Legal news and trends for Canadian in-house counsel and c-suite executives
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PROFILE By Vawn Himmelsbach Association banks on Clark for public policy advocacy Sometimes life's path leads in a different direction than anticipated, and for Nathalie Clark, general counsel and corporate secretary with the Canadian Bankers Association, that was certainly the case. When Clark started law school, she had an interest in health law, particu- larly medical malpractice and hospital liability, but her experiences led her in another direction. And, as a franco- phone growing up in Quebec City, her ability to fluently speak two languages and practise both civil law and common law gave her opportunities she couldn't have imagined when she started her career. "I came to banking without hav- ing grown up in the banking industry, but having an interesting profile for the general counsel position," says Clark. "It was a steep learning curve, but I've been fortunate enough to interact on a regu- lar basis with the general counsel and legal departments of the banks, which has been extremely important for me." The CBA works on behalf of 51 domestic banks, foreign bank subsidiar- ies, and foreign bank branches operating in Canada, representing some 260,000 employees. It advocates for effective pub- lic policies that contribute to the coun- try's banking system. As a not-for-profit organization, the CBA is the oldest trade association in Canada and arguably the largest and most influential. While that means the CBA doesn't have the same obligations that say a publicly traded It's always diffi cult when you're an outsider to arrive in a new culture, learn a new language, and then try to bring value wherever you can. You have to listen to the people and give them what they need as opposed to trying to impose your values and perspectives. NATHALIE CLARK, Canadian Bankers Association INHOUSE OCTOBER 2010 • 41