Holt Renfrew Senior Legal Counsel

About Holt Renfrew

Founded in Quebec City in 1837, Holt Renfrew is one of Canada’s leading luxury retailers, bringing together distinguished international fashion, accessories and beauty brands. Its heritage combines an enduring appreciation of craftsmanship with a contemporary approach to retail and personalised service. As an employer, Holt Renfrew offers career paths across client-facing roles, personal shopping, merchandising, digital commerce and corporate functions. Its retail environment calls for product expertise, commercial awareness and the ability to cultivate lasting client relationships. For professionals drawn to luxury, it provides a setting where Canadian retail heritage meets the evolving expectations of a discerning, internationally minded clientele.

Role & Responsibilities

• Independently draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including vendor agreements, master service agreements and statements of work, product agreements, NDAs, licensing agreements, IT service and support agreements, and marketing agreements.
• Advise on contract interpretation, risk allocation, and negotiation strategy.
• Support product, marketing, and procurement teams in structuring commercial transactions with vendors and service providers.
• Lead project teams and advise on related legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provide legal guidance across areas including intellectual property and real estate.
• Support lease negotiations and construction projects for the existing retail network and future developments.
• Support marketing initiatives and events, including reviewing trademark use, promotional materials, and licensing agreements.
• Review board materials, corporate records, and minute books.
• Ensure ongoing corporate compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Advise on corporate governance and help refine or enhance governance practices.
• Develop and refine corporate policies.
• Support Finance with contract audits, insurance questions, and corporate filings.
• Monitor changes in laws and regulations relevant to the business and advise on required actions.
• Support compliance programs covering privacy, data security, anti-bribery, competition law, and workplace policies.
• Conduct internal training on legal and compliance topics as needed.
• Identify legal risks and provide pragmatic solutions that balance risk mitigation with business objectives.
• Support internal investigations and respond to regulatory inquiries where appropriate.
• Support privacy matters, breaches, and investigations in direct collaboration with the Chief Privacy Officer.
• Manage litigation matters, working with external counsel as needed.
• Work closely with HR on employment matters, including employment agreements, policy updates, and workplace investigations.
• Provide legal consultation on strategic projects and organizational change initiatives.
• Proactively advise internal clients and provide legal support across a range of matters.
• Work cross-functionally with business leaders across Product, IT, Finance, Privacy, Marketing, Procurement, and Operations, as well as external counsel.
• Advise on company-wide strategic initiatives and governance and policy matters, and mentor junior associates.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing with the Ontario bar.
• Strong background in corporate and commercial law, contract review and negotiation, corporate governance, intellectual property, employment, and real estate; experience with privacy matters is an asset.
• Demonstrated leadership and influencing skills at all levels of an organization.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to act as both a leader and an individual contributor as required.
• Confident and effective written and verbal communication.
• Highly service-oriented, with exceptional organizational and follow-up skills.
• Passion for fashion and luxury retail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

Skills

Experience

A minimum of 8 years of post-call experience, ideally gained at a large national law firm or comparable in-house setting, or a combination of both.

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from an accredited law school.

Benefits

Competitive total compensation; employee discount; pension and health and dental benefits; tuition assistance; continuous learning and development; comprehensive benefits package; perks; pension matching; incentives.

Culture

Holt Renfrew’s workplace culture blends its Canadian luxury retail heritage with a strong focus on personalized service, fashion expertise and lasting client relationships. Across its stores and corporate teams, collaboration, attention to detail and a shared passion for exceptional brands shape a client-focused working environment.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.