Osgoode program eases the burden for Canadian businesses managing risk in the supply chain

It’s never been easier for Martha Harrison to explain her job to strangers.

Harrison, the co-head of the International Trade and Investment Law Group at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, is sometimes met with blank stares as she describes helping clients managing risk in the supply chain or the intricacies of customs law and anti-dumping rules.

“I always thought international trade law was an exciting area to practice in, but it’s fair to say that it’s not traditionally been very well understood,” Harrison says.

Now all she has to do to make a connection is point to the headlines, which have recently been dominated by trade relations and tariffs, thanks largely to U.S. President Donald Trump’s focus on the issue.

“Trade is constantly on the front page,” Harrison says. “Other trade lawyers I know in the bar are saying that we’re finally getting our 15 minutes of fame.”

“But it also demonstrates how much of our work is underscored by political and geopolitical events,” she adds.

It’s not just tariffs and trade retaliation that make managing risk in the supply chain a challenge for Canadian businesses in the current environment. Despite coming through the worst of the Covid-19 related disruptions, Harrison says there’s no room for complacency, thanks to uncertainty over the future of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, economic sanctions – particularly with respect to Russia, following its invasion of Ukraine – and other cross-border issues.

To help them keep up with developments in a rapidly evolving global market, Osgoode and Harrison have put together a one-day conference, Trade Conflicts and Supply Chain Risks: Legal and Strategic Implications for Canadian Businesses.

Designed for legal professionals, in-house counsel, trade compliance officers, supply chain managers, procurement professionals, government affairs specialists, and business leaders involved in international trade, the Jan. 20 online program will be particularly valuable for lawyers whose practice touches on cross-border M&A, according to Harrison.

“Whether it’s a massive transaction or a minor one, trade is at the forefront of almost every deal right now,” she says.

In addition, the intensive nature of the program is ideal for generalist in-house counsel who need a quick boost to their knowledge of international trade.

“Although they are the ones who are tasked with managing risk in the supply chain, it’s rare for them to have specialized knowledge of cross-border issues,” Harrison explains.

Harrison’s own pre-law academic background in languages and international relations set her up perfectly for her current practice and she bolstered her credentials soon after her call to the bar, earning an LLM in international trade law.

Now a partner at McCarthy Tétrault, she acts for clients in a wide variety of industries, offering a full suite of international trade and investment services, including customs law, treaty compliance, public procurement and investor-state disputes.

Lawyers and other professionals who want to dive deeper into the issues raised at the one-day conference should consider the Osgoode Certificate in Managing Legal and Business Risk in the Supply Chain, for which Harrison also acts as program chair.

This practical program makes heavy use of real-world examples to give participants an integrated understanding of the fundamental legal and business issues involved in developing, maintaining and managing risk in supply chains.