Award nominee from Placentia area

Kerry O'Reilly has shown determination, hard work and enthusiasm in her career as a lawyer. For this reason, she was nominated by her peers for the prestigious Tomorrow's Leader award at the 2010 Canadian General Counsel Awards held in Toronto at the end of May.

O'Reilly grew up in Placentia, and attended St. Edwards Elementary and Laval High School. She then attended Dalhousie University in Halifax finishing a degree in neuropsychology. Following that she went to the University of New Brunswick and completed a law degree. O'Reilly's interest in law began at a very young age.

"I was quite young. Probably (it was) at some point when I was in St. Edwards. I remember having a day when I was in Grade 6 when you had to dress as to what you wanted to be when you grow up. I remember that I dressed up to as what I thought a lawyer would look like and took my dad's brief case with me," she said.

Becoming a lawyer marked the beginning of a number of successes for O'Reilly.

"Prior to my current position, I was a partner with Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg which is the top business law firm in the country."

That position required O'Reilly to work long hours, sometimes up to 18 hours per day, six days a week. After having a daughter in 2007, she needed a job that allowed a slower pace.

"I decided that I would like to change the pace of my career. I wanted something a little but slower so that I could be a more hands-on mom. Following my maternity leave I accepted a position working with the legal department at what was then Vale Inco," said the 32 year old.

In her position with Vale, she works as a lawyer for the company, and no longer works within a law firm.

O'Reilly's role as Assistant General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Vale Nickel Business gave her the chance to be recognized for her work. A fellow co-worker nominated O'Reilly for Tomorrow's Leader award at the 2010 Canadian General Counsel Awards. This award is given to someone who demonstrates superior legal capability and leadership when faced with difficult transactions that affect business. This year, two of Vale's lawyers were nominated, the only time in the history of the award that two people form the same company were recognized. Thousands of people are nominated each year but there are only five finalists in each category.

"It felt really great. Often times in the positions that I held you get kind of operate in a little bubble. As your work is so demanding and especially in private practice it takes up so much of your time that you don't ever stop to smell the roses or you don't ever stop to reflect on the significant transactions and work that you've done," stated O'Reilly.

"It sort of forces you to kind of have that pause and reflect on it and also just take a moment to also be quite proud you were recognized of a panel of the most elite practitioners in the company."