Phone:  +44 (0)7507219988

E-mail: norm@normlawyer.com

“Where did you get this guy? He's very very good. Responsive, practical, expeditious, works hard and communicates well...”

                                                                            Ben LP, Vice President, Toronto Hydro

 

I am a business executive and in-house legal professional qualified to practice law in the UK and Ontario, Canada with over 25 years’ experience.

 

Admitted as a Solicitor, The Law Society for England and Wales, April, 2008

Called to the Ontario Bar, February, 1992

33rd Bar Admission Course, The Law Society of Upper Canada, 1991

Juris Doctor (JD) Degree, University of Toronto, 1990

Honors Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (HBA) Degree, University of Western Ontario (UWO), Ivey School of Business Administration, 1986

Dean's Honor List, UWO, Ivey School of Business Administration, 1986

Dean's Honor List, UWO, Faculty of Social Science, 1984

normlawyer (Independent Legal Practice), Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Toronto, Ontario

General practitioner focusing on strategic, investment and commercial matters.  Clients included Algonquin Power Limited (Oakville, ON), DeMontford University (Leicester UK) and Intergalactic Gaming Limited (eSports; Manchester UK).  

                                                                          December 2019 - Present

                                                                          March 2013 – September 2015

 

QUANTUMDx GROUP LIMITED (Medical Devices and Assays), Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

C-level Executive Team Member and General Counsel.  Shaped company’s legal practices and policies as the initial in-house lawyer.  Commercial legal practice focused on joint research and development projects, services agreements and statements of work, materials and technology transfer, design, manufacture and supply agreements, purchase and sale terms and conditions, regulatory compliance (health and safety and data protection), licensing in and out and other intellectual property transactions.  Managed governance for the widely held international private company with over 90 diverse shareholders including six shareholder meetings and four pre-emption rights offerings.            

September 2015 – November 2019

 

TORONTO HYDRO CORPORATION (Electricity Distribution), Toronto, Ontario

Maternity leave replacement that became long-term contract.  Retained following completion of maternity leave and assigned to advise the Procurement Department – Supply Chain Services.  Accountable for streamlining the competitive bid procurement process to improve client experience and better manage risks.  Completed an entire three-year procurement and supply agreement cycle that included major procurements to: (i) acquire IT products and services including hardware, software and systems integration services including a major upgrade of the telephone and call centre systems; (ii) outsource design, build and engineering services; and (iii) retain stables of suppliers for all (a) marketing services; and (b) recruitment services, that implemented a flexible easily administered Master Supply Agreement with individual work orders system of my design.  Coached a team of lawyers and purchasing agents.  Developed thorough knowledge of privacy, environmental and health and safety laws and regulations.  During the maternity leave replacement, I was initially responsible for securities matters, drafting the Annual Information Form and Corporate Governance and Responsibility Reports and drafting and negotiating commercial agreements primarily for IT, construction projects and electrical services and equipment.  Supervised lawyer advising on consumption and demand management matters. Left upon completion of procurement remit and the training of junior lawyers fulfilling the role.

January 2009 – March 2013

 

MITOMICS INC. (Biotechnology), Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Thunder Bay, Ontario

Strategic business executive and legal advisor to biotechnology company focused on mitochondrial DNA from start-up to commercialization.  Secured start-up financing and laboratory space from local government and university.  Negotiated transfer of intellectual property from Newcastle University, the research scientist and a local equity partner.  Developed and managed policy for protection of intellectual property including the successful initiation of litigation to terminate a license agreement with an uncooperative and unproductive business partner.

                                                                        January 2005 – June 2010

 

401 CAPITAL PARTNERS INC. (Venture Capital), Burlington, Ontario

General Counsel to a venture capital and private equity firm focused on pharmaceuticals, consumer health, life sciences and related emerging technologies.  Implemented all legal aspects in connection with the creation of a specialty pharmaceutical business through the acquisition of mature pharmaceutical products and intellectual property.  Structured an investment trust vehicle for the business and the offering of its units to the public. Advised on legal issues surrounding potential investments.  Drafted, negotiated and settled transaction documents including term sheets, subscription agreements, limited partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, share provisions and debentures. Left to become member of the executive team at Mitomics Inc.                                                                                    October 2003 - January 2005

PANGEO PHARMA INC., (Specialty Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Marketing), Mississauga, Ontario

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary to a TSX listed specialty pharmaceutical manufacturing and marketing company.   Member of executive team and governance committee. Prepared and accounted for legal budget. Managed risks, litigation and disputes including a patent infringement claim, a DEA and RCMP investigation and numerous collection proceedings.  Selected providers and supervised provision of outside legal services. Advised on securities law matters including timely disclosure, investor relations and public offerings.  Structured and negotiated acquisitions, divestitures and development and supply agreements. Assisted with debt financings.  Accountable for marketing, advertising, labeling and trade matters.  Managed a portfolio of approximately 50 trademarks.  Advised human resources with respect to employment law matters.  Left when company ran into financial difficulty.

August 2002 - June 2003

 

TLC LASER EYE CENTERS INC., (Vision Correction), Mississauga, Ontario

Counsel to NASDAQ and TSX listed public company with 90% of its revenue generated in the United States. Accountable for day to day legal matters in respect of 59 laser vision correction centers in the US and Canada. Supervised outside counsel. Managed disputes and litigation. Supported business development group. Negotiated mergers and acquisitions, medical center leases and surgeon contracts.  Advised general counsel on securities matters.  Left following a merger and relocation of the legal department to the US.

April 2001 - August 2002

 

FASKEN MARTINEAU LLP, (National Tier 1 Law Firm), Toronto, Ontario

Developed a general corporate/commercial/securities practice experiencing the widest variety of business transactions available including bank financings, leasing, public offerings, private placements as well as information technology and other commercial transactions.  Clients included Dofasco Inc., MDS Inc., MDS Capital Corp., Business Development Bank of Canada, SHL Systemhouse Inc., NAME Inc., Drug Royalty Corporation Inc., Middlefield Bancorp Limited and Solect Technology Group Inc.  Mentored and coached articling students and junior associates with assignment assistance and knowledge and practice development.  Left Faskens to pursue a desire to become the General Counsel to a public company and develop as a strategic business and legal advisor to executive teams.

February 1992 - April 2001

Personal interests include outdoor activities, playing ice hockey, writing, reading literature and lifelong learning.  

 

References will be provided upon request.

 

July 2020