Legal news and trends for Canadian in-house counsel and c-suite executives
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50885
CLOSING • A roundup of legal department news and trends Top 10 tips for the well-dressed (male) lawyer. Gentlemen, shine those shoes! Larry Rosen, chairman and chief executive officer of Harry Rosen Inc., gave the keynote address at a luncheon during the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association's annual meeting in Halifax Aug. 15. Rosen practised corporate law for some years and now runs the Canadian retail chain known for its men's fine clothing. So he knew of what he spoke when he offered corporate counsel these tips for dressing just right: 1. You can only underdress, not overdress. Always err on the side of being overdressed. Worst-case scenario? You're the best dressed, most in-control, confidence-inspiring person in the room. 2. Men in suits look powerful, authoritative, and sexy. Why would you not want to have that advantage when dealing with a potential client? 3. Dark dressy suit: navy or black — updated and current. Dress it up with a white shirt and French cuffs for semi-formal occasions. A dark suit is the most versatile suit you can own. Wear it with a coloured or patterned shirt, with a tie or without, for a more relaxed look. 4. When "business casual" is appropriate, wear a sports jacket with dress casual pants and a smart sport shirt or knit. Jeans are never appropriate for business. 5. "God is in the details" (Ludwig Mies van der Rohe). The small things make you look complete. Add a pocket square and cufflinks. Take care choosing your shirt and tie. 6. Eyeglass frames that are 10 years old look 10 years old. 7. The leather colour of your belt should match that of your shoes. The colour of your socks should match that of your pants. 8. Successful people get their shoes shined — often. 9. Try something new. Everyone can benefit from getting out of their rut and dressing more eclectically. 10. If you have occasion to attend more than one formal event each year, invest in a tuxedo. You will always look great (and rentals always look "rented"). New chairman of CCCA Geoffrey D. Creighton of Toronto has been named chairman of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association for 2011-2012, a post he takes over from Robert Patzelt of Halifax. Creighton is senior vice presi- dent, general counsel and secretary, and chief compliance officer at IGM Financial Inc. He is responsible for overseeing the legal, compliance, and corporate secretarial functions of Mackenzie Financial, Investors Group, and Investment Planning Counsel. Prior to joining IGM in 2008, Creighton was a senior corporate partner with Torys LLP. The new CCCA vice chairman is Grant Borbridge of Calgary, executive vice president, investments and chief counsel of Emergo Group Inc. Should the CLO earn as much as the CFO? When it comes to compensation for chief legal counsel, some, such as Elisabeth Preston, CLO of Allen Vanguard Corp., suggest there is a growing trend of CLOs being paid on par with the chief financial officer. "Part of the whole plan of being seen to be an equal around the executive table has a lot to do with pay and how you're respected," said Preston during a panel at the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association meeting this summer. "I have found in different companies and in talking to friends in similar positions that we all care about being paid the same as the CFO. The CFO in a public company is 'the man' and paid well. I think the chief legal officers really care about being seen as the other right-hand man to the CEO, which is the CFO. I think legal used to report to the CFO but I don't think that happens as much anymore." 38 • OCTOBER 2011 INHOUSE However, Robert Hanf, CLO with Halifax-based energy company Emera Inc., pointed out there are compliance responsibilities they must answer to, such as the Sarbanes- Oxley Act, that come with being CFO and CEO that do not apply to chief legal counsel. "I would have a different view on worrying about whether you're paid as much as the CFO or CEO. If you want to be paid as much as them then become a CFO or CEO," said Hanf, who has held the role of CEO in the past and has both given legal advice and received it. "I can tell you it's quite different. I think it's fantastic if you can serve in a non-legal role for a period of time. It will change the quality of the service you deliver," he said. "We talk about understanding the business, well, you will understand it if you are in it."