization’s financial interests and mitigate the risk of disputes. This session is designed to equip in-house counsel with the expertise to effectively scrutinize and refine financial terms within agreements, and provide strategic value when advising the relevant stakeholders and business units.

We’ll dissect the financial clauses pivotal to the fiscal success of agreements, illuminated by real-world scenarios where ambiguous or poorly constructed accounting-related language led to conflicts. Our focus spans various agreements, offering a comprehensive analysis of financial terms to highlight critical considerations for drafting robust contracts.

Join our experts to learn how to:                                                                                    

  • Strategically craft language to secure financial rights.
  • Identify and rectify vague or ambiguous financial terms to prevent interpretative disputes.
  • Enhance your proficiency in reviewing and negotiating contracts with a keen eye on financial and accounting implications.
  • Ultimately strengthen your defense against potential legal challenges.

Speakers:

  • Josh Epstein, Senior Manager, Forensics & Litigation Support, MNP
  • Graham Quast, Partner, Forensics & Litigation Support, MNP

Driving Change: Leadership Strategies for Sustainable Business Practices                              

Bennett Jones LLP    

The importance of ESG factors is growing among stakeholders and communities, influencing decisions on investments and engagement with organizations of all shapes and sizes. In this evolving landscape, in-house counsel and executive teams must prepare themselves appropriately.

Join us for an insightful discussion featuring partners from Bennett Jones, an in-house counsel leader and a seasoned expert in public relations and communications. Together, we’ll explore the key role that in-house counsel play in integrating and embedding ESG within their organizations, and provide strategies to respond to a growing field of regulations enforcing ESG pillars.

Our panel will address key topics such as:                                                                                

  • The pivotal role of in-house counsel and executive teams in shaping and reporting on ESG strategy.
  • Effective collaboration between in-house counsel, executive teams and boards in implementing ESG practices.
  • Best practices for identifying and managing risk when communicating ESG data.
  • Strategic approaches to handling reputational risks, particularly in the realm of sensitive political and social issues.
  • Proactive risk mitigation and the identification of opportunities to ensure long-term company sustainability.
  • The impact of emerging regulations on ESG pillars, including forced labour and supply chain transparency; shareholder and employee activism; diversity, equity, and inclusion in senior management and boards; Indigenous relations; and environmental considerations.

Speakers:

  • Radha D. Curpen, Vice Chair, Vancouver Managing Partner and National Leader, ESG Strategy and Solutions, Bennett Jones LLP
  • Sarah Gilbert, Partner, Bennett Jones LLP
  • Randi Rahamin, Managing Director, Teneo (or other PR Strategy/Public Affairs Agency)

Recruitment, Retention and Employee Satisfaction: Key Findings from the 2024 Compensation Survey             

The Counsel Network │ Caldwell

Explore the world of in-house counsel salaries and benefits to see how you measure up! Using data gathered from the 2024 In-House Counsel Compensation and Career Survey, commissioned by The Counsel Network in partnership with the CCCA, we’ll look at current trends, challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of in-house counsel renumeration. 

Since its inception in 2009, this survey has provided concrete, practical information on compensation for the in-house profession. Originating from a need to address the scarcity of information in the market, it has evolved into the most trusted tool for organizations of all types and sizes seeking data-backed insights into in-house counsel remuneration.

Our panel will help you:                                                                                 

  • Decipher the findings, offering invaluable insights into the nuances of compensation and benefits across the country.
  • Uncover actionable strategies that legal department and hiring managers can leverage to enhance team satisfaction and engagement.
  • Identify compensation and career issues that will tip the scale in your favour when recruiting and retaining top talent.
  • Navigate the evolving dynamics of in-house counsel compensation successfully now and into the future.

Speakers:


Shaping the Future: Turning Tech Anxiety into Success

LexisNexis Canada​  

New technologies are reshaping the business landscape. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can perform in seconds what used to take days or weeks complete while the public is demanding faster, more efficient service utilizing these tools. At the same time, anxiety about using this new tech in business operations has reached a fever pitch.

Join us to learn from legal technology experts from LexisNexis Canada and General Counsels from leading Canadian organizations on how to integrate technology without compromising your professional reputation or your entity’s proprietary data, global brand, and operational resiliency.

Key takeaways:                                                                                    

  • Discover how AI/ML are streamlining business processes right now.
  • Explore the unique duties in-house counsel have in assessing their organization’s use of AI/ML.
  • Get a blueprint to help guide your organization on how to leverage AI/ML technologies — with the ethical infrastructure necessary to responsibly manage risks and ensure regulatory compliance.

Speakers:

  • TBD

From Legislation to Action: Practical Guidance on the Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act                            

Faskens​    

Effective May 31, 2024, the federal Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act requires that thousands of Canadian and multinational companies (both public and private) publicly report annually on human rights risks in their business operations and supply chains, both at home and abroad, for the first time. The=is new annual report must be detailed and accessible to the public and shareholders, and will be closely scrutinized by investors and other interested parties. 

The federal government is treating this legislation as the first of a two-step process. It has announced that it intends to introduce a broader piece of legislation that will impose full-fledged “mandatory human rights due diligence” (mHRDD) obligations on regulated corporations in 2024. However, guidance provided to date is limited and vague in many respects.

As in-house counsel will inevitably have a leading role in assisting their organizations in complying with the new legislation, join us to learn:                                                                

  • Practical strategies for complying with the reporting requirements under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act.
  • What can be expected in the government’s yet to be introduced mHRDD legislation later this year and guidance on what has been done in other jurisdictions.

Speakers:

  • TBD

Peer-to-Peer Roundtables

Back by popular demand, these roundtable discussions will be one of the highlights of the Retreat! Join your peers for engaging group discussions on a wide variety of issues impacting in-house counsel. This is your opportunity to ask specific questions, share your experiences and be inspired to face the challenges ahead!

The exact topics and groups will be customized to the participants. We will be asking for your input closer to the date.