Kathryn Blair
Senior Legal Counsel
Degree:
Common Law
Language:
English
Experience:
Since: 2005
Expertise:
Compliance and governance
Corporate
General Commercial
M&A and Divestitures
Securities
Practices in:
Alberta
, British Columbia
Kathryn Blair
Senior Legal Counsel
Who she is
Kathryn Blair has a mind for business and the law. As a seasoned corporate and commercial lawyer, she also brings a practical understanding of business, and her own experience, having built and operated a microbrewery with her husband.
But ask her what motivates her, and she’ll say it comes down to wanting to help people. “That’s why I got into law in the first place, and it’s why I still do it today.”
In the end, Kathryn says, clients want to know how legal advice can impact their business. “As a lawyer, you always have to ask yourself, what does the client really care about? What’s going to help them make a decision?”
In this day and age, the list of issues keeping them up at night is getting longer – from unforeseen breaches of contracts and disruptions in the supply chain to greater exposure for directors and officers to a wide range of risks and liabilities.
All of which matters, says Kathryn, as long as the lawyer is focused on the company’s strategy to drive the business to succeed.
Kathryn is a general outdoor enthusiast outside of work, and loves traveling off the beaten track, going camping and hiking with her family in Banff and Canmore.
How she got here
Kathryn Blair grew up on a farm in Central Alberta. A law graduate of the University of Alberta (LL.B.), she honed her skills in private practice, first at Stikeman Elliott in Calgary and then at DuMoulin Black in Vancouver, before taking up a position as Director at PwC Law in 2016. Her practice has focused chiefly on general corporate law, securities, M&A and governance. She joined Simplex Legal in 2021 as a Senior Lawyer in Calgary.
Interview with Kathryn Blair
Why did you decide to join us at Simplex?
My previous firms have talked about practising law in a different way, but it has never worked. The focus has remained on billable hours, which is often contrary to clients' needs. Simplex is actually delivering legal services in a different way that allows clients to access high quality legal services on their own terms. This creates a meaningful relationship between the client and lawyer that isn't driven by billable hour expectations. And Simplex offers lawyers the opportunity to engage in interesting legal work in a flexible environment. Simplex also allows lawyers to practise law on their own terms.
What is it about Simplex's model do you believe is most attractive and beneficial to our clients?
Simplex's model delivers high quality legal services to clients in a predictable manner. Clients have access to senior practitioners who have diverse legal and business backgrounds and experience, while having a predictable billing structure without surprises.