The chief legal officer speaks about the shift from litigator to business partner
As the chief legal officer at BDO Canada, Christina Porretta aims to align legal functions with the firm’s strategic objectives. This is a feat she achieves by regularly engaging with key stakeholders, including executives and service line leaders.
“This helps me gain insights into the business's immediate and long-term objectives, allowing me to prioritize legal initiatives that directly contribute to achieving these goals,” she says. “With respect to litigation, I adopt a risk-based approach. Both my litigation team and I work closely with the service lines to identify potential legal risks early on, allowing for proactive risk mitigation strategies.
“The regulatory landscape is constantly changing – and so it's vital that we stay on top of changes in laws and regulations across Canada and other jurisdictions so that we can maintain compliance.”
In managing these responsibilities, technology plays a vital role – especially concerning the efficiency of Porretta’s legal team. Implementing technology solutions for document management, project management, and litigation support allows the legal team to focus on more strategic aspects of their work.
“This tech-enabled approach helps to ensure that the legal function aligns seamlessly with the broader goals of the firm,” she tells Lexpert.
“Ultimately, effective communication is at the core of aligning legal functions with strategic goals – regularly updating executives and relevant stakeholders on legal development risks changes in the regulatory landscape fosters a collaborative and informed decision-making environment. It also ensures that the legal team is viewed as a strategic partner actively contributing to the firm success – which has always been a goal of mine.”
Reflecting on her background as a partner in a global law firm and as a judicial law clerk, Porretta believes these experiences have shaped her approach as chief legal officer. Her exposure to a wide array of legal issues, legal systems and regulatory frameworks has been invaluable in navigating BDO's global footprint.
"The global law firm environment emphasized the importance of adaptability and agility in addressing legal issues across different jurisdictions," she says. “It emphasized the importance of staying ahead of the curve in terms of legal developments worldwide, anticipating potential challenges. My role as a judicial law clerk at the Federal Court of Appeal is a highlight of my career. It allowed me to gain a unique perspective into the judicial decision-making process. I was fortunate to have worked closely with different judges, seeing their thought processes throughout the appeal and helping play a part in their decision writing. That job really honed my analytical and legal reasoning skills and helped make my written communication more concise.”
Now, as chief legal officer, Porretta draws on this experience to bring a holistic perspective to her role.
“A proactive and client-centric approach to legal problem solving was engrained in me at the start of my career,” she says. “With an emphasis on collaboration and responsiveness to client needs. The client-centric mindset cultivated in private practice really helped me integrate into the business at BDO, which was important to ensure that legal support aligns with their objectives.”
One of the most significant adjustments for Porretta during her transition to chief legal officer was the shift from a litigator mindset to a more proactive, preventative, and business-oriented approach. According to Porretta, “there’s a strong emphasis on risk prevention and ways we can go about doing that but still contribute to the firm's overall success.”
When Porretta started out, one of her goals was to create an environment where the legal team and senior leaders engage in continuous dialogue, integrating legal perspectives early in the decision-making process.
“The balance between legal risks and business opportunities, communication and collaboration is paramount," she says. “I also believe in proactive legal strategies. So rather than simply reacting to legal issues as they arise, both my team and I develop risk mitigation strategies.”
Looking toward the future, Porretta anticipates several key trends and technological advancements shaping the role of legal departments. She foresees AI and machine learning revolutionizing legal services delivery, advancements in contract analysis, legal research, and predictive analytics to assess litigation risks.
"Integrating these technologies into legal departments can significantly enhance efficiency, allowing legal professionals to focus on more strategic and value-added projects," Porretta says. “In addition, the rise of legal operations is becoming more pronounced. Legal departments are adopting operational frameworks and leveraging project management tools to enhance their effectiveness, which is something that my team is looking to do more. This involves optimizing workflows, implementing legal project management tools, and using data analytics to measure and improve legal department performance.
“The goal is to run legal functions with the same level of efficiency and transparency as other business units.”
Another trend is the increasing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion within legal departments. According to Porretta, there’s a recognition that diverse perspectives enhance decision-making and contribute to a more innovative legal team. “There’s also a growing interest in alternative dispute resolution methods. Mediation and arbitration are becoming more popular as businesses seek faster and more cost-effective ways to resolve conflicts. This shift aligned with the broader trend of seeking efficiency and avoiding protracted litigation processes.”
And, of course, cyber security and data privacy are also areas where legal departments will play an increasingly critical role.
“With the proliferation of data and the growing number of cyber threats, legal professionals will need to be well versed in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and developing strategies to protect sensitive information.”
