Page 20 - CCCA64_2012

CCCA_V6No4_Profiles-FIN_CCCA 11/27/12 12:16 PM Page 20 Profile adapting them to the specific circumstance, Called to the bar in 2003, he joined that was important for career satisfaction. because nothing is ever black and white.” Goodmans LLP in Toronto, where he “It’s nice to know you’ve paid all that Daily challenges are part of the allure of enjoyed working in the corporate restruc- tuition and it’s gone to good use,” he working for the NHLPA,Larry says.Being turing group. However, two years later he’d chuckles. “Most people who were in the in a sports-related business is simply a determined that working for a large cor- combined program either went into law or bonus for a lifelong sports fan and athlete. porate firm wasn’t what he wanted. business. I do both.” Born in Toronto in 1977, the same year the Enter the NHLPA. The union and NHL While the early season lockout was dis- expansion Blue Jays came to Canada, Larry had finally reached a deal in July 2005, appointing for all parties and fans, Larry was 15 when the Jays won their first World more than 10 months after the players and NHLPA staff were trying to be Series title. Nothing, he stresses, was more were locked out. The NHLPA had some patient. If adjustments needed to be made important than that to a teenage boy. staff turnover and contacted a partner at with licensees, they would make them fair- “I’m a Leaf fan as well,” he admits. “I’ll Goodmans to see if he knew anyone who ly and when appropriate, he says. watch hockey, basketball, baseball, golf, ten- might be interested and qualified. Otherwise, it was part of the business of nis. I love the Olympics. If there’s a sport “I hadn’t said anything about wanting to sports, a different type of education for on, I’ll probably watch it.” leave,” Larry recalls. “They wanted some- Larry, that, to borrow a sports cliché, he He was also a good student, graduating at one with four, five years experience. I had needed to take one day at a time. age 20 from the University of Western two… but the partner told them he had [Ed. Note: The NHL and NHLPA had Ontario with a BA in economics. After talk- the perfect person. Me.” not agreed to a new collective bargaining ing with his father, a lawyer, he decided on The stars aligned. The NHLPA, located agreement at the time of publication.] a combined law and MBA degree at York in downtown Toronto, is a small shop offer- University’s Osgoode Hall Law School and ing Larry the opportunity to apply both his Michael Dempster is a freelance writer based The Schulich School of Business. legal and business education, something in Calgary. WE CAN HANDLE ANY PITCH. LITIGATIONBOUTIQUE.COM WOODS LLP LITIGATION . ARBITRATION . CLASS ACTION 2000 MGILL COLLEGE AVE. SUITE 1700 MONTREAL, QUEBEC H3A 3H3 T. 5149824545 20 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association WINTER 2012