News clips: Simcoe County lawyers up

Marshall Green

Green to exit private practice County role, for in-house senior legal counsel post

New Tecumseth Free Press Online March 30, 2016

Marshall Green, long time solicitor for the County of Simcoe via his private practice at HGR Graham Partners LLP, announced this morning “effective April 1st, and after 41 years with this firm, I have decided to take up a new challenge, and will join with Zarah Walpole to establish an in-house legal services department at the County of Simcoe.”

Mr. Green’s announcement was dispatched through email by the Simcoe Law Library list-serv. Ms. Walpole joins the County after serving as a member of the City of Barrie’s Legal Services department. This represents the first time the County will employ full-time in-house legal counsel.

“I will become Senior Legal Counsel,” according to Mr. Green’s announcement. “I want to take the opportunity to thank all of the opposing and co-counsel, judges, court staff and others who have made my years in the private sector so rewarding and enjoyable. I expect to see many of you at Ontario Municipal Board hearings, and occasionally in court.”

Mr. Green’s recent success on the upper tier’s behalf was his co-defence (along with now retired Ian Rowe on behalf of Tecumseth Estates) of the County’s decision to issue a special permit to clear more than 30 acres of woodlot in Beeton. This included securing a cost award of $5,000 from Aware-Simcoe.

Simcoe County CAO Mark Aitken said this afternoon via email that Ms.Walpole will be Director of Legal Services.

“We have been looking at our legal costs for some time, and County Council at the end of last Council term and again at the beginning of this term considered a business case for creating an in-house legal department,” wrote Mr. Aitken. “Basically, our legal costs fluctuate annually depending on our requirements, but we have been trending upwards with particular increases in contract, procurement, municipal and property law matters in particular (the overall budget for legal costs is in the range of $1.6 to $1.8 million annually). We determined that we could create a legal department to address these increasing needs, while improving overall legal ownership, accountability and services while maintaining and more likely reducing our overall budget spend. We will still need to secure specialized external legal services from time to time for such things as labour law or specialized law (all included in the overall budget). Council provided staff direction to proceed, and we will be reporting back to County Council annually on the matter for a period of time.”

Mr. Aitken said Ms. Walpole was hired through the public recruitment processes and will be a full time employee. She will be tasked with hiring a Law Clerk and a Legal Assistant as well to round out requirements for her new department.

The County’s 2016 budget package anticipated Salaries and benefits to be $355K. This includes three FTE’s consisting of a Director of Legal Services, a Law Clerk and an Administrative Assistant. Administration costs are expected to be $62K. This will cover general administration, training and department costs of $22K as well as $25K for external legal expenses and $15K for consulting fees to facilitate the transition to in-house legal services. It’s not clear from the package and at this post, what Mr. Green’s compensation will be.
“Through the process, we recognized the need to transfer our corporate legal knowledge and files from HGR Graham partners to our new legal team, specifically from the experiences and history of Marshall Green (the County’s long time legal counsel who was basically on retainer with negotiated reduced fees),” explained Mr. Aitken. “Through those discussions, it became apparent that we could achieve this knowledge transfer more effectively, and undertake other cost savings through direct service delivery for things such as representation at hearings and other solicitor work, by entering into a direct termed contract with Marshall. County Council favourably approved the arrangement. Again, the new department, this contract arrangement with Marshall, and any incidental external legal requirements are still projected to be at and likely below our current realized annual legal costs as well as providing other benefits to the County.”

County of Simcoe creates new legal department

Orillia Packet and Times April 4 2016

Zarah Walpole has been appointed director of legal services and Marshall Green as senior legal counsel.

As part of the 2016 budget, county councillors approved establishing an in-house legal services team which will provide benefits including improved services, enhanced availability of legal representation, as well as operational and cost efficiencies. The team will also include a law clerk and legal administrative assistant which will be recruited by Walpole as one of her first responsibilities.

In addition to serving as senior legal counsel, Green will support the transition and knowledge transfer from external legal services to in-house legal representation.

“After completing a detailed cost benefit analysis, it was determined that in-house legal representation will provide operational and financial efficiencies for the Corporation and our tax payers,” said Trevor Wilcox, general manager, Corporate Performance for the county. “Most organizations and municipalities of our size and scope utilize in-house legal services. We are pleased to welcome Zarah and Marshall to our team and are confident that this model will provide greater efficiencies and ultimately reduce our annual legal costs.”

At the beginning of its current term, councillors considered a business case for creating an in-house legal services department. The county’s external legal costs have trended upwards ranging from $1.6 million to $1.8 million annually, with particular increases in contract, procurement, municipal and property law matters.

To complete the new legal department, the county recognized the need to transfer its corporate legal knowledge from its external legal representation at HGR Graham Partners LLP to its new in-house department.

To achieve this knowledge transfer more efficiently, the county has entered into a contract agreement with Green, the county’s long-time legal counsel previously with HGR Graham Partners.

County of Simcoe creates in-house Legal Services Department

Simcoe County news release

The County of Simcoe is pleased to announce the creation of a new in-house Legal Services Department with the appointment of Zarah Walpole as Director, Legal Services and Marshall Green as Senior Legal Counsel.

As part of the 2016 budget, County Council approved establishing an in-house legal services team which will provide benefits including improved services, enhanced availability of legal representation, as well as operational and cost efficiencies. The team will also include a Law Clerk and Legal Administrative Assistant which will be recruited by Walpole as one of her first responsibilities. In addition to serving as Senior Legal Counsel, Green will support the transition and knowledge transfer from external legal services to in-house legal representation.

“After completing a detailed cost benefit analysis, it was determined that in-house legal representation will provide operational and financial efficiencies for the Corporation and our tax payers,” said Trevor Wilcox, General Manager, Corporate Performance for the County of Simcoe. “Most organizations and municipalities of our size and scope utilize in-house legal services. We are pleased to welcome Zarah and Marshall to our team and are confident that this model will provide greater efficiencies and ultimately reduce our annual legal costs.”

At the beginning of its current term, County Council considered a business case for creating an in-house Legal Services Department. The County’s external legal costs have trended upwards ranging from $1.6 million to $1.8 million annually with particular increases in contract, procurement, municipal and property law matters. Council provided direction to staff to proceed with creating an in-house Legal Services Department as part of the 2016 Budget.

After completing a detailed public recruitment process for this full time position, the County is pleased to appoint Walpole as the new Director of Legal Services. To complete the new legal department, the County recognized the need to transfer its corporate legal knowledge from its external legal representation at HGR Graham Partners LLP to its new in-house Legal Services Department. To achieve this knowledge transfer more efficiently, the County has entered into a contract agreement with Marshall Green, the County’s long-time legal counsel previously with HGR Graham Partners.

About Zarah Walpole, Director of Legal Services, County of Simcoe

Zarah Walpole has been practicing business, real estate and municipal law, in both private practice and as in-house counsel since 1998, including a unique opportunity in Prague, Czechoslovakia as a special legal advisor. She has been a frequent contributor to a number of business publications. In 2009, she joined the Legal Services department at the City of Barrie. Zarah has deep roots in the County of Simcoe. She was born and raised near Anten Mills and has been involved with Habitat for Humanity and Barrie Out of the Cold. She is currently the Chair of Theatre by the Bay.

About Marshall Green, Senior Legal Counsel, County of Simcoe

Marshall Green has served as the County of Simcoe’s external legal counsel for 25 years, assisting on wide ranging legal and municipal law matters. A founder of HGR Graham Partners, Green has been practicing law for more than 40 years for various municipalities, as well as many private individuals, organizations and ratepayer groups. He has represented clients before all levels of the Ontario Courts including the Ontario Municipal Board. Green is a trained mediator, having received his Certificate in Mediation from the Centre for Dispute Resolution in Washington D.C. Green is a dedicated member of his community and is involved in many community organizations including the Rotary Club of Barrie, Royal Victoria Hospital Foundation and the Barrie Public Library. In 2000 he was awarded the “Spirit Catcher” Award, Barrie’s highest citizen honour.

The County of Simcoe is composed of sixteen member municipalities and provides crucial public services to County residents in addition to providing paramedic and social services to the separated cities of Barrie and Orillia. Visit our website at simcoe.ca.