Christine Silversides is General Counsel of York University. Christine has practised law for more than 30 years, including ten years of private practice in downtown Toronto, followed by almost seven years as senior corporate counsel for a $7 Billion TSX-listed corporation. Since mid-2006, Christine has provided in-house legal advice and counsel to York University.
Christine began her legal practice at a firm located on Bay Street, working closely with a practice group known for rigorous training of junior lawyers and excellence in drafting clear and concise documents, artfully communicating the business and legal arrangements among parties to complex commercial transactions and real estate developments. Since 1992, Christine has consistently shared her experience and skills with students and lawyers alike, both teaching and mentoring others. Given her unusually broad range of practice experience, from real estate, corporate-commercial, securities, administrative litigation and general litigation, Christine has found that she is well-suited to the teaching of legal drafting in a wide variety of practice areas.
As the principal legal counsel for York University, Christine provides legal guidance and counsel in executive and policy decision-making and serves as a member of the executive leadership group. She provides strategic leadership in all matters with legal implications for the University. Working with multiple stakeholders and numerous agendas on complex matters, she deals with sensitive matters that involve high risk, including financial and reputational risk to the University community and/or ramifications for liability. Ms Silversides leads a team of legal counsel and other professionals and strategically prioritizes matters to ensure maximum use of in-house counsel and other professional resources. Christine has a broad portfolio, providing leadership of the Office of the Counsel, the Information and Privacy and Copyright Offices, the AODA Office, and the Licensing Office.