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CCCA_V6No3_Spotlight-FIN_CCCA_V1No1_Profile-FIN.qxd 9/18/12 2:22 PM Page 44 Spotlight on… The new face of in-house counsel A seat at the table In-house counsel used to be considered paper-pushers. They play a bigger role in today’s organizations — and face bigger expectations. By Bev Cline hen Jordan Ingster graduated as legal adviser, drafting agreements, for Wfrom University of Ottawa example, but also part of management. Faculty of Law in 2009, he knew You have a voice at the executive table exactly what he wanted to do: become and they hear you loud and clear.” an in-house counsel. While most of his fellow graduates A virtuous circle opted to go the traditional law firm route, Barry M. Fisher has seen the perception Ingster, now in his third year as legal of in-house counsel in the legal and busi- counsel with Loblaw Companies ness communities evolve over the years, Limited, became the first-ever in-house even if the reality hasn’t. articling student at Loblaw.The company “The perception of the in-house counsel has since hired an articling student each role may have changed, but I’d like to year as part of its law department succes- suggest to you that the reality hasn’t sion planning. changed,” says Fisher, vice-president, gen- “It all comes down to having exposure eral counsel and corporate secretary, SAP to the business,” says Ingster, of his deci- Inc. Fisher has been in-house counsel at sion to go in-house. “Even at a junior SAP Canada for 12 years. He also served level you get a lot of exposure to the busi- as the first — and only — legal officer for ness.You work closely with the business a mining company. people every day.” He contrasts this with “Senior outside counsel, the best of a law firm setting, where “often, there are them, have always been, and continue to several layers between you and the client.” be, trusted advisers to their clients. Senior Ingster represents the new face of in- in-house counsel, the best of them, have house counsel. For him and his fellow always been, and continue to be, trusted graduates, the image of in-house counsel advisers to their clients,” he says. as paper-pushers, only useful for drafting “Where I believe the perception has contracts, bears no relation to the reality evolved, is that organizations have come of working in-house today. to expect more from their in-house Today, Ingster says, in-house counsel is lawyers generally than may have been the a “valued member of management, a case in the past.This has become a virtu- trusted adviser.” For instance at Loblaw, he ous circle: the more CEOs and boards of points out, general counsel Gord Currie directors expect from their in-house has a seat at the management table and is lawyers, the more the best of these in- on the company’s board of directors. house counsel step up to the challenge,” PAUL EEKHOFF “In-house counsel is increasingly seen he says. 44 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association FALL 2012