Canadian Lawyer

www.canadianlawyermag.com 35 a decade in big law, she sought a role that combined legal expertise with business strategy. This led her through positions in fintech, major banks, Shopify, and now to Hiive, where she serves as vice president and deputy general counsel. Hiive operates in the complex and regulated realm of private securities trading. Wiley emphasizes, "We live and breathe our legal and compliance posture in everything that we do." Unlike tech companies where legal considerations might be secondary, Hiive's foundation relies on robust legal and compliance functions. "Rather than being a blocker or an afterthought, we are very much linked-arms with our key business stakeholders every step of the way," she adds. The company's platform addresses a significant market gap by facilitating the trading of private securities, traditionally managed through opaque and manual processes. Wiley explains, "There was really this gap in the market... We operate a marketplace platform ... [connecting] buyers and sellers of stock in venture-backed responsibilities for over 20 brands, including Swiss Chalet, Harvey's, and New York Fries. Each brand operates independently with its own personnel, presenting a diverse array of business models and operations. Shayko managed a complex legal landscape that spans international jurisdictions, handling rapid deal volumes across these brands. Upon joining Recipe in 2017, Shayko's mandate was clear: streamline, automate, and digitize processes to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving business environment. She aimed to modernize the legal department by leveraging technology and efficiency tools. Despite her legal background, Shayko saw her role as requiring deep business integration and regularly interfacing with non-legal teams in construction, real estate, leasing, and HR. Before transitioning to in-house counsel, Shayko began her legal career at major firms like Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and Sotos LLP. She specialized in franchise litigation at Sotos, where she dealt with disputes that pre-IPO 'unicorn' companies, allowing for liquidity in the market." This innovation enables employees of these companies to realize liquidity from their compensation, which was previously contingent on events like public offerings or acquisitions. Navigating the intersection of technology and securities law presents ongoing challenges. Wiley notes, "Securities law is one of the reasons why I came to Hiive... Our broker-dealer is FINRA- and SEC-registered in the United States. It is also an exempt market dealer in Ontario and BC." As Hiive expands, her team remains vigilant about compliance across various jurisdictions. Beyond securities, Wiley's team oversees privacy, employment law, commercial contracts, and product counselling. She is particularly focused on integrating legal considerations early in product development, noting, "One of the areas I'm excited about building at Hiive is a really robust product counselling function." Her approach involves framing legal issues in terms of risk and collaborating closely with business leaders to balance innovation with compliance. often featured a blend of commercial drama and relational tension. This experience proved essential in managing the inevitable disputes within Recipe's vast network. Shayko emphasized resolving issues amicably to protect the network's integrity, understanding the perspectives of franchisees, and seeking resolution without escalating to litigation. Operating in multiple jurisdictions, including the US and India, Shayko faced regulatory hurdles that differ vastly across borders. In the US, she played a key role in creating the infrastructure necessary for Recipe to operate corporately, coordinating efforts across tax, finance, and HR. For markets like India, she relied on master franchise agreements, localized by external counsel familiar with the country's regulatory and business environment. Shayko's strategic use of external partners highlighted her approach to managing Recipe's legal and business strategy, ensuring seamless operations across diverse markets and brands. ERIN WILEY Company: Hiive Title: Vice President and Deputy General Counsel Guiding Hiive's legal strategy in private securities trading Erin Wiley's transition from private practice to in-house legal leadership was a strategic move for her to engage more deeply with clients and their businesses. After nearly JENNIFER SHAYKO Company: Recipe Unlimited Corporation Title: Associate General Counsel (former) Integrating legal expertise with business strategy across 20+ brands As associate general counsel at Recipe Unlimited, Jennifer Shayko oversaw the legal

• Cover