Director, Legal Affairs

Novacap is a leading North American private equity investor and one of Canada’s most experienced private equity firms. Founded in 1981 to partner with visionary entrepreneurs, Novacap focuses on middle market companies in four core sectors, Technologies, Industries, Financial Services and Digital Infrastructure.

Job description

The person is responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of all legal aspects related to the firm’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities and portfolio company supervision. This position requires deep legal expertise, a creative approach to problem-solving, and close collaboration with investment teams and external stakeholders to ensure compliance and successful transaction execution. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, the person plays a key role in protecting Novacap’s legal interests while supporting its growth and expansion.

Main responsibilities

1. Legal Oversight of M&A Project

• Collaborate with investment teams to oversee and manage the legal aspects of M&A transactions, including drafting and negotiating definitive agreements and related documents.
• Provide strategic advice on transaction structures and legal implications.
• Identify potential legal risks and propose solutions to mitigate them, ensuring the protection of Novacap’s and its investors’ interests.

2. Management of external counsel

• Coordinate and manage external law firms involved in M&A transactions and portfolio company oversight, ensuring their work aligns with Novacap’s strategic objectives.
• Supervise the quality of legal services provided by external law firms.

3. Strategic advice for portfolio companies

• Provide legal advice on key strategic and operational matters for portfolio companies, including corporate governance and potential litigation.

4.Leadership and mentorship

• Support the training and mentorship of team members within the Legal department to enhance their skills and expertise.

Experience and qualifications

• Law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) and active member in good standing with a recognized bar.
• 8–11 years of experience in business law, with strong expertise in M&A, ideally in a private equity or financial services environment.
• Excellent command of both English and French, spoken and written.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Key competencies

• Strategic Leadership: Provide sound legal and strategic advice to investment teams on a wide range of M&A transactions.
• Negotiation Skills: Demonstrated ability to negotiate complex agreements and resolve issues while safeguarding the firm’s interests.
• Analytical Thinking: Identify, assess, and address potential legal risks with innovative and pragmatic solutions.
• Results Orientation: Commitment to achieving strategic goals while maintaining high ethical and compliance standards.
• Effective Communication: Strong interpersonal and communication skills; able to convey complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders clearly and effectively.