SVP and General Counsel – AMICA

May 25, 2022

Amica is Canada’s leading provider of premium, private-pay retirement residences. Serving 5,000 residents across Canada at 33 senior living locations in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario, Amica continues to grow in select markets. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan, BayBridge Seniors Housing Inc, acquired Amica Mature Lifestyles in 2015 and rebranded the business to Amica Senior Lifestyles. The business is actively expanding with premium developments across Canada, with an eye to move globally. Amica has access to capital, an experienced leadership team and a focused strategy for exponential growth.

 The Opportunity:

Amica is seeking a Senior Vice President and General Counsel to support Amica by advising and guiding the business on legal and regulatory matters related to real estate, business law, intellectual property and other commercial legal issues. In this role, you will actively engage with the business in developing strategies, policies and initiatives to support key goals. You will be responsible for ensuring all activities are conducted in compliance with governing regulations and company practices, and provide proactive, timely and strategic advice to senior business leaders. You will have the opportunity to shape the function and develop the group as the business expands. While the focus of duties will initially be on real estate matters, it is expected that, over time, you will build a team that oversees all legal related matters such as employment, residential lease, insurance, tax, litigation, and any other corporate matters.

Specifically, you will:

• Be key legal guardian of all real estate development including transactions such as acquisitions, dispositions, development, construction, entitlement and financing
• Proactively identify legal and regulatory risks, identify areas of improvement in process and work with the business to assess and manage risk
• Draft, review, analyze, prepare, research, advise and negotiate agreements, opinions memoranda, partnership agreements and other legal documents, including those with a substantial focus on commercial real estate & development agreements
• Maintain awareness and inform management of current or developing provincial and federal legislation, legal trends, regulatory requirements and developments in case law, their impact on operations, and recommend courses of action
• Create and maintain systems and precedents
• Provide high quality, timely and strategic advice, research, opinions, guidance and service on matters pertaining to large and complex transactions, including real estate and pre-construction components of capital projects
• Participate in Investment Steering committee meetings to provide practical and legally defensible solutions to problems in achieving Amica’s strategic goals and priorities
• Interpret existing agreements and consider any material issues which may arise
• Provide recommendations for building the legal team in house to provide expertise and cost savings where appropriate.
• Retain and direct outside legal counsel, supervise the work and appraise performance, and review their accounts for compliance with billing guidelines
• Develop and share best practices in contract administration, including for drafting and reviewing correspondence, triage reports, and other documentation
• Liaise with external parties in addition to external legal (i.e. development partners)

What we are looking for in a candidate:

• 10+ years of legal expertise within a major law firm and/or as in-house legal counsel of a corporation (specializing in Real Estate/Development Law)
• Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario.
• A deal-oriented lawyer who is highly energized by an entrepreneurial environment
• A high degree of discretion and confidentiality
• Experience assisting in, and overseeing, the negotiation of partnership, management, development and construction management agreements (US experience is an asset)
• A strong understanding of tax implications in negotiations and transactions is an asset
• The ability to establish relationships with business colleagues on short/long term tasks, projects and strategies
• A high degree of analytical and communications skills
• Knowledge of specialized areas of law (real estate, development, M&A)
• The ability to deconstruct and present complex legal concepts, and clearly and persuasively communicate complex information to a variety of audiences
• The ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• The ability to make sound and ethical decisions, aligning with multiple priorities and ensuring interests are met
• Superior writing skills and the ability to draft legally defensible agreements, clear and concise reports and persuasive legal opinions
• The ability to establish business priorities and persuasively gain alignment with internal and external partners
• Experience in financing would be considered an asset
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office environment (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

Environment:

• Downtown Toronto office located at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre, easily accessible by public transit, with flexibility to work from home
• Occasional travel may be required to Alberta and British Columbia
• Collaborative, Driven, Entrepreneurial

Excellent Compensation package including significant bonus and LTIP

AMICA believes that experience comes in many forms and through understanding differences and perspectives.  We are committed to enhancing our culture and encourage applications from all walks of life.

Should you need accommodation due to a disability, accommodation is available upon request for qualified candidates through the recruitment and selection process.

This is an exclusive engagement with STITT + ZOSKY.  To learn more about this opportunity, or to apply in confidence, please contact Stacy Zosky at stacy@stittzosky.com or Nancy Stitt at nancy@stittzosky.com.