Senior Legal Counsel

Job Description Overview

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a highly skilled, pragmatic and business-minded lawyer to join its Canada Legal Affairs team as Senior Legal Counsel. The successful candidate will provide strategic, commercial and practical legal advice across a broad range of matters, with a particular focus on complex commercial contracts, project-related agreements, risk management and dispute avoidance. Working closely with business leaders and multidisciplinary teams, the Senior Legal Counsel will help develop practical solutions that support the company’s business objectives while appropriately managing legal, commercial and reputational risks. The ideal candidate will combine strong legal judgment and drafting skills with commercial awareness, sound decision-making and the ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly. The role requires a collaborative professional who can manage multiple priorities, operate effectively in an evolving environment and provide timely, solutions-oriented advice. The position is based in Montréal and will follow a hybrid work model (home and office-based), with travel as required.

Your role

As a member of the Canada Legal Affairs team, you will report to the Regional General Counsel, Canada, or their designate, and will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic, practical and commercially focused legal advice to business leaders and internal stakeholders on a broad range of legal and contractual matters.
• Reviewing, drafting, structuring and negotiating complex commercial agreements, including client, partner, supplier, subcontractor, consulting, teaming and other project-related agreements.
• Leading or supporting contract negotiations from the early development of an opportunity through contract award, execution and, where required, project delivery.
• Identifying, assessing and helping mitigate legal, commercial, contractual and reputational risks.
• Translating complex legal issues into clear, practical recommendations that support informed business decisions.
• Participating in internal risk, governance and approval processes and communicating material risks and proposed mitigation measures to senior stakeholders.
• Working closely with commercial, finance, procurement, engineering, operations, project management and other functional teams to ensure that contractual arrangements reflect business objectives and operational requirements.
• Contributing to the development and continuous improvement of templates, model clauses, legal guidance, risk positions, processes and best practices.
• Sharing knowledge and lessons learned and supporting consistency in legal and contractual practices across the organization.
• Guiding and supporting junior lawyers and paralegals in contract review, sharing feedback and helping build their skills.
• Performing other responsibilities consistent with the nature and seniority of the role.

About you

Note that the position level may vary depending on the profile and level of experience of the selected candidate. Be a member of the Quebec Bar. At least seven years of relevant legal experience, gained in a leading law firm, a sophisticated in-house legal department or a combination of both. Significant experience in commercial contracting, including drafting and negotiating complex agreements. Experience in the engineering, construction, infrastructure, professional services or project-delivery sectors would be considered an asset. Strong knowledge of contract and commercial law, with a proven ability to identify, evaluate, and manage legal and business risks across a broad range of project delivery models, including EPC, EPCM, alliance, integrated, hybrid, and other collaborative contracting frameworks.

Excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical, communication and problem-solving skills.

• Sound professional judgment and the ability to provide concise, practical and timely recommendations, including when information or circumstances are evolving.
• The ability to understand business objectives and develop commercially workable solutions while protecting the company’s interests.
• The ability to manage multiple matters and competing priorities, work effectively under pressure and adapt to changing business needs.
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with legal colleagues, business leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong organizational skills and close attention to detail.
• Leadership, integrity, discretion, professionalism and a strong sense of accountability.
• Comfort with technology tools, including AI, and a genuine interest in helping transform the way legal services are delivered.
• Management experience would be considered an asset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French and English.

Member of the Canadian or Global Leadership Team

This position requires knowledge of a language other than French, namely English, as it involves collaboration with members of the Canadian or global leadership team located outside Québec.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career at AtkinsRéalis in Canada. Enjoy competitive compensation, employee recognition, and a brilliant range of flexible benefits you can tailor to your health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle needs. Make the most of diverse opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And take advantage of our hybrid working culture and generous time-off policies to balance a fulfilling career with your personal life. Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

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Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.

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