In today’s unceasingly growing world of business and industries, particularly in the energy sector companies are advancing and emphasizing renewable energy solutions. However, challenges persist in the smooth delivery of a company’s evolving needs while also addressing compliance and legalities. Positioned at the helm of legal affairs, Chief Legal Officers play a significant role in helping companies achieve their objectives while addressing legal issues, managing potential liabilities, and creating opportunity. Similarly, H Maura Lendon, Chief Legal Officer (CLO) of Greenlane Renewables, a provider of biogas upgrading systems in the renewable natural gas sector (RNG) achieves this balance for her company.

H Maura Lendon is a proficient and internationally experienced executive and general counsel with over three decades of experience in integrating strategic perspective and sound judgment to build sustainable value while mitigating risks for businesses.

In this interview, H Maura Lendon delineates her legal expertise and industry insights.

Take us through the formative years of your educational life and career. How has the journey been until now?

I obtained my BA from Huron College at the University of Western Ontario. Also, I did my LLB and my MBA concurrently at the University of Western Ontario Law School, and the Richard Ivey School of Business. Later, having practiced law for several years, I did an LLM in Intellectual Property at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Moreover, having been granted the ICD.D certificate, I am also a professional director.

Well, my career has been quite diverse. During my early years I worked in a couple of top-tier corporate law firms in Toronto, but then also having a business education and interests, I moved into the telecom industry working for two different companies, Sprint Canada and then AT&T in in-house counsel roles. After 10 years in those technology businesses, I sought the opportunity to join a Canadian-headquartered publicly traded company with international operations and thus I became the Chief Legal Officer for a Canadian mining company, Hudbay Minerals (2008-11). Following that, I joined Primero Mining (2012-18). When Primero got sold during my last year there, I delved into entrepreneurship establishing Scalable General Counsel with a mission to provide in-house general counsel services to growing companies. While I loved my business and my clients, when one of my clients invited me to join them on a full-time basis, I realized it was the right opportunity at the right time and I joined Greenlane Renewables.

“Everything that comes up in the course of a complex business from a legal point of view & from a risk management point of view, is my mandate”

It’s really interesting how my career has evolved over the past 30 years, from technology into mining and then into a new kind of technology business. Working for a company in the renewable energy space with international scope brings together my experiences in international mining companies and from the technology world too. My path has been truly enriching and has drawn upon both my educational and professional expertise over the years to navigate the complexities across different companies and sectors.

Could you introduce us to Greenlane Renewables? Do mention the various responsibilities you shoulder as the company’s CLO?

Greenlane Renewables is a pioneer in the renewable natural gas industry providing biogas upgrading systems globally. The biogas upgrading systems we sell help waste producers, gas utilities and project developers turn organic waste into high value, low carbon and carbon negative waste. The renewable natural gas that our systems produce is capable of being injected into natural gas pipelines and used across transportation applications. It's a great opportunity to do more to help shift the focus on fossil fuels to help the world find ways to live more sustainably.

We are a publicly traded company. My responsibilities are really broad as I'm responsible for compliance and governance, contracts and strategic agreements, legal aspects of employment. Everything that comes up in the course of a complex business from a legal point of view and from a risk management point of view, is my mandate.

A business leader’s journey is replete with challenges. Throw some light on your encountered challenges and its mitigation.

Aside from being a woman business leader, every business leader’s life has challenges. Every day you face something new.

As I am part of an international business, what’s exciting about it is challenging as well. Working in this environment, communication and collaboration are keys to succeeding. Also, as things change quickly and constantly, I have to be flexible and comfortable working with uncertainty. There's always another option, another path forward. You just have to keep looking for solutions and creating opportunities.

What have been the biggest ‘wins’ you have achieved so far in your professional journey?

Certain companies I’ve worked with have undergone profound experiences and I'm really proud of my ability to navigate through turbulent and uncertain times and to find solutions, looking at things holistically- simplifying, organizing and breaking it down to make things go more smoothly, clearing a path forward. I also enjoy creating new models for businesses: for example, I created a global template for the delivery in multiple countries of a complex array of products and services under one contract. I had to work cross-jurisdictionally, understand it deeply in order to then simplify to create common ground so that it offered a ‘one-stop shop’ for an international complex product. It was really fun and satisfying to do.

What has been your success mantra over the years as a business leader?

I think that no matter what you're doing nothing is ever going to be without its bumps and its challenges. But, if you go through it with grit, grace and optimism, giving your best and being open, I think you will grow and thrive. I stand by it.

H Maura Lendon, Chief Legal Officer, Greenlane Renewables

A proficient legal expert with three decades of professional experience heading significant legal issues across diverse sectors.