Biography

Lawyer and consultant with over 19 years of experience in franchise and business law, including 13 years in the wholesale industry and 6 years in private practice. Recognized contributor to the financial results of a company. Perfectly bilingual, excellent negotiator, tenacious, with skills in establishing priorities and business development.

Director of Legal Affairs and Assistant Corporate Secretary

• Provide advice and legal opinions to local management, departments and head office in Calgary;
• Review, draft and negotiate commercial agreements for all company activities, including franchise stores across Canada, dealing mainly with commercial, sureties, real estate, publicity and corporate law. Draft a Disclosure Document for the provinces of Alberta, Ontario and PEI;
• Member of the internal Development, Management and Finance Committees;
• Mandate and supervise external franchise legal files for Canada, advise management on the different files and prepare reports for Management;
• Participate in the elaboration and implementation of the company’s development strategies (12 banners, 225 franchise stores and 275 corporate stores);
• Position the Legal Department as a strategic business partner within the company;
• Create and manage a Central Information Centre (including legal forms by province) and ensure the availability of legal forms for all company activities;
• Work in collaboration with local management and the head office Legal Department (Calgary) to establish and manage policies and procedures on legal parameters with respect to contractual relationships between companies of The Forzani Group Ltd., Franchisees, Landlords and Third Parties to ensure the financial objectives of the company are attained;
• Training of senior executives and managers in business law;
• Negotiate and implement financings for franchisees as well as financial support programs;
• Prepare and manage the Legal Department’s budget, including a profit center;
• Draft internal procedures and implement operational processes to limit company risk;
• Review franchisee files such as purchase/sale of shares and assets, corporate reorganizations and succession planning. Prepare the necessary agreements;
• Supervise and train personnel in the Legal Department.

Legal Counsel, Commercial and Real Estate Law

• Review, draft and negotiate agreements in the areas of commercial and real estate law;
• Provide advice and legal opinions to management, the departments in Montreal and divisions in Montreal, Quebec and Rimouski;
• Elaborate and supervise the application of internal procedures with respect to operations and development;
• Management of contracts and supervision of external franchise litigation files;
• Manage and train personnel in the Legal Department.

Lawyer, Commercial, Corporate, Real Estate and Tax Law

• Review, draft and negotiate agreements in the areas of civil, commercial and real estate law;
• Draft agreements and other documents in the areas of corporate law (resolutions, amendments to articles of incorporation, amalgamations, continuations, dissolutions) and tax law (corporate reorganizations including rollover of shares and assets, amalgamations, resolutions and forms);
• Manage litigation files for clients;
• Incorporation and organization of newly formed companies, including shareholder agreements;
• Review files and prepare legal opinions on varying subjects for clients;
• Research work in the areas of commercial, corporate, tax and real estate law;
• Member of Office Management, Marketing and Legal Forms Committees.

Articling Student, Civil, Commercial, Corporate and Real Estate Law

• Draft procedures, examine witnesses and represent clients before the courts;
• Review, draft and negotiate agreements in the areas of civil, commercial and real estate law;
• Incorporate companies and amend articles of incorporation.

Conférences :

Articles :

• Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Franchising – Practical Considerations.
• Training senior executives and managers in business law.
• Management of litigation files before the Courts.
• The creation of a legal department in a company.
• How to explain the costs of professionals to the Board of Directors?
• The standardization of contracts in a company.
• A cost-benefit analysis of an in-house legal department.

Associations :

Interests :

• Sport (running, hockey, golf, soccer and cross-country skiing)
• Manager/coach in hockey and soccer