Heather Brown – GC Powerlist
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Canada 2020

Industrials and real estate

Heather Brown

Vice president and assistant general counsel | Johnson Controls International

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Canada 2020

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Heather Brown

Vice president and assistant general counsel | Johnson Controls International

About

Editor’s note: This interview was conducted prior to March 2020.

In her role as chief counsel, Heather Brown shapes and influences the business strategies to create an environment that facilitates business growth in Canada while reducing legal risks. Brown is a member of the executive team and is responsible for Canadian legal matters including P3, commercial sales, litigation and disputes, regulatory, intellectual property, privacy, M&A integration and divestitures, corporate secretary and compliance. In addition, Brown is a:

Member of, and advisor to, Canadian leadership managing the HVAC and controls, fire protection and security businesses and Canadian P3 business.

Provides pragmatic and business-focused advice in all areas including complex commercial transactions, growth initiatives, contract enforcement and cash collection, compliance, regulatory matters, corporate secretarial and regional litigation.

Responsible for resolving broad and complex legal issues impacting Canadian operations.

Establishes systematic processes and procedures to ensure sound business and legal practices, as well as implementation of best practices and continuous improvement in the delivery of legal services.

Facilitates, develops and implements programmes and training to ensure the business operates in compliance with applicable laws and company policies including anti-corruption, competition, general contract law, privacy, and internal compliance requirements.

Manages outside counsel to ensure cost-effective and efficient delivery of legal services.

Advises on significant legal developments and proposed legislation affecting the business.

Drafts and negotiates complex domestic and cross-border sales, services, licensing, procurement and marketing agreements.

Brown has been overseeing the integration and streamlining of all Canadian business, administrative and legal facets resulting from Johnson Control’s takeover by merger of Tyco International in September 2016. Immediately prior to the Johnson Controls merger with Tyco International, she was the primary legal counsel directing the evolution of Tyco International’s Canadian operations from over 100 corporate entities to a business focused alignment across the country. This included the disposition of a number of prior business units – including the sale Intercon Security to Garda and the separation of ADT’s commercial and consumer businesses across Canada. Prior to that Brown spearheaded the post-separation Canadian participation in Tyco’s split from carrying on business as one publicly traded entity into three publicly trader entities.

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