General Counsel

O2E Brands View all jobs

  • Toronto, ON
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 18 hours ago
Description :This role goes beyond traditional legal oversight. It is about architecting the legal, risk, and data foundations required to support a more complex, technology-enabled, and partnership-driven business. As O2E grows through new products, M&A, evolving franchise and joint partnership models, and deeper ownership of customer relationships and data, the General Counsel will act as a strategic partner, helping leaders navigate ambiguity and make high-quality decisions at speed.At the same time, this is an opportunity to redefine how legal work gets done. The General Counsel will lead the evolution of an AI and technology-enabled legal function — leveraging modern tools to increase clarity, effectiveness and pace while ensuring strong governance and responsible use.This is a role for someone who is energized by change, comfortable operating in a dynamic environment and motivated by the opportunity to help build something enduring.What This Role Owns1. Enterprise Legal Strategy & Risk Architecture
  • Define and evolve the company’s legal and risk strategy aligned to growth ambitions
  • Build scalable frameworks for risk identification, assessment, and mitigation
  • Enable leaders to make informed decisions with clear, practical legal guidance
2. Commercial & Product Legal Enablement
  • Partner with Product, Technology, and Commercial teams to embed legal thinking into product and customer experience design
  • Support expansion into new services, revenue streams, and markets
  • Ensure contracts, partnerships, and commercial models are structured for speed and scalability
3. Data, Privacy & Payments
  • Own legal frameworks related to customer data, privacy, and data governance
  • Lead legal oversight of payments, financial flows, and third-party partnerships (e.g., Stripe)
  • Ensure compliance with evolving data protection and consumer regulations
4. M&A, Partnerships & Corporate DevelopmentSupport legal strategy and execution for mergers, acquisitions, and joint venturesStructure and support strategic partnerships and investmentsProvide guidance on deal risk, integration, and governance5. Franchise & Operating Model Evolution
  • Evolve legal frameworks to support both a traditional franchise model and a joint venture partnership
  • Balance brand protection, operator autonomy, and commercial flexibility
  • Support franchise partners while enabling business transformation
6. Litigation, Compliance & Governance
  • Oversee litigation strategy, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance
  • Maintain strong, practical corporate governance practices
  • Manage external counsel effectively and ensure high-quality, cost-efficient outcomes
7. Legal Function Leadership
  • Build and lead a modern, business-aligned legal function
  • Shift focus from reactive support to proactive partnership
  • Establish clear priorities, operating rhythms, and performance expectations
8. Legal Operations, Technology & AI Enablement
  • Design and implement an AI-enabled legal operating model to improve speed, accuracy, and scalability
  • Leverage AI tools for contract review, drafting, research, and knowledge management
  • Identify opportunities to automate repeatable legal workflows and reduce manual effort
  • Partner with Technology teams to ensure legal is aligned with broader AI and data strategy
  • Establish governance around the responsible and secure use of AI in legal workflows
What Success Looks Like
  • Legal is seen as a strategic partner and enabler
  • The business moves faster with clear, confident decision-making
  • Risk is understood, visible, and actively managed
  • Data, privacy, and payments are secure, scalable, and compliant
  • M&A and partnerships are executed with speed and discipline
  • Franchise and partnership models evolve without legal friction
  • The legal team leverages AI and technology to scale output without scaling headcount
  • Contracts, reviews, and approvals move at the speed of the business
What You Bring
  • Senior legal leadership experience in high-growth, multi-entity or multi-brand environments
  • Deep experience in commercial law, M&A, litigation, risk mitigation and corporate structuring
  • Strong understanding of data privacy, payments, and regulatory environments
  • Experience supporting technology-enabled or platform-based businesses
  • Exposure to franchise or distributed operating models is an asset
  • Tech-enabled legal leadership and support

O2E Brands