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CCCA_V4No1_Secondments-FIN.qxd:CCCA_V1No1_DriversSeat-FIN.qxd 2/3/10 11:59 AM Page 19 Cover The inside edge Tired of trying to explain your business to law firms? An in-house secondment can bridge the knowledge gap and build relationships. Bradley Wells, Associate, Ogilvy Renault Elisabeth A. Campin, Legal Counsel, General Motors of Canada Ltd. Elisabeth Campin, Legal Counsel at General Motors of Canada Ltd., says the auto manufacturer has run a secondment program primarily for students-at- law from their external law firms since 1987. Bradley Wells, an associate at the Toronto office of Ogilvy Renault went on secondment at General Motors Canada’s office in Oshawa, Ont. during his articling year in the summer of 2009.Wells says having the assurance from his firm that going on secondment would not affect hire-back decisions was vital. His stint in-house helped him understand what in-house counsel expect from outside counsel.“If you give in-house counsel a memo that is pages and pages by Michael Rappaport PRINTEMPS 2010 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association 19