The Vancouver Canucks, currently leading in the National Hockey League (NHL), have appointed Catherine Chow as their new Chief Legal Officer. Having joined the Canucks in the past month, Chow was previously a Vice President of Legal and General Counsel for Keg Restaurants Ltd., a prominent Canadian steakhouse and bar chain.
Chow has not officially commented on her new position, which is listed on her LinkedIn profile, the Canucks’ website, and her registration with the Law Society of British Columbia. In her previous role at Keg Restaurants Ltd., which she had been with since 2006, Chow’s portfolio spanned contracts, insurance, leasing, litigation, and trademarks. She assisted the restaurant chain in responding to changes in law, particularly those concerning the pandemic.
Chow had led the company through several ownership changes, including a 2018 sale to Recipe Unlimited Corp., a significant Canadian restaurant conglomerate. For the rest of her professional profile, she’s been an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia’s law school.
In her new capacity, Chow will be working for Canucks Sports & Entertainment, chaired by the Canadian businessman, Francesco Aquilini. The corporation owns various sports teams, including the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League, the Vancouver Warriors of the National Lacrosse League, and a few e-sports outfits. Additionally, Chow will be handling legal matters for Toptable, a collection of luxury restaurants owned by Aquilini.
Chow’s hire was facilitated by TurnkeyZRG, a recruitment firm focused on sports and entertainment sectors. Her appointment follows the recent hire of Michelle O’Connor as a Senior Legal Director and Associate General Counsel for the Canucks. Chow replaces Christopher Beardsmore, who left the Canucks last year and has recently joined Blackfin Sports Group.
Across the NHL, several clubs have made changes to their legal teams. For instance, Jim Shimberg Jr., the Tampa Bay Lightning’s former general counsel, recently left to open a Tampa office for the Miami-based Shubin Law Group. The Anaheim Ducks appointed Natalie “Nat” Ochoa and Jessica Park as Associate Counsels, while the Minnesota Wild hired Jon Olson as a Director of Legal Affairs.
It is pertinent to mention that the Dallas Stars’ legal counsel Rachael Lopez departed in October to join the National Football League’s Las Vegas Raiders.
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