General Counsel

FWS Group of Companies

• $150K — $180K *
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Law degree (JD or LL.B.) and membership with Law Society of Manitoba or Alberta.
  • 10+ years of post-call corporate and commercial legal experience.
  • Strong commercial contracting experience, especially in construction law.
  • Experience advising executives on complex legal and governance matters.
  • Practical and collaborative approach with excellent negotiation skills.
  • Willingness to travel occasionally within Canada and the U.S.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a trusted advisor to senior management and the Board of Directors.
  • Provide commercially focused legal advice on corporate, commercial, and construction matters.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate legal documents, particularly for construction projects.
  • Advise on corporate governance, strategic transactions, and cross-border activities.
  • Oversee litigation and internal investigations related to insurance and bonding.
  • Lead the legal function and mentor junior legal staff.

Benefits

  • Profit sharing and RRSP contributions.
  • Comprehensive benefits package.
  • Opportunities for professional training and development.
  • Support for employee share ownership and deferred compensation plans.
Full Job Description
Company:

FWS

Department:

Legal

Location:

Calgary, AB

Job Type:

Full Time

Professional Areas:

Legal

To support our continued success, we are recruiting a General Counsel to join our collaborative and team-focused organization in either our Winnipeg or Calgary office.

We have a lot to offer you - profit sharing, RRSPs, benefits, professional training, just to name a few.

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the General Counsel is a trusted business partner who leads FWS' legal function and provides strategic, practical, and commercially focused advice across our Canadian and U.S. operations. Working closely with senior leaders, operating business units, corporate departments, and the Board of Directors, you will help advance business objectives while identifying and effectively managing legal and commercial risk.

This is an opportunity for an experienced legal professional who enjoys being close to the business, developing trusted relationships, and finding practical solutions to complex issues. You will advise on a broad and interesting range of matters, lead our legal function, and mentor our junior Legal Counsel.

Position Overview:
  • Serve as a trusted legal and business advisor to the President & CEO, senior management, operating business units, corporate departments, and the Board of Directors.
  • Provide practical, commercially focused advice across corporate and commercial matters, construction law, labour and employment, workplace health and safety, regulatory compliance, and other matters affecting the organization.
  • Draft, review, and negotiate construction contracts, commercial agreements, policies, and other legal documentation, providing advice throughout the construction project lifecycle.
  • Advise on corporate governance, strategic transactions, corporate structures and reorganizations, shareholder matters, and cross-border business activities.
  • Oversee litigation, claims, dispute resolution, internal investigations, and legal matters related to the organization's insurance and bonding programs.
  • Lead the legal function, mentor and develop our junior Legal Counsel, manage external legal counsel, and oversee the administration of the Employee Share Ownership Plan and Deferred Compensation Unit Plan.

Qualifications Needed:
  • A law degree, such as a JD or LL.B., and current membership in good standing with the Law Society of Manitoba or the Law Society of Alberta.
  • 10 or more years of post-call corporate and commercial legal experience gained in-house, in private practice, or through a combination of both.
  • Strong commercial contracting experience, including contractual risk allocation, claims, and dispute management. Construction law or construction-industry experience is strongly preferred.
  • Experience advising leaders and executives on complex legal, governance, risk, and business matters. Experience supporting Canadian and U.S. operations is considered an asset.
  • A practical and collaborative approach, with strong negotiation, communication, relationship-building, leadership, and decision-making skills, supported by sound judgment, integrity, and discretion.
  • Ability to travel occasionally within Canada and to the United States.

Want to know more? Apply through our career board . First time applicants will need to complete a profile.

This is an on-site position based in either Winnipeg, Manitoba, or Calgary, Alberta. FWS values the connection, mentorship, collaboration, and professional development supported by an on-site work environment. However, we remain open to flexible work arrangements, guided by our comprehensive Flexible Work Arrangement Policy should appropriate circumstances arise.

FWS may use technology-assisted tools, including artificial intelligence, to assist in screening and reviewing candidates. These tools are applied responsibly and only used to assist in the recruitment process. All hiring decisions are made by qualified individuals following human review.

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