Associate – ESG Legal Risk Services

Overview
At KPMG, you’ll join a team of diverse and dedicated problem solvers, connected by a common cause: turning insight into opportunity for clients and communities around the world.

KPMG’s ESG Legal Risk Services practice provides technical and legal advice to support clients’ sustainability strategies, provides guidance to enhance ESG reporting practices, and mitigates legal risk. Core services include ESG legal risk / disclosure reviews (e.g. greenwashing), supply chain due diligence (e.g. modern slavery support), Indigenous ESG strategies and frameworks, ESG strategies, programs and reporting, as well as training and development for management, executives, and boards.

Our National ESG Legal Risk & Disclosure practice is seeking a senior or mid-level Lawyer to work in our Toronto office and support the delivery of ESG and sustainability strategy, performance, and disclosure-related services to public and private sector clients across a range of industries.

What you will do

• Execute the delivery of ESG Legal Risk services under multiple ESG and regulatory frameworks (e.g., ISSB, CSRD, OSFI and SEC) and risk areas (e.g., compliance, legal, financial, strategic, reputational).
• Conduct legal applicability analysis of various forms of ESG legal and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Assist clients in developing ESG governance, strategies, roadmaps and workplans, programs, initiatives, processes and policy documents.
• Conduct benchmarking, current state and gap assessments, internal and external interviews, and engagement activities, as well as research and analysis of relevant risk and opportunity areas.
• Prepare and deliver presentations and reports to clients detailing observations, recommendations, using visuals and graphics to summarize trends, results, and data.
• Review, draft, and propose amendments to contracts and other commercial agreements.
• Educate clients on ESG-related regulatory requirements, leading practices, and legal risks on topics ranging from modern slavery reporting, climate-related disclosures, board competency and liability.
• Review and recommend improvements to ESG-performance data including but not limited to inventory and tracking, calculation methodologies, as well as completeness and accuracy of data.
• Conduct disclosure and due diligence reviews, identifying potentially misleading statements or graphics related to ESG strategy or performance.
• Legal support for financial, timely, and ESG-related public disclosure matters, including providing advice regarding client’s disclosure obligations, reviewing disclosure material, and drafting disclosure materials.
• Identifying emerging legal and regulatory developments in securities laws, proactively assessing their impacts, and recommending changes to disclosures and related policies, practices and controls.
• Legal research and memorandum drafting.
• Stay on top of and summarize regulatory changes and developments related to ESG disclosure requirements, performance targets, as well as legislation and trends across E-S-G topics.
• Maintain an educational program to continually develop skills.
• Support client relationships and business development initiatives such as developing proposals

What you bring to the role

• A minimum of 4-6 years of corporate/commercial legal experience gained in either a top legal firm or in-house environment with exposure to ESG strategy, performance, or reporting.
• Legal experience and interest working on specific ESG issues (e.g., emissions, Indigenous reconciliation, supply chain, biodiversity, ethics, safety, risk management).
• Experience in developing and reporting and communications in accordance with global ESG disclosure frameworks (e.g. ISSB, CSRD, SASB, GRI), and climate-related disclosure requirements (OSFI, CSA, SEC).
• Industry knowledge is an asset as is experience with joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and major projects.
• Demonstrated energy industry experience, including a thorough understanding of the industry and applicable legislation and regulations.
• Experience assessing legal risks and opportunities related to environmental, social and, governance topics.
• Law degree (LLB, JD, and LLM) and other certifications (e.g., GRI, GARP, CPA).
• Qualified lawyer in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Member of the Ontario Bar.
• Knowledge of leading ESG disclosure frameworks (ISSB, CSRD, GRI, SASB, Integrated Reporting etc.) as well as current and emerging climate-specific disclosure requirements (e.g., OSFI, CSA, SEC)

Desirable Skills

• An entrepreneurial spirit.
• Ability to identify legal risks and opportunities and apply regulatory requirements relevant to ESG strategy, performance, and disclosures.
• Ability to providing legal guidance in a clear and succinct manner to meet client needs.
• Ability to work on multiple or complex projects simultaneously and prioritize your time.
• Ability to deliver assignments on time, as well as manage competing demands, without sacrificing attention to detail.
• An aptitude to understand the clients’ business and maintain strong client relationships internally and externally.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (including creation of memos and presentations), with the ability to explain and discuss complex legal issues with legal and non-legal audiences.

Providing you with the support you need to be at your best
For more information about KPMG in Canada’s Benefits and well-being, click here .

Our Values, The KPMG Way
Integrity, we do what is right | Excellence, we never stop learning and improving | Courage, we think and act boldly | Together, we respect each other and draw strength from our differences | For Better, we do what matters

KPMG in Canada is a proud equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating a respectful, inclusive and barrier-free workplace that allows all of our people to reach their full potential. A diverse workforce is key to our success and we believe in bringing your whole self to work. We welcome all qualified candidates to apply and hope you will choose KPMG in Canada as your employer of choice. For more information about Inclusion, Diversity & Equity in Recruitment, please click here .

Adjustments and accommodations throughout the recruitment process
At KPMG, we strive for an inclusive recruitment process that allows all candidates to Come As You Are and Thrive with Us. We aim to provide a positive experience and are ready to offer adjustments or accommodations to help you perform at your best. Adjustments (an informal request), i.e. extra preparation time or the option for micro breaks during interviews, and accommodations (a formal request), i.e. accessible communication supports or technology aids are tailored to individual needs and role requirements.

To begin a confidential conversation about adjustments or accommodations at any point throughout the recruitment process, we encourage you to contact KPMG’s Employee Relations Service team for support by emailing cdnersteam@kpmg.ca or by calling 1-888-466-4778, Option 3.

For information about accessible employment at KPMG, please visit our accessibility page .