About

Daniele Chouinard has been vice president, legal affairs for Hydromega Services – an industry leader in the development, construction, financing and operation of independent renewable energy facilities in Quebec and Ontario – since 2005. Prior to Chouinard’s appointment, Hydromega had worked exclusively with external counsel. As the company grew and its legal needs multiplied, the board decided to look for someone who could develop a robust legal function rather than an industry veteran. Within a remarkably short time frame, Chouinard found herself adept at negotiating commercial terms and conditions with third parties that in turn allowed Hydromega to dedicate its resources to business development. Prior to her career in the renewable energy sector, Chouinard was corporate counsel for over 18 years at various commercial real estate firms in Montreal. Chouinard displays an array of talent in multiple industries as she has also completed the real estate broker agency executive officer’s qualifications, with the Organisme d’autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec (OACIQ) in Quebec. Chouinard says the range of issues she oversees is one of the highlights of her job. ‘I love the diversity of my work; which I believe is an attribute of a corporate counsel for a firm the size of Hydromega. I am able to transact in numerous and varied legal fields while also having the ability to work in collaboration with the finest external attorneys, themselves specialists in their own fields, and from whom I continually learn’. Chouinard is praised both internally and by peers for her diligence and outstanding dedication to her team. One source noted that she has, from day one, shown ‘tremendous initiative and autonomy in dealing with the numerous challenges and potential issues that have arisen. We rarely witness someone with as much dedication to her work as she has displayed over the years she has been with us’. She takes pride in the fact that she has been an integral part of Hydromega’s growth into one of the most respected companies within the renewable energy sector. She has used her effective communication skills and legal expertise to raise awareness among the company’s employees at various levels to ensure that employees involved in a specific sector understand the importance of working with consistent and up-to-date agreements, all the while taking into account legislation in force and the direction of company’s management.