Canadian Lawyer InHouse

45 CANADiANLAWyERMAG.CoM/iNhousE april 2014 of how you see things at work, when you have broader interests in the community." Bench is also involved in a learning disabilities association, and works with the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association on ad hoc projects, most recently on the certification process that aims to beef up the business leadership skills of in-house lawyers. Playing a dynamic role in helping an organization fulfill its goals requires a "big picture" vision and a willingness to get fully behind strategic objectives without being unrealistic about legal challenges, she believes. She explains: "I don't want the legal department to be seen as the place you go to get a no, I want us to be seen as the place that gets you the results you want. "I've always told my clients I may not be able to get you 100-per-cent of where you want to go, but I'll get you as close as I can, so if I can get to 85- to 90-per-cent of the way I consider that a win and so do they." Bench has a lot of respect for the city's long-standing mayor, Hazel McCallion, who is stepping down later this year at the age of 92, after 36 years in the job. McCal- lion has been the subject of a conflict of interest inquiry into a land deal involving her son's company, for which Bench had to act as a witness — an experience she describes as "tough." The episode taught her about the need in highly politicized situations to sometimes step back and bring in objective outsiders. "You have to be transparent and account- able," she stresses. Knowing where to draw the line between legal and political guidance is a large part of the job, according to Bench. "You have to know your role and keep that separation — you can't cross that line," she adds. That said, legal advice is by its nature a grey area, she believes, and the need to avoid getting embroiled in politics doesn't prevent her from casting her eye over policies. To the contrary, she sees that as one of the main perks of the job. "I can be a lawyer one day and be in policy, commenting on differ- ent programs or operations, another day, so it's great," she says. But where next for the municipal govern- ment veteran? Bench admits some experi- ence at the provincial level would have been useful earlier in her career, as "they have the final say on the policies that impact us," but "it's probably too late to do that." Federal government holds no special draw for her. "When you deal with health, or de- fence, it's kind of way up in the stratosphere, you don't really see how it impacts people, the connection's not there," she says. For now, she is looking forward to see- ing how Mississauga develops "from being a suburb to a real city" over the next five years. To illustrate the scale of the plans, she excitedly points to the window in front of her, where high-end retailer Holt Renfrew is set to be the anchor tenant in a major new development. "That's the transition we're just on the cusp of at the moment and it's great to watch," she says. "It's great to be part of. To move that forward, it's phenomenal." IH TIME: EVENT: All Aboard! A Lunch-hour Speaker-Series on: 'ĞƫŶŐƉƉŽŝŶƚĞĚƚŽΘ^ƵĐĐĞĞĚŝŶŐŽŶŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞŽĂƌĚƐ April 25: "Ethical Leadership and Corrupt Practices on Boards" Speaker: Gar Emerson, Q.C., ICD.D, Partner, Fasken Martineau, Publisher of GovernanceCanada.com, Corp. Dir. Emerson Advisory Firm, Corporate Director CAE Inc. Location: Fasken Martineau May 23: "Empowering Women to Succeed on Corporate Boards and in Leadership Roles" Speaker: The Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Status of Women Location: Dentons Canada LLP June 24: "The Lawyer's Role in Advising Corporate Boards" Speakers: Carol Hansell, Founder & Senior Partner, Hansell LLP and J. Robert S. Prichard, Chair, Torys LLP Location: Royal Bank of Canada Cost: $25 + GST per session. Advance registration is required. Please contact: 416-978-1400 / gpllm@utoronto.ca Time: 12:00 - 1:30 pm (All Sessions) April 25: "Ethical Leadership and Corrupt Practices on Boards" Speaker: Gar Emerson, Q.C., ICD.D, Partner, Fasken Martineau, Publisher of GovernanceCanada.com, Corp. Dir. Emerson Advisory Firm, Corporate Director CAE Inc. Location: Fasken Martineau May 23: "Empowering Women to Succeed on Corporate Boards and in Leadership Roles" Speaker: The Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Status of Women Location: Dentons Canada LLP June 24: "The Lawyer's Role in Advising Corporate Boards" Speakers: Carol Hansell, Founder & Senior Partner, Hansell LLP and J. Robert S. Prichard, Chair, Torys LLP Location: Royal Bank of Canada TIME: EVENT: Cost: $25 + GST per session. Advance registration is required. Please contact: 416-978-1400 / gpllm@utoronto.ca Time: 12:00 - 1:30 pm (All Sessions) http://www.law.utoronto.ca/programs/GPLLM.html dŚĞ'ůŽďĂůWƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂů>>͘D͘ŝƐŶŽǁĂĐĐĞƉƟŶŐĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐĨŽƌ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͕ϮϬϭϰ͘ WůĞĂƐĞĐŚĞĐŬŽƵƌǁĞďƐŝƚĞĨŽƌ/ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ^ĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͗ UofT-GPLLM-IH-Apr-14.indd 1 14-03-10 3:58 PM

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