Legal news and trends for Canadian in-house counsel and c-suite executives
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/1336129
www.canadianlawyermag.com/inhouse 29 "I physically can't be everywhere, and I don't know all the local laws in all the provinces, so we use external counsel in expertise areas." "Acquisitions are a lot of fun," says Chow. "There is a lot more to it than just the conveyance piece. It's really about ushering in the integration of assets and personnel to the fold." She also directs teams of external counsel in multiple jurisdictions. "I physically can't be everywhere, and I don't know all the local laws in all the provinces, so we use external counsel in expertise areas," says Chow, who regularly seeks help from experts including securities, employment, trademark and liquor-licensing lawyers. Ensuring that claims and move the dial on those claims by getting them reviewed by second counsel," says Chow. Working as a solo in-house counsel with two paralegals and an insurance expert, Chow's mandate includes legal matters such as financing, real estate and leasing, key partnership agreements, litigation, trademark protection and corporate compliance. She directs risk management and insurance for the company and manages business development for acquisitions and franchising. Catherine Chow liquor licences are renewed and operational licences are valid is key for a restaurant chain. Giving her team security and motivation in their work plans is a goal of Chow's for 2021. She also hopes to encourage them to choose a project or initiative that allows them to use their personal skillsets. "Given that 2020 was so much about adaptation, I want to be able to give them a road map for what we're going to try and achieve so we're not just managing a crisis but also working toward certain goals," she says. LAW SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Catherine Chow has recently started her second year as an adjudicator at the Law Society of British Columbia which regulates the legal profession in the province by setting and enforcing standards of professional conduct for lawyers. The Law Society's tribunal conducts hearings to adjudicate allegations of professional misconduct and impose appropriate sanctions, assess character and fitness of applicants for admission or reinstatement, and to conduct reviews of hearing panel decisions. As an elected representative, Chow adjudicates or reviews cases with elected benchers and non lawyer representatives.