Canadian Lawyer

40 www.canadianlawyermag.com INHOUSE INTERVIEWS FEATURE In 2006, a call from the Régie brought Legault back to the public sector. As general counsel, he leads a team of eight lawyers supporting commissioners who issue regulatory decisions. "We have to give them recommendations, the state of the law that applies, and review the work of technical specialists," he says. His team ensures decisions are thorough, fair, and legally sound. The energy sector's complexity, especially during a transition period, adds pressure. "This energy transition is putting a lot of pressure on companies to reduce emissions," Legault says. Utilities like Hydro-Québec are feeling the strain. "In Quebec, Hydro-Québec has even started saying, 'Wait a minute, we don't have the power to do this.'" Legault sees the transition as a balancing act. "We're walking on a tight wire," he says, weighing consumer interests against utility demands. Proposed legislation like bill69 could make decision-making even harder. "It puts more pressure on everyone... General and general counsel at Invest Ontario, Yasmin Shaker advises on investments and business attraction through a $700 million fund. She applies her expertise in trade law, corporate law, and government policy, and her career spans private, public, and international trade sectors. Early in her career at Goodmans, she worked on major trade cases with Jon Johnson, whom she describes as "pivotal to the first NAFTA negotiations." She recalls, "When I was with Jon at Goodmans, we worked on Canada's second NAFTA Chapter 11 case… [It] was groundbreaking, fascinating, and exciting." Hooked on trade law, she transitioned from private practice to government, inspired by values instilled by her family: "My family instilled in me a strong desire to work in the public interest." At Global Affairs Canada, she says, "[Johnson] put me in touch with the folks at JLT… and I was offered what was essentially my dream job…" She highlights, "You come to understand how government works, which is extremely helpful." This solidified her desire to specialize in trade law, leading Although we usually respect these delays, having a sword over commissioners' heads isn't ideal. Reflecting on his career, Legault says, "There's no secret to it – it's hard work and knowing what you're after," stressing credibility and compromise in regulatory law. to high-profile work on NAFTA 2.0: "It was very intense and challenging … but also incredibly rewarding." Today, Shaker integrates her trade law background into her current role: "There are trade law implications for any measures governments take." Her private-sector experience at a multinational medical cannabis company also informs her approach: "That experience has helped me be a better lawyer… I think I have a strong understanding of how companies think." She notes, "A public agency is not the same as a private sector lender," but companies "generally come to appreciate our approach." On ESG, she explains, "For those ESG principles that have made their way into hard law, Invest Ontario agreements include them." Reflecting on her in-house career, she emphasizes, "It's a very practical practice. Your role is to empower the business." Shaker views her work as "the perfect nexus point" for entrepreneurial and public sector interests, advising aspiring government lawyers. "You have to love serving the public interest." LOUIS LEGAULT Company: Régie de l'énergie Title: Director of Legal Services From diesel mechanic to energy lawyer Louis Legault's path to becoming general counsel at Quebec's Régie de l'énergie spans blue-collar work to leading legal teams at Hydro-Québec, and now at the Régie, a tribunal regulating the province's energy sector. "I finished high school and went to work in shops, essentially being a machine assembler, and then working for CP Rail as a diesel machinist," Legault says. His early career organizing labour unions and negotiating contracts sparked his interest in labour law. "There was this lawyer sitting across the table from us, and I told myself... I think I could do this job. It would make my job less dirty than what I'm doing right now." YASMIN SHAKER Company: Invest Ontario Title: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Bringing private and public experience to the provincial investment fund As counsel with the Ministry of the Attorney

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