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CCCA61_048,049.qxd:CCCA_V1No1_Profile-FIN.qxd 02/07/2008 06:24 PM Page 49 Profile gaining experience as North American general counsel at plan because we are doing so well in taking the lead.The joke Lawson Mardon Group Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd. is that legal is becoming a profit centre.” and at Sony of Canada Limited, where she was general counsel Outside of the office, Louie’s life retains a romantic flavour: and secretary from 1995 to 2004. she and her husband, Rob Beveridge, a CFO in the leather In that time, she’s seen a shift in attitude from her in-house goods industry, are world travelers who recently spent three clients, who have gone from viewing her as a gatekeeper to weeks in Tuscany. At home, they entertain frequently, putting an integral part of the business. their single malt collection to work with whiskey evenings and “One of the nicest things that one of my in-house clients indulging Louie’s passion for cooking and baking. With the ever said to me was that I’m not a lawyer with a great busi- “kids” — two Lhasa Apsos: Sengi (which means “snow lion”) ness sense, but a talented businessperson who also happens to and Dolma (“Goddess” — “entirely appropriate,” says Louie) have all the advantages of being a lawyer.” — the two enjoy pretty much any outdoor activity, from hik- At Harlequin,Louie’s keen business sense has helped stream- ing and snowshoeing to canoeing, kayaking, and gardening. line and integrate the functions of diverse departments, to Louie is also a director of theToronto Rehabilitation Institute, everyone’s benefit. Integrating author contract administration a fully-affiliated teaching hospital of the University of Toronto with editorial and royalty administration departments, for and Canada’s largest rehabilitation hospital. example, has improved communication, turnaround times, and Given the great breadth and depth of her work, her inte- royalty accuracy. The introduction of a quarterly reporting sys- gral role in the business, and the opportunity to work “in a tem allows authors, editors, and the marketing department to place where leadership and management skills are valued and see how well individual books are being pitched and sold. I can see the results of my own work and leadership,” it’s no Legal has also taken a lead role in pitching sub-rights licensing wonder that Louie is often contacted by accomplished young deals for book club or large-print book rights; her direct lawyers and law students looking to go in-house. approach and keen negotiating skills have paid off in the form great area to practice,” she says.“And it’s nice to see the rest of “Personally, I’ve never seen [in-house practice] as a less than of higher advances. In these ways, Louie is helping to retire the ALENA GEDEONOVA perception of the legal department as only a cost centre. the legal world catching up.” “We’ve made a significant impact on the revenue stream,to the point where I’ve been asked to draw up a rough business Susan Goldberg is a freelance writer based in Thunder Bay. PRINTEMPS 2008 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association 49