Legal news and trends for Canadian in-house counsel and c-suite executives
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28 www.canadianlawyermag.com/inhouse DEPARTMENT PROFILE BEING RESPONSIVE TO the ever-changing landscape of restrictions and laws during the pandemic crisis was a significant responsibility for Catherine Chow in 2020. As vice president, legal and general counsel at Keg Restaurants Ltd, Chow led the charge in monitoring liquor laws, patio serving hours and restaurant openings and closures throughout the crisis, as well as in guiding the restaurant chain in complying with regulations. Even rules surrounding the transfer of inventory had to be carefully monitored. "While that may seem like a minor issue, for a company this size, it is important," says Chow, who has been with the North Vancouver-based organization for 14 years. "Having that respon- siveness to the changing laws has kept me busier than ever." Like many organizations, Keg Restaurants has been forced to pivot and change its business model in some areas, so the legal team has been on standby to help with any issues that arise. The team also continues to manage day-to-day legal matters while maintaining fiscal responsibility at the Canadi- an-owned steakhouse chain that has more than 100 restaurants across Canada and the U.S. "The Keg has been around for 50 years and we have enjoyed a lot of prosperity, so fiscal Seeking workable solutions to support the organization responsibility has not always been the first lens through which we evaluate ideas, but now, it is definitely one of our priorities," says Chow. Throughout the crisis, the legal department has sought workable solutions to help support the organization during very challenging times. Among her initiatives, Chow recently guided Keg Restaurants in moving its entire insurance claims system onto software platform ClearRisk, which allows the team to manage the claims process through a database. For a slip-and-fall incident in a restaurant, for example, restaurant managers can use a guided form on a smartphone or tablet, and the incident can be reviewed and evaluated. "The platform has created efficiency beyond belief because we're able to track claims not just by location but also by the experience of the general manager and how long they've been in a particular location," says Chow. The platform has enabled the team to create a safer environment and reduce risks in restaurants by monitoring connections between claims that may arise due to a physical condition such as a patio design. "Often, litigation is known for dragging and languishing in the back room, but, with this software, we're able to track the age of our Being responsive to rapidly changing laws is critical in the restaurant industry, says Keg Restaurants' GC FAST FACTS: CATHERINE CHOW Is an adjudicator at the Law Society of British Columbia Is an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia Is a member of the National GC Network Earned an LLM from the Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia, 2007 Winner of the Lexpert Zenith Award, 2014 Is a founder of the Pacific Post Partum Support Society's Angel Donor's Dinner