Originally from Provence, France, Soizic Reynal de St Michel embarked on her Canadian adventure to master English and continue her French literature studies through a PhD program at the University of Western Ontario. “As much as I love French Literature (…) I realized while I wrote my thesis that I did not want to pursue a career in the academic world,” Soizic explained.
She decided to follow a path that combined her appreciation for language and the written word with a direct connection to day-to-day life. She applied to and enrolled in the bilingual transsystemic program at McGill University Law School. While at McGill, Soizic wrote a term paper on contracts in the construction industry and at the same time discovered the area of practice that she wanted to pursue. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2007 after completing her articles at a Toronto construction litigation boutique firm. She gained experience and honed her skills for the next decade on Bay Street, exclusively practicing construction law.
In 2018, Soizic transitioned from private practice to in-house counsel at The Moro Group Builders Inc. (TMG Builders), the leading high-rise residential construction manager in the GTA. The owners, accomplished and sophisticated businessmen, welcomed Soizic’s legal skills and expertise, and her analytical approach to every problem or business decision. TMG Builders afforded Soizic the freedom to build its bespoke legal department from the ground up.
“Learning the business, its priorities, its culture, its processes, and its risk tolerance, was a priority. This meant forging solid relationships with all of my colleagues, those at head office and those at the construction sites” Soizic adds. “About half of the team is based at our head office near the airport, and the other half is divided among dedicated site teams, one for each ongoing project. Our projects are sprinkled across the City, so that can be challenging on many levels.”
A lifelong learner, Soizic joined the Business Leadership Program for In-House Counsel in the 2020-21 cohort, with the support and encouragement of TMG Builders. Amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, her company faced unprecedented challenges in employee relations (some could work from home while the others had to be on site every day, putting themselves and their families at risk) and the changing health and safety requirements applicable to construction sites as government and public health policies evolved with the pandemic.
“I attended the very first cohort that was offered entirely remotely — we were delayed for several months,” she notes. “I appreciated online access, as I did not have to travel or take time off work during a very challenging time. When I had spare time at the office or at home, I worked on my assignments online.”
Soizic learned business concepts and acquired tools and strategies she was able to use right away at TMG. “Following the Rotman Program, I became significantly involved in the growth of our company, as projects and new clients increased rapidly. The Rotman Program gave me the tools and strategies to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders. My confidence increased, and once I even heard TMG’s CEO, Tony Moro, comment that ‘no major decisions are made without the input of our in-house counsel’. The admiration is mutual, and I look forward to many more years of learning and growing with TMG Builders,” says Soizic.
Perhaps coincidentally, when she was about to complete the program, Soizic was promoted to the role of General Counsel in August 2021. Continuing her commitment to professional growth, she remains an active member of the CCCA.