Canadian Lawyer InHouse

31 CANAdIANLAwyERMAG.COM/INhOUSE october 2014 YOUR PARTNER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. Gardiner Roberts LLP serves the diverse legal needs of growing companies and the dynamic people who run them. Clients rely on our 90+ years of experience as a full-service business law firm providing practical legal guidance and comprehensive solutions to complex problems. For more information on how we can help, visit us online at gardiner-roberts.com Gardiner Roberts LLP Scotia Plaza, 40 King St W, Suite 3100, Toronto, ON M5H 3Y2 T 416 865 6600 | F 416 865 6636 | gardiner-roberts.com Untitled-1 1 14-08-07 2:15 PM making sure the region continues to hum. Metrolinx is mandated to take the lead to ensure the necessary transit and transpor- tation infrastructure is in place to enhance both the quality of life and economic pros- perity. On projects such as the Union Sta- tion revitalization, Union Pearson Express, and Eglinton Crosstown light rapid transit line, Martin prefers to retain as much work in-house as possible. The lawyers on her team work closely on integrated business legal teams from the planning stage to the procurement of the construction consortium and negotiation of the project agreements. "As general counsel I sit at the execu- tive management table and we meet at least weekly to engage in strategic planning, business planning, and project approvals," says Martin. "Because we do so many larg- er projects through alternative fi nancing and procurement project plan, we have very tight project management plans and we re- port to our board on the status of our large infrastructure projects quarterly." At that table sit the CEO, CFO, and heads of four operating divisions, which provides Martin with both the opportunity to contribute to shaping plans and estab- lishing priorities. "This allows me to better understand our organization's objectives, which in turn allows my team to provide le- gal advice which is proactive and informed by a full context," she says. Given the complex nature of the work Metrolinx undertakes, some of it goes ex- '' '' In an in-house department unless it's a large department you're not going to have expertise in every area so we do look to the fi rms to help us out. MAry MArtIN, Metrolinx. ternal to Ontario-based fi rms with experi- ence in alternative fi nancing and procure- ment. "In an in-house department unless it's a large department you're not going to have expertise in every area so we do look to the fi rms to help us out," says Martin. "We tend to work with lawyers in the region because that's where all the projects are so we use Toronto law fi rms with the required depth and expertise. Only a limited number do P3 or AFP. The projects are all in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area so it doesn't make sense to go outside Ontario." "We do a lot of real estate work because of the nature of work we're doing," she says. "We're always buying rail corridors from CN/CP so I have looked for real estate law- yers and for lawyers in infrastructure who work on P3 transactions," she says. Some of the lawyers on her team are fi nanced by other divisions. For example, the rapid transit initiative division is pay- ing for two of her lawyers directly from its budget. "We're continuing to look at that kind of approach," she says. Martin has also at times seconded

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