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40 www.canadianlawyermag.com FEATURE IN-HOUSE PROFILES WILL RAMJASS COMPANY: PortsToronto TITLE: Senior vice president and general counsel VERONICA KENNY COMPANY: PetSmart TITLE: Senior counsel Kenny tackles labour and employment law across Canada, animal welfare law, and more With over 1,660 stores across North America, PetSmart is a giant in the pet industry. Veronica Kenny, senior counsel, leads the legal operations in Canada, a position created to address the growing legal needs of the Canadian market. "The business had grown to the point where they decided it was time to have a Canadian attorney," Kenny tells Lexpert. Previously, PetSmart outsourced much of its litigation work in labour and employment law, but Kenny was brought in to reduce costs and handle these matters in-house. Kenny's role is diverse, with about three- quarters of her time focused on HR-related legal issues, while also addressing privacy, corporate matters, and animal welfare law. "Definitely learning a lot about animal law and animal welfare law," she says, highlighting the unique challenges PetSmart faces in selling live animals and adhering to regulatory standards like Ontario's Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act. Kenny's passion for labour law began in law school, where she found the subject relatable and impactful. "At some point, most people end up in a workplace, so you can understand the issues," she explains. She takes a proactive approach to her work, shaping policies that benefit both PetSmart and its employees while ensuring compliance with regulations across nine provinces. Navigating the complexities of labour law is a fast-paced and high-stakes environment that Kenny enjoys. "Labour lawyers have to be a bit of an adrenaline junkie at heart," she notes. Staying updated on ever-changing laws is crucial, and Kenny actively engages in continuous professional development, reading legal updates and participating in webinars and conferences. Kenny collaborates closely with PetSmart's human resources team, providing mentor- ship and legal guidance, ensuring a compliant and supportive work environment across the company's Canadian operations. Jumping to a new industry at the Toronto Port Authority was a risk worth taking When Will Ramjass interviewed for the role of senior vice president and general counsel at PortsToronto, he was initially nervous about transitioning from his previous role at McDonald's into the transportation sector. "How are my skills going to translate into this new industry?" he wondered. However, after researching the port authority and under- standing its business model, Ramjass realized his experience was highly transferable. At McDonald's, Ramjass learned the importance of stakeholder relationships, a concept that directly applied to PortsToronto. "It takes stakeholders to be successful," he tells Lexpert, noting that PortsToronto operates similarly, despite being government- sanctioned. The legal team's role is to support the organization's many stakeholders and facilitate success. PortsToronto, with its rich history dating back to the 18th century, intrigued Ramjass. "It was an opportunity to contribute to one of Canada's most historic enterprises," he says. PortsToronto is unique in Canada, overseeing both airside and marine transportation, and one of the country's largest freshwater marinas. With a new management team in place, Ramjass is excited about the future. "Our vision is transportation reimagined," he explains, aiming to lead in areas such as electric flying and sustainable airfields. His role involves more than legal counsel; he actively shapes the organization's future, navigating regulatory challenges and forging partnerships with municipal, provincial, and federal governments. "Being a part of that as a lawyer, thinking ahead on regulatory and strategic alignments, is so intriguing for me," Ramjass adds. As he helps PortsToronto reimagine transportation, he brings his extensive experience in stakeholder management and strategic vision to an organization with deep historical roots and an ambitious future.