Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited
With over 30 years in the business of gaming and entertainment in Canada, our client, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited (“Gateway”) is one of the largest and most diversified gaming and entertainment companies in Canada. Across its 31 gaming properties in British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta, Gateway currently employs over 7,200 people and boasts approximately 14,288 slots, 391 table games, 81 food and beverage outlets, and 564 hotel rooms.
A multi-pronged growth strategy has seen Gateway diversify and expand its product offering, including developing proprietary casino and restaurant brands, dramatically improving the gaming customer experience while attracting new customers. Some of Gateway’s proprietary brands include Grand Villa Casino, Match Eatery & Public House and Atlas Steak + Fish. Whether in British Columbia, Alberta, or Ontario, their winning formula for a successful gaming property is working closely with community leaders to ensure Gateway is taking an active role in supporting job creation and economic development, as well as local community and charitable initiatives. Further, Gateway is committed to developing and maintaining positive relationships with the First Nations and Métis Communities (FNMC) within the regions in which they operate.
Due to ongoing growth and two promotions from within the legal team to the executive suite (the President and the Chief Legal Officer), Gateway is adding a Legal Counsel to join its collegial and award-winning Legal Department. Located at Gateway’s Burnaby Head Office and currently operating under a hybrid model, the Legal Department, which enjoys a stellar internal and external reputation, is valued as a key advisor on all facets of the organization’s diverse entertainment and hospitality business, which touches upon gaming, hotels and conference centres, and food and beverage.
Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, the Legal Counsel can expect to advise on an array of matters ranging from day-to-day site and gaming operations, procurement, significant real estate development and construction projects, key business transactions such as financings and acquisitions, marketing and sponsorship deals, regulatory compliance, IT, cybersecurity, and national/enterprise-scale policies and initiatives. In addition, the Legal Counsel will have the opportunity to work closely with Gateway’s Privacy Officer in advising on privacy matters.
On any given day, the Legal Counsel can expect to provide guidance to Gateway’s corporate executives and senior site and department managers across the country on matters such as vendor agreements and procurement, implementing new technology solutions, Gateway’s operating agreements with crown corporations, business agreements with partners such as Marriott and other international brands, licensing gaming assets, acquiring and developing land for future facilities, strategizing labour and employment issues, marketing and promotional campaigns, establishing and implementing privacy initiatives, and working with external counsel to manage litigation and other specialized legal matters.
As the ideal candidate, you have 5-8 years of top-tier corporate/commercial (or adjacent practice area) experience. You have several years of corporate/commercial (or adjacent practice area) solicitor’s experience at a leading law firm and a demonstrable track record advising largescale corporate and institutional clients, ideally in highly regulated industries. You are comfortable taking ownership of files and providing timely, thoughtful, practical and decisive legal solutions on a range of issues to a diverse mix of internal clients, from site managers to c-suite level executives. In addition to the strong preference for candidates with top-tier private practice experience, prior in-house experience and familiarity with privacy, technology, regulatory compliance, real estate, construction, labour relations or litigation management will be considered assets.
Offering a competitive salary and benefits package, this is an excellent opportunity to play a pivotal role with one of the top in-house legal teams in BC.
This is an exclusive search. For more information, or to apply for this role, please contact Dave Namkung at dave@smithlegalsearch.com, or visit www.smithlegalsearch.com.