All Countries
Employment
General Counsel Employment Agreement

General Counsel Employment Agreement Template for Canada

Create a bespoke document in minutes,  or upload and review your own.

4.6 / 5
4.8 / 5

Let's create your General Counsel Employment Agreement

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get your first 2 documents free

Your data doesn't train Genie's AI

You keep IP ownership of your information

Key Requirements PROMPT example:

General Counsel Employment Agreement

"I need a General Counsel Employment Agreement for a Toronto-based technology startup, emphasizing equity compensation and flexibility for the counsel to maintain a part-time teaching position at a local law school, with the employment to commence March 1, 2025."

Celebrated by
Collaborations with
Investors
Document background
The General Counsel Employment Agreement is essential for organizations operating in Canada that require a chief legal officer to oversee their legal affairs and provide strategic legal guidance. This document is typically used when appointing a senior legal executive who will serve as the organization's primary legal officer, combining both executive leadership and professional legal responsibilities. The agreement must comply with Canadian federal and provincial employment laws while addressing the unique aspects of legal practice, including professional regulations, ethical obligations, and client confidentiality requirements. It contains detailed provisions regarding compensation, benefits, duties, professional obligations, and termination terms, tailored to the specific needs of a General Counsel role while ensuring compliance with relevant Law Society requirements and corporate governance standards.
Suggested Sections

1. Parties: Identification of the employer company and the General Counsel employee

2. Background: Context of the appointment and brief description of the role

3. Definitions: Key terms used throughout the agreement

4. Appointment and Term: Official appointment, position title, and term of employment (fixed or indefinite)

5. Duties and Responsibilities: Detailed description of the General Counsel's role, reporting structure, and key responsibilities

6. Professional Obligations: Requirements to maintain legal licensing, professional insurance, and compliance with legal practice regulations

7. Compensation: Base salary, bonus structure, and review mechanisms

8. Benefits and Perquisites: Health benefits, insurance, vacation, and executive perquisites

9. Confidentiality: Obligations regarding company information and client privilege

10. Intellectual Property: Ownership of work product and innovations

11. Conflicts of Interest: Restrictions and disclosure requirements regarding potential conflicts

12. Termination: Grounds for termination, notice periods, and consequences

13. Post-Employment Obligations: Non-competition, non-solicitation, and ongoing confidentiality requirements

14. Governing Law: Applicable law and jurisdiction

15. General Provisions: Standard boilerplate clauses including severability, entire agreement, and amendments

Optional Sections

1. Equity Compensation: Details of stock options or other equity-based compensation, used when equity is part of the compensation package

2. International Travel: Terms regarding international travel and foreign office responsibilities, included for multinational companies

3. Change of Control: Provisions addressing rights and obligations in case of company sale or merger

4. Legal Practice Management: Specific provisions regarding management of internal/external counsel, included when overseeing legal department

5. Remote Work: Terms and conditions for remote work arrangements

6. Board Position: Terms regarding appointment to company board or subsidiary boards, if applicable

7. Indemnification: Additional indemnification provisions beyond standard D&O coverage

Suggested Schedules

1. Schedule A - Compensation Details: Detailed breakdown of salary, bonus structure, and other financial terms

2. Schedule B - Benefits Summary: Comprehensive list of benefits and perquisites

3. Schedule C - Position Description: Detailed job description and responsibilities

4. Schedule D - Approved Outside Activities: List of pre-approved board positions, teaching roles, or other professional activities

5. Appendix 1 - Confidentiality Agreement: Detailed confidentiality terms and procedures

6. Appendix 2 - Equity Plan Terms: Details of any equity compensation plan participation

7. Appendix 3 - Company Policies: Key company policies applicable to the position

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Genie AI | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Linkedin in social icon imageX social icon image
alex.den.21@genieai.co
Relevant legal definitions
Agreement
Applicable Law
Board
Cause
Change of Control
Company
Competitive Business
Confidential Information
Disability
Effective Date
Employee
Employment Period
Good Reason
Intellectual Property Rights
Law Society
Legal Department
Legal Professional Privilege
Material Client
Notice
Outside Activities
Person
Personal Information
Position
Professional Duties
Professional Insurance
Professional Rules of Conduct
Related Entities
Restricted Period
Services
Termination Date
Territory
Work Product
Base Salary
Bonus
Benefits
Client
Conflict of Interest
Corporate Opportunity
Executive Leadership Team
Fiscal Year
Governing Body
Group Company
Material Breach
Professional Standards
Subsidiary
Clauses
Appointment
Term
Duties and Responsibilities
Professional Obligations
Compensation
Bonus
Benefits
Equity Participation
Working Hours
Location
Vacation
Professional Development
Bar Membership
Professional Insurance
Reporting Structure
Performance Review
Confidentiality
Legal Professional Privilege
Intellectual Property
Conflict of Interest
Outside Activities
Non-Competition
Non-Solicitation
Non-Disparagement
Termination
Notice Period
Severance
Change of Control
Garden Leave
Return of Property
Continuing Obligations
Legal Department Management
Board Service
Professional Indemnification
Expenses
Representations and Warranties
Force Majeure
Assignment
Amendment
Severability
Entire Agreement
Governing Law
Dispute Resolution
Notices
Data Protection
Insurance
Regulatory Compliance
Relevant Industries

Financial Services

Technology

Manufacturing

Healthcare

Energy

Telecommunications

Real Estate

Retail

Mining

Transportation

Professional Services

Entertainment

Education

Construction

Pharmaceuticals

Relevant Teams

Legal

Executive Leadership

Corporate Governance

Compliance

Risk Management

Human Resources

Corporate Affairs

Board of Directors

Company Secretariat

Relevant Roles

General Counsel

Chief Legal Officer

Executive Vice President - Legal

Senior Vice President - Legal

Head of Legal

Corporate Secretary

Legal Director

Chief Legal and Compliance Officer

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Industries
Employment Standards Act: Provincial legislation that sets minimum standards for employment terms including wages, hours of work, termination notice, and vacation entitlements
Canada Labour Code: Federal legislation governing employment standards, though typically only applies to federally regulated industries
Canadian Human Rights Act: Prohibits discrimination in employment based on protected grounds such as age, gender, religion, and ethnic origin
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA): Federal privacy law relevant to handling confidential information and data protection obligations
Provincial Law Society Act: Regulates the legal profession, including licensing requirements and professional obligations for lawyers
Income Tax Act: Federal legislation governing taxation of employment income and benefits
Occupational Health and Safety Act: Provincial legislation ensuring workplace safety and defining employer obligations
Rules of Professional Conduct: Professional ethics rules governing lawyers' conduct, including conflicts of interest and confidentiality obligations
Employment Insurance Act: Federal legislation governing unemployment insurance and related benefits
Canada Pension Plan Act: Federal legislation governing pension contributions and benefits
Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

Find the exact document you need

No items found.

Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal

By providing your email address you are consenting to our Privacy Notice.
Thank you for downloading our whitepaper. This should arrive in your inbox shortly. In the meantime, why not jump straight to a section that interests you here: https://www.genieai.co/our-research
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Genie’s Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your documents are private:

We do not train on your data; Genie’s AI improves independently

All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation

Your documents are protected:

Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption

Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security

You retain IP ownership of your documents

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it

Innovation in privacy:

Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London

Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts

Want to know more?

Visit our Trust Centre for more details and real-time security updates.

Read our Privacy Policy.