Reviewing the profiles of Rising Stars winners from the past five years reveals certain trends, including: diversity is growing; more in-house counsel are being nominated; and nomination profiles have become more and more individualized — “bespoke” to use Richard Susskind's term.
To say “diversity is growing” runs the risk of overstatement; it has a long way to go. And what does Lexpert mean by diversity in the Rising Stars awards? We mean that included in the roster of winners are lawyers from visible minority groups, lawyers with disabilities, and women. We also mean that included in that roster are winners committing themselves and their firms to diversity initiatives: Kate Broer of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, for instance, might be called a “pioneer” in law firm diversity leadership, even though she was a winner only a few years ago.
Having said that, every year we receive at least one letter to the editor commenting on a lack of diversity in our pages — Rising Stars is often mentioned. Is there more Lexpert should consider doing to ameliorate diversity in its observation of the profession and its awards? Is there more that firms should be doing?
Lexpert also sees another level of diversity on the increase in its awards: lawyers from a variety of practices. We remain largely focussed on law firms that face business clients and on corporate law departments. However, there are winners who are exceptions to this context, and the context itself has broadened: This year we have a winner from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. In 2007, John Fox from the Toronto Community Housing Corporation was a winner. Yes, it is a corporation, and certainly his nomination profile was set out in business terms; still, his winning brought breadth to the award.
Clearly, there is breadth and a depth in the Canadian in-house Bar. This year we received a record-breaking number of in-house nominations from a wide range of industry sectors and companies of different sizes. We understand that law firm nominators are showing their appreciation for their in-house colleagues and clients. That they do so in such detail is impressive. Law firms and their in-house clients must surely be working as business partners when the former can describe the latter's role with evident knowledge and understanding.
And whether in-house or law firm or government department, the Rising Stars finalists have increasingly distinctive profiles. It may be that nominators have gotten more creative at completing nomination forms; however, we believe there is more to it than that. For example, in the area of pro bono or volunteer activity, Rising Stars finalists are very particular: one supports the board of a centre that helps persons with eating disorders, while another supports a non-profit organization that helps young people in underprivileged villages in Québec, France and India.
This year, the distinctiveness within Rising Stars nomination profiles wasn't all about good news. One nominator told us, for example, about the in-house counsel who worked through the issues attendant upon significant layoffs; another in-house counsel has to work differently because of new competitive challenges in his industry. Meanwhile, a nominated litigator was commended by a client for how he worked through a mixed win and loss on a case.
Repeatedly, we saw terms such as “unique insight” and “distinctive value.” As the profession evolves and our Rising Stars awards prove continually much-coveted, we're excited to see what next year's nominations bring. Will in-house counsel start nominating law firm lawyers?
Daniel Batista
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Toronto
Dan is a “go-to” partner at the firm for complex and high profile M&A transactions. Clients rely on him to develop acquisition strategies; structure transactions; advise acquirors, targets and their boards of directors and independent committees regarding acquisition and defensive tactics; and negotiate and draft principal documentation. His mandates include advising DundeeWealth Inc. in connection with its 2011 acquisition by the Bank of Nova Scotia and the related spin-off of Dundee Capital Markets in a $3.2 billion (enterprise value) transaction; acting for the original issuer trustees in the $32 billion ABCP restructuring; acting for Dofasco Inc. on its $5.6 billion sale to Arcelor SA of Luxembourg in 2006; acting for O&Y Properties Corporation in connection with its $2 billion sale to a consortium led by Brookfield Properties; and acting for Rogers Wireless Inc. on its $1.5 billion takeover bid for Microcell Telecommunications Inc.
Dan is a leader within the firm's Securities and M&A Group, responsible for identifying changes in the legal services landscape and developing relevant strategic responses, including technological innovation and associate training. His leadership and teamwork skills are evidenced by his role in coordinating the work of 25 lawyers on the DundeeWealth transaction so efficiently that it closed in just two months. Dan is highly regarded by his colleagues, both because of his willingness to share interesting and meaningful work and because of the appreciation he shows for their efforts.
Dan has taught corporate finance and M&A pro bono at the University of Windsor Law School since 2007.
Chris Bennett
McMillan LLP
Toronto
Chris has led more than a dozen high-profile public-private partnership transactions in the past three years, acting for lenders, sponsors, developers and contractors. The projects include the $1.1 billion St. Joseph's Healthcare project in London; the $634 million Mental Health Centre in Penetaguishene; and the Northwest Anthony Henday Drive project, named the 2008 P3 Deal of the Year (Americas) by Project Finance International. Chris' well-rounded practice gives him an overview of commercial issues that he engages to overcome barriers to successful projects. His strengths include the ability to focus clients on risk allocation issues and help them develop a variety of creative mitigants.
Chris has played a leading role in the Projects Group by expanding it from a lender-focused practice to a broad-based team acting for varied market players. He generates significant work for other lawyers through his dedication to cross-selling, has helped develop innovative fee arrangements and is adept at identifying new market trends. As government policies evolve, Chris works with other proactive groups to explore opportunities to use his expertise on non-P3 projects. He is an excellent team player, having positioned partners as deal team leaders on various projects, thereby sharing the most interesting work and providing opportunities for others to build relationships. He ensures that associates' efforts are acknowledged by the firm and by clients.
Chris co-developed a P3 course at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and teaches it on a pro bono base. He also co-teaches an LL.M. course and co-chaired Osgoode Hall Law School's Intensive Short Court in Commercial Loan Finance and Security.
Robert Carelli
Stikeman Elliott LLP
Montréal
Robert is a securities, corporate finance and M&A partner whose mandates include the Yellow Pages Income Fund, Air Canada and Dollarama Inc. initial public offerings. He recently led the transaction team on the $1.1 billion high-yield note Canada/US note offering from Air Canada. Public and private investment funds are among his clients.
Robert has contributed significantly to the strengthening and expansion of business with several of the firm's largest clients including Yellow Media, Air Canada, ACE Aviation, Dollarama and Bain. He has also developed his own client base, principally in his investment fund practice. He serves on the Students and Knowledge Management Committees and initiated the firm's Poker Night for investment bankers. He presents seminars internally and to clients, and takes ownership of new developments and future business opportunities. Robert receives frequent referral conflict mandates from other firms.
Robert has led teams of up to 15 individuals including associates, paralegals, translators and students. He has been repeatedly chosen as a mentor and is viewed as a teaching lawyer. From the start of a new matter, he seeks to create a team approach in which all team members feel supported.
Robert has provided pro bono corporate advice to the Office of Technology Transfer of a Montréal university.
Casey Chisick
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Toronto
Casey is a copyright and entertainment partner at Cassels Brock. His clients include Rogers Communications, EMI Music Publishing, Postmedia, the Globe and Mail, Toronto Sun Media, Corus, CMRRA and SODRAC. His work has led to a complete overhaul of the music licensing system in Canada, an industry that generates more than $100 million annually, and he has been at the forefront of litigation dealing with the distribution of digital content.
Casey delegates to more than 50 partners, associates and students across the firm each year, managing multidisciplinary service teams and leading groups of lawyers on complex litigation and regulatory files. The relationships he has developed with US firms have led to thousands of billable hours of referred trademark work, an area in which he himself is not heavily involved.
Casey founded the firm's Fashion Industry Practice Group, the first of its kind in Canada, and is Chair of the Student Committee and Professional Development Committee. He is a passionate advocate for the advancement of female lawyers, spearheaded a major study of associate career development and is a devoted mentor. He has also been heavily involved in the development of technological and practice support capabilities for the firm, including its document management system.
A former law professor at the University of Manitoba, Casey has taught at Osgoode Hall Law School for 10 years. He is a board member of Soulpepper Theatre and counsel to the Toronto Centre for the Arts and Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary.
Ryan Dalziel
Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP
Vancouver
in his seven years at the Bar, Ryan, a partner at Bull Housser, has argued seven cases — three of them pro bono — in the Supreme Court of Canada. His clients in these cases included Rio Tinto Alcan, the British Columbia Government, Adbusters Media Foundation, and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. In his arguments at the SCC, he has dealt with a wide range of subjects including Aboriginal rights, freedom of expression, search and seizure, human rights procedures and tobacco industry litigation. His creativity with legal issues, cost consciousness and efficiency has been a major factor in his success, and his advisory role at the firm arises in a variety of contexts and practice areas.
Ryan is a leader in the legal community and within the firm. He is among a group of about 10 counsel who periodically provide feedback to the Court of Appeal Rules Committee about procedural matters. He was instrumental in creating a unified Litigation and Dispute Resolution team at the firm.
Ryan's successes are a reflection of his ability to work with and draw on the strengths of others, including with extensive internal teams at various levels of government, national and multinational corporations, First Nations and financial institutions. Other Vancouver firms have recognized Ryan's collaborative skills by asking him to participate in joint litigation teams. Young lawyers are drawn to him because he remains engaging and fun while practising at a high level and taking his role as a mentor very seriously.
Aaron Arun Dhir
Osgoode Hall Law School of York University
Toronto
An associate professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, Aaron obtained tenure at age thirty-five. His teaching and research interests include corporate law, governance and corporate social responsibility. His success is attributable to his ability to identify and engage connections between seemingly distinct fields. In the past, corporate law and social justice have been seen as separate areas, with little relation to one another. A prevailing theme in Aaron's scholarship is a rejection of this dichotomy. He has published widely and his work is referenced in judicial decisions, facta, legislative reform submissions, and commission and civil society organization reports. He has been an invited expert in the most significant policy reform initiatives in his area of expertise, and co-convened a multi-stakeholder United Nations consultation that produced a report informing the final report presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council on issues relating to business and human rights. In 2009, Corporate Knights magazine recognized this work as among “some of the most exciting work” currently being conducted at Canadian law schools in “advancing the frontiers of justice.”
Aaron has received three teaching awards and was nominated for a fourth. He fosters a stimulating intellectual environment and an inclusive classroom culture, incorporates student teams into his research and has worked with 14 different research assistants. Aaron employs diverse pedagogies such as buzz groups, brainstorming and simulations to accommodate different learning styles and multiple intelligences. His courses in Transnational Corporations and Human Rights, and Race and Gender in Corporate Law and Governance were the first offered in these areas at Canadian law schools.
Huy Do
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Toronto
Huy is a competition and foreign investment law specialist at Fasken Martineau. His mandates includes Rogers' acquisition of Microcell; Arcelor's acquisition of Dofasco; RBS's acquisition of ABN Amro, the largest financial services merger in history; the sale of CHUM to Bell Globemedia; and the sale of Addax Petroleum by Sinopec. Huy has also advised numerous clients on cartel investigations by the Canadian Competition Bureau and their foreign counterparts in the US, Europe and Asia. He is currently engaged in precedent-setting litigation against the Competition Bureau in relation to its use of s. 11 orders. And at the invitation of the Canadian Competition Bureau, Huy served as a non-governmental advisor to the International Competition Network.
Huy, who sits on the firm's Ontario Region Business Development Committee, is the client manager for Credit Suisse and was instrumental in having Fasken Martineau appointed as one of only three Canadian firms on Credit Suisse's preferred counsel list. He is also a member of the firm's Asia Pacific Practice Group. Huy's strengths include analysis that cuts through nuance to make complicated matters clear and understandable to clients, and teamwork skills that are evident in his organization of Fasken Martineau's lawyers on Credit Suisse retainers, many of which are not in his area of expertise.
Huy sits on the board of Daytrippers, which funds educational and cultural trips for low-income individuals in remote areas. He also participated in Pathways to Education and, despite being forced to flee to Canada from Vietnam, he has sought to assist his home country by providing advice to the country's government on its application to join the World Trade Organization.
Jonathan Feldman
Goodmans LLP
Toronto
Jonathan is a corporate and securities partner at Goodmans who emphasizes M&A in his practice. With international experience working in New York, Paris and Mexico City, he is well-versed in cross-border matters. He played a lead role representing RX Exploration's special committee in its most recent proxy contest; MLSE in its concert promotion joint venture with Live Nation Canada, Inc.; and Starz Media Group, Inc. in its sale of Starz Media Canada Co.
Jon oversees the firm's business development initiatives, demonstrating both creativity and innovation. He organized a joint program with the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association on practice management for over 90 in-house counsel; the event was so successful that the attendees have requested it become an annual event. Jon is the author of numerous articles.
The breadth of Jon's knowledge has allowed him to adjust his practice to reflect market trends, most recently adapting to the increase in shareholder activism in Canada so that he now has significant experience representing clients in these matters. He is cool under pressure with a contagious work ethic. He is the mentor for his practice group and responsible for overseeing the evaluations of all articling students. Jon also sits on the firm's CLE Committee.
Jon is founder of the Barrie to Baycrest 100 km bike ride, which has raised over $8.6 million over the last 15 years for the Baycrest Foundation. He teaches at the University of Toronto Law School and is a member of the University's Alumni Committee.
Richard Samuel Fridman
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Toronto
Richard's M&A and securities practice at Davies has engaged him in complex transactions including Fronteer Gold Inc.'s $2.3 billion acquisition by Newmont Mining Corp.; the $260 million sale of Aurora Energy's uranium assets to Paladin Energy Ltd.; and MAG Silver Corp.'s successful defense of a $350 million hostile takeover bid by Fresnillo plc.
Richard's background as a management consultant at McKinsey & Co. gives him a keen understanding of business, which he successfully leverages in his legal practice. Clients have praised his ability to manage complex transactions and coordinate large teams to achieve clearly defined objectives.
Richard was co-author of the firm's shareholder voting project and plays a key role in firm thought-leadership initiatives. He is a regular presenter at internal meetings on developing legal issues.
Richard sits on the Student Committee, acts as a mentor, and presents regularly to students on legal practice matters. He has led the Law Society of Upper's Canada's session on client communications for the past two years.
Richard organized and will be co-leading a team of 20 Davies lawyers in connection with a planting and stewardship event taking place at the Toronto Brickworks. This initiative in support of Evergreen (a charity focused on creating and sustaining green spaces in urban centers) will involve the planting of trees, shrubs and wildflowers and removing invasive species of plants.
Kathryn Fuller
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Toronto
Kathryn is a securities and business lawyer at BLG who focuses on the investment management industry, bringing complex investment products and services to the market. With a background in business, she has developed a deep understanding of that industry. Kathryn has been involved in more than 50 prospectus filings for mutual funds, more than 50 investor meetings involving mergers and other changes to funds, and has advocated for many clients to obtain exemptions from securities legislation. In one case, she set a precedent by convincing the OSC to allow a discretionary investment management firm to invest the assets of its “non-accredited investor” clients in non-prospectus qualified mutual funds. Her clients include the Bank of Montreal, the National Bank, IA Clarington and Gluskin Sheff + Associates.
Kathryn is a successful business developer, having secured Gluskin Sheff and a large insurance company as firm clients. She also helps build the firm's Montréal office. She is active in the Investment Funds Institute of Canada's fund governance, point of sale, and conference planning committees, and speaks and writes regularly on her area of expertise.
Kathryn mentors students, associates and law clerks, reviews client publications and leads associate training sessions. Her wealth of knowledge and experience also make her a valuable resource to her seniors. Kathryn participates in BLG's Read to Kids program, working with elementary students to foster a love of learning.
Sony Gill
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Calgary
Sony is a partner in McCarthy Tétrault's Business Law Group, focusing on Corporate Finance and M&A. He advises companies and investment dealers on a broad range of matters. His transactions include three acquisitions by Crescent Point Energy Corp. totalling more than $2.2 billion; a $244 million corporate acquisition of Spartan Exploration Ltd. and the creation of a new public oil and gas company; PetroNova Inc.'s $65.4 million IPO; Greenfields Petroleum Corporation's $41.4 million IPO. Clients call him a gifted multi-tasker with a penchant for getting results.
Sony regularly organizes client functions to explore potential business opportunities and partnerships. He also actively cross-sells clients and promotes the interests of clients to other service providers, including investment banks, generating substantial work for other lawyers. As well, he seeks out business in international jurisdictions including an initiative in Colombia with a team of lawyers who provided Colombian oil and gas, mining and power players with an overview of opportunities to access capital in Canada.
Sony is Co-chair of the firm's Recruitment and Student Committees and has been instrumental to the growth of the Calgary office. He also engages in significant formal and informal mentoring, winning the Associate Mentor of the Year award in 2009. In 2010, Sony was one of the top three Calgary fundraisers for the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk for Hope.
April D. Grosse
Bennett Jones LLP
Calgary
April is a commercial litigation and arbitration partner at Bennett Jones who practises at the trial and appeal levels with mandates in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Clients and colleagues have sought her assistance on significant cases in a variety of areas from the outset, including a $110 million intellectual property claim just four years into her career. Her excellent relationships with opposing counsel have led to referrals from competing firms.
April is creative, entrepreneurial, practical and cost-sensitive with an instinctive understanding of the business side of practising law. She developed her own paperless practice and knowledge of e-discovery issues before the firm had acquired the relevant software.
April's marketing efforts include presenting at external seminars and promoting events targeted at women in business. She is a key recruiter for the firm, has served as an articling principal four times, spends numerous hours as a formal and informal mentor, edits the firm's energy law publication and conducts internal seminars on a variety of topics.
April prefers to work in teams and regularly involves juniors, peers and more senior lawyers in files and business development, inviting at least one associate to each marketing event she attends and freely referring files to lawyers whose experience is better suited to the work.
April is active in Pro Bono Law Alberta and other pro bono endeavours, teaches at the Alberta Bar Admission Course, and plays hockey with the Zonta Club in the South Alberta Women's Hockey Association.
David Grout
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
Calgary
David's corporate commercial experience at BD&P has included acting as lead commercial counsel to a major utility infrastructure company regarding the implementation of a procurement process to complete upwards of $2 billion in construction work, and a host of long-term alliance and relationship agreements with terms extending to 15 years. David's clients include an international aircraft leasing company, CWC Well Services Corp., TransAlta Corporation, DC Energy Services and WestJet Airlines. His background in-house has given him a keen sense for aligning clients' business issues with complex legal advice. His facility for working with others has hastened his success.
David, recognized as a leader at BD&P, is a team builder adept at initiating and coordinating events that strengthen team bonds. As well, he is integral to the firm's student recruitment efforts, has taken a major role in the development of junior lawyers, and wrote a new marketing plan for his business unit at the firm. His tendency is to give credit where it is due without ever seeking personal recognition.
David's pro bono activities include being a director of the Missing Children's Society of Canada, and providing pro bono services to various Calgary organizations including the Bow River Bruins Hockey Association, EnCorps Dance Society, and the Airdrie and District Human Society. He is a Steering and Advisory Committee member of the Calgary branch of the University of Alberta Alumni Association and an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association Business Subsection — Southern Alberta.
Andrea Hatzinikolas
Petrominerales Ltd; PetroBakken Energy Ltd. and Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd.
Calgary
Andrea is general counsel and corporate secretary at Petrominerales. She has had the lead in-house role in a wide range of complicated matters involving M&A, property acquisitions and dispositions, intellectual property, litigation management, public disclosure and investor relations, as well as regulatory and employment matters, and securities, corporate and technology related transactions. She simultaneously works on multiple financings, litigation matters and annual disclosure requirements even while heavily involved in transactions.
Andrea has been an integral part of the three companies' growth from capitalization of $1.6 billion to about $7 billion through her leadership in driving deals forward. She navigates complex legal issues to arrive at practical solutions to meet her companies' needs. She has helped retain key personnel from targets and helped integrate the culture of merged organizations. Her responsiveness is evidence by her ability to quickly learn legal areas outside of her core M&A and securities law competence. She is extraordinarily pleasant in her relations, with a positive and upbeat attitude even in times of stress, and is careful to recognize others' contribution, including those behind the scenes such as administrative staff and paralegals.
Andrea helped organize and sits on the board of the Foundation for Canadian Investment for Latin American Opportunities, a charity that provides education to help reduce levels of poverty in South America.
Weiguo (William) He
Davis LLP
Vancouver
Qualified in New York and Massachusetts as well as British Columbia, William focuses on M&A and securities at Davis and leads the firm's China practice. His admission to the partnership after only three and a half years of practice are a testament to his exceptional skills and client portfolio which includes one of China's largest banks, a major Chinese airline, other leading state-owned enterprises and NYSE-listed companies.
As a first year associate, William brought in one of China's largest banks as a client and advised on the financing mandate. Under tight deadlines, multi-party communications, cross-border legal issues involving Canada, China and Hong Kong, and the requirements for work to be completed in English and Mandarin, William successfully navigated through the minefields and proved his ability beyond his years. As a second year associate, William managed a proposed $300 million investment from a Chinese client that involved due diligence, private placement by tranches, change of control with an option to acquire more shares, an oppression remedy, lock-up agreements, and take-over bid to several hundred shareholders spread in multiple international jurisdictions. He coordinated the work among Davis lawyers from 10 different practice groups and a US co-counsel.
William plays an active role in Vancouver's Chinese community. He has volunteered as a Careers Day panelist for SUCCESS, presented at Young Entrepreneurs' Association seminars and participated in Children's Hospital charity events.
Sean Hern
Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP
Vancouver/Victoria
Sean is a litigation partner at Farris who has argued in all British Columbia courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. His high-profile cases include litigation over the $2 billion Canada line, extradition matters, special prosecutions, and constitutional challenges. His strengths include the translation of complex business needs into practical legal solutions, and a familiarity and ease with mobile technology that makes him readily available to clients at all times.
Sean, who sits on Farris' Strategy Committee, conceived of and leads the Victoria office, the firm's first geographic expansion and entrusted to Sean in only his fourth year of practice. There he has built an education and technology practice while maintaining an excellent reputation in the Vancouver market. The complexity of his cases mandates frequent consultation with large teams, necessitating sophisticated communication skills with various tiers of lawyers and personalities. He is a valuable resource to other lawyers at the firm and a diligent mentor to students. Despite long hours, he maintains an uncompromising commitment to his family, setting an excellent example for his peers.
Sean's community contributions include pro bono work for needy individuals and the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association. He also sits on the board of the Newbold Theatre, dedicated to works that reflect Canada's diversity in the broadest sense.
Georald S. Ingborg
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Vancouver
Georald is a partner and leader in Fasken Martineau's Securities & M&A Practice. His practice spans multiple industry sectors including mining, alternative energy and technology. Georald's recent mandates include the $265 million initial public offering in Canada and concurrent $450 million acquisition of mineral properties for Pretium Resources, and the $331 million acquisition of Athabasca Potash by BHP Billiton. He provides 24-hour service for Australian, European and Chinese clients. His strengths are plain language, a keen understanding of his clients' businesses, superb planning skills, and an international perspective.
Internally, Georald oversees the firm's 25 paralegals in Vancouver and the regional Corporate Services Department, acting as registrar and records officer for more than 4,000 entities. In these roles, he is pivotal in updating corporate precedents and internal technology. He is a member of the firm's Student Committee in Vancouver, a formal and informal mentor for students and associates, and speaks regularly on securities law at internal and external conferences and seminars.
Georald's community service includes regular volunteering with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, representing the legal sector on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Ride for Diabetes Research's fundraising efforts, and sitting on the board of the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of Greater Vancouver.
Manju Jessa
RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)
Toronto
Manju is senior counsel for RBC, leading the international private client and credit legal teams globally. The transactions in which she participates involve up to $100,000,000 and cross numerous borders. The high net worth and ultra-high net worth bank clients for whom she structures transactions require innovative and bespoke solutions within tight time constraints. Strategies suggested by Manju have on a number of occasions allowed certain transactions to occur that would have otherwise have been declined.
Manju is also involved in product development for this market. She sits on a number of internal committees and actively supports pro bono initiatives. As well, Manju takes a personal interest in summer students and interns.
Manju has been innovative in restructuring the manner in which legal services are provided by the RBC Law Group to various international business units and credit centres resulting in a substantial enhancement in efficiency; a reduction in turnaround time; an increase in the breadth of advice provided; improvement in the overall satisfaction regarding the advice provided; and a material decrease in external legal spending.
Manju has had the foresight to encourage team members to develop new areas of expertise and to spread responsibility among them. She has arranged secondments to other parts of the Law Group by way of exposing lawyers to products and services that are or might be of interest to the clients of Global Wealth Management.
Richard Kirby
Felesky Flynn LLP
Edmonton
Richard, the managing partner of Felesky Flynn's Edmonton office, has been vital to the office's success since joining the firm as an articling student. He focuses his tax practice on Northern Alberta. His mandates include numerous cross-border transactions, particularly for private corporations. Richard recently quarterbacked a deal team that included two national law firms, a large accounting firm, the vendor's sole shareholder, and its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, all involved in a $307 million divestiture. Richard also services client across Western Canada, Ontario and British Columbia in sectors such as oilfield services, real estate development, electricity delivery and construction. Richard speaks the language of both business and tax fluently and is actively involved in identifying opportunities for clients. His strengths include the flexibility to make fundamental changes to transactions or operating structures when commercial reality changes.
Richard has been instrumental in the firm's recruitment successes. He is a strong team player, delegating freely by way of encouraging creativity, technical proficiency and idea-sharing. He was on the Planning Committee for the CTF Prairie Provinces Tax Conference and the Edmonton Tax Lawyers and Accountants Discussion Group, and is past Chair of the Northern Alberta Tax Section of the Canadian Bar Association. He writes and speaks regularly on tax matters.
Richard is a former Director of the Support Network and the Alberta Show Jumping Association. He is a major donor to the Stollery Children's Hospital and was the largest fundraiser for the Climb for the Cure, reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro in the process.
Philip Jason Kroft
Stikeman Elliott LLP
Toronto
Jason, a partner at Stikeman Elliott, practises in the areas of banking law, corporate finance and financial regulatory reform. He is called upon regularly by Canadian and foreign banks, pension funds, governmental entities, and global financial institutions to share his expertise on the developing regulatory landscape for financial products transactions. He provides special counsel to many of the world's top financial institutions and played a leading role in the $32 billion Asset-Backed Commercial Paper restructuring. He has developed a leading Ontario practice in the development, structuring and financing of roof-top solar facilities and leads the firm's national emissions trading and climate change practice. Opposing counsel regularly engage him on new mandates.
Jason has used his profile to introduce Stikeman Elliott lawyers and students to clients and contacts at the world's leading financial institutions. He regularly shares his insights and connections with others and partners with younger lawyers in developing connections. He is a member of the firm's Education Committee.
Jason has taken a leading role in creating a mine debt finance practice based in large part on a proprietary technology and document architecture that he created for a large European bank. This project involved incorporating expertise from corporate/commercial, derivatives, banking, mining and tax colleagues; interacting with counsel in emerging economies such as Panama, Mexico, Peru, Malaysia, among others; and translating the technology in a way that works within different legal and regulatory systems and economic realities. Jason is the team captain of this initiative, which includes, at times, 15 or more Stikeman Elliott lawyers on numerous files working concurrently with numerous counsel in foreign locations.
Jason teaches at Osgoode Hall Law School and leads the firm's pro bono business law clinic there. He is the Chair of the Kidney Foundation's National Capital Campaign and was formerly Co-chair of University Health Network's Capital Campaign in transplantation.
Trevor Lawson
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Toronto
Trevor's broad practice as a McCarthy Tétrault partner encompasses employment litigation, labour relations, corporate transactions, executive compensation and privacy. He has appeared at all levels of Ontario civil courts, the Labour Relations Board, Human Rights Tribunals, boards of arbitration and coroner's inquests. He was lead employment counsel on the $2.1 billion acquisition of Husky International Ltd. by OMERS Private Equity and Berkshire Partners, and CIBC's $2.1 billion acquisition of Citibank Canada's Canadian Mastercard portfolio. His clients also include the Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited, Rio Tinto Alcan, Pepsi Beverages Canada, St. Michael's Hospital, Goldman Sachs, the TD Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia. Trevor delivers solutions to complex problems in a cost-efficient manner, and the broad scope of his practice allows him to shift focus quickly when economic conditions change.
Trevor continually identifies business opportunities, and is responsible for expanding relationships with Advanced Micro Devices and Pepsi. He is a regular go-to person when the firm assembles RFP teams.
As Chair of the Associates Committee, he helped create programs to assist associates in acquiring business development skills. He prepared a Legal Update to help businesses prepare for the Toronto G20, a publication that received extensive media coverage.
Trevor contributes articles to the ABA's International Employment magazine, and worked with an ABA Committee on submissions to the U.S. State Department regarding the conflict between Canadian human rights law and proposed amendments to American arms trafficking legislation. He is featured frequently by media and does pro bono work for Sheena's Place in support of people with eating disorders.
Neal L.D. Leard
Stewart McKelvey
Saint John
Neal, a partner at Stewart McKelvey, has a diverse, transaction-based practice focused on industrial/infrastructure projects and commercial real estate. He also advises in corporate and financing matters, and his adaptability has ensured him a full file load at all times. His experience includes representing the Province of New Brunswick on various infrastructure projects such as the Trans-Canada Highway Project; acting for a Canadian REIT on its acquisition of 61 properties in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, and Québec; and counselling the operator of Canada's first liquefied natural gas terminal. Neal's strengths include breaking down complex issues into simple terms and combining that with a high degree of responsiveness to clients. Just how highly clients value Neal's judgment is evidenced by his being asked to participate with them in the hiring process for positions within their organizations.
Neal sits on the Recruiting Committee and the Associates Evaluation and Compensation Committee. He often organizes business development activities and is a frequent contributor to firm publications and seminars. He is a team player who takes the time to offer feedback to associates and students.
Neal is Co-chair of the City of Saint John Taxation Review Committee, and was pro bono counsel to a joint committee established to amalgamate two churches and to Habitat for Humanity Saint John. He served as a director of the Saint John Community Loan Fund and the Saint John Human Development Council.
Lucas Lung
Lerners LLP
Toronto
Lucas is a litigator at Lerners. As a student, he became involved in public interest cases at home and abroad, preparing a UNHCR report that revealed flaws in the organization's refugee status process. He also helped prepare the factum for Supreme Court intervention by the University of Toronto's Human Rights Clinic, Human Rights Watch, and the Canadian Jewish Congress in Mugesera v. Canada. In practice, he has remained involved in complex public interest cases, particularly those involving hate propaganda, and led the dialogue that these cases have inspired in the media. On the commercial side, he managed the collection, development and analysis of a database involving millions of documents as part of a Lerners team that defended IMAX in a complicated securities class action. His experience has taken him before all levels of Ontario Court and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Lucas has developed his advocacy skills and distinguished himself by engaging the public and pro bono law. He has taken a leadership and mentorship role with other young lawyers, teaching them to apply his exacting standards of service and care to their cases and clients. He demonstrates an ability to identify the core needs of those for whom he is working.
The Advocates' Society has awarded its Arleen Goss Young Advocates' Award to Lucas. The not-for-profit organizations that he has worked with, including St. Jude Community Homes Toronto and the Community Legal Clinic for Simcoe, Haliburton and Kawartha Lakes, have recognized his abilities by asking him to assume leadership roles for them.
Robert Mason
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP
Toronto
Robert, a partner at Gowlings and Vice Chair of the firm's Mining Group, serves international mining companies and investment banks in his corporate finance and M&A practice. His clients include BMO Capital Markets, CIBC World Markets and Jennings Capital Inc. His mandates include acting on First Uranium's $230 million initial public offering and Royal Gold Corp.'s $700 million purchase of International Royal Corporation. He has taken an active role in expanding the firm's international mining corporate finance and M&A presence, including drafting a national strategy to make Gowlings a leading firm for underwriting work.
Robert has flourished by anticipating and embracing new business and practice areas, transitioning into mining law after working as a technology securities lawyer until the dot.com era ended. As well, he has transitioned from a domestic mining practice to an international practice that includes South Africa, Chile, China, Australia and Russia. Robert's strengths include understanding that he is a transaction strategist as well as a securities advisor. Many clients call him on a weekly, or even daily basis, to discuss both the legal and business aspects of potential transactions.
Robert is a consummate team player who is adamant that any strategy he is working on is not an individual one, but a Gowlings endeavour. He has mentored dozens of students and lawyers, giving them unparalleled levels of client contact, including involving associates in business meetings and client development events.
Inspired by his father's close ties with Newfoundland's artistic community, Robert has used his client development initiatives to benefit the theatre, most notably Soulpepper Theatre Company, which Gowlings sponsors.
Josh Joseph Bedard McElman
Cox & Palmer
Saint John/Fredericton
A bankruptcy and insolvency lawyer at Cox & Palmer, Josh has been lead or co-lead counsel on all of the largest insolvencies in Atlantic Canada since 2007, including the $250 million CCAA application for Atcon Construction Group, a consortium of 22 corporations operating internationally in the construction, energy, manufacturing and environmental industries. He also acts for lenders on large syndicated loans, most recently as co-lead Atlantic Canada counsel for the $300 million financing of Cooke Aquaculture.
Internally, Josh identified and implemented changes to the firm's recruitment process, making it more responsive to Cox & Palmer's changing needs. He developed an orientation, training and mentorship program for students and is an active participants in associate retreats.
Josh is reluctant to take credit for his hard work on any file and would prefer to discuss the team he works with. He pushes associates to take the lead on matters and deal directly with the clients. He often takes associates to client development events as he fully believes they are an integral part of the firm's success and his own. Josh also understands that each member of a team has differing personal demands and tries to craft each player's role so that he or she encounters little or no conflict with life outside of the office.
Josh is the former Chair of the CBA's New Brunswick Young Lawyers and the Law Day Committee. His community activities include directorships at the Friends of Hestia House & Second Stage Housing, and the Symphony New Brunswick Foundation Inc. He also provides ongoing pro bono legal counsel to various non-profits in all aspects of their operations.
Shevaun McGrath
Goodmans LLP
Toronto
Shevaun is an M&A and corporate finance partner at Goodmans. Her significant mandates include advising Sirius Canada Inc. in its $520 million merger with Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.; Amdocs Limited in its $211 million acquisition of Bridgewater Systems Corporation; Colony Capital LLC in its US$4.5 billion acquisition along with Kingdom Hotels International of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc.; and OMERS Private Equity in its US$7.75 billion acquisition with Apax Partners of Thomson Learning Higher Education Assets. She also led the asset securitization team advising the Investors Committee in the ABCP matter.
Shevaun has a demonstrated track record of attracting business to the firm and is passionately engaged in expanding her practice. She combines excellent legal ability with the talent to distill complex legal and business issues in a way that makes sense to her clients. She has a natural ability to bring teams together, and a tremendous capacity to support young lawyers and students. She is a member of the Student and CLE Committees. Her positive approach to re-entering practice on returning from two maternity leaves has drawn other firm members to seek her guidance in managing their transitions.
In the community, Shevaun has volunteered as an infant loss facilitator with the Bereaved Families of Ontario since 2003 and is a member of the organization's board. She runs the marriage course for newlyweds at her parish and organizes fundraisers at her children's school.
Zahra Nurmohamed
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP
Toronto
Zahra is a tax partner at FMC. Her significant mandates include acting as tax counsel to Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Limited for its $4.9 billion acquisition by Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.; Canadian counsel to Andean Resources Limited for its $3.6 billion acquisition by Goldcorp Inc.; Canadian counsel to Stillwater Mining Company in connection with its US$118 million acquisition of Marathon PGM Corporation; and counsel to the management shareholders of Pareto Corporation for its $125 million acquisition by private equity firm The Riverside Company.
Zahra's commitment to client service is evidenced by her ability to anticipate the on-going needs of clients after a deal closes or a financing has been completed. A significant part of her practice is based on internal referrals from FMC lawyers across the country. She is involved in recruiting, mentoring and planning client events. She is the youngest member of the Senior Resource Tax Practitioners' Institute, an invitation-only program. Her strengths include a common sense approach to transactions and a commitment to staying on top of a practice in which change is the only constant. With the full support of the firm, Zahra has become a role model for alternative work arrangements by reducing her practice some 20 per cent by way of garnering the flexibility to spend time with her five-year-old twin boys.
Zahra is actively involved in the Ismaili Muslim Community as the Vice Chair for Legal Matters for the Ismaili Council. She writes and presents regularly, and also has editorial responsibilities with three tax publications. Zahra has taught at the University of Windsor Law School and the Bar Admission Course.
Darren David O'Keefe
Benson Myles PLC Inc.
St. John's
Darren is an M&A, corporate finance and construction lawyer with Benson Myles, who is also licensed in New York, and focuses on complex domestic and international transactions, including a $650 million US-based high yield bond transaction and a $110 million credit agreement. His clients include foreign telecommunications companies, a Canadian chartered bank (to whom he is provincial co-counsel) and many local businesses, particularly in the construction industry. Known for his business pragmatism, Darren regularly offers practical advice on issues beyond traditional legal practice.
Darren is a member of the firm's Marketing and Articling Committees, leads the firm's technology initiatives, was responsible for the firm's new website, and directs the firm's advertising and media campaigns. In 2013, Darren will be the youngest individual and first lawyer to be President of Newfoundland's Canadian Home Builders Association. He sits on the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association's Governance Committee.
A team player, Darren manages local attorneys and corporate secretarial services for over 60 Caribbean and Latin American companies. He consistently involves fellow associates in his work, is a frequent mentor, and regularly refers files — including the negotiation and settlement of a $40 million construction contract — to senior and junior colleagues.
Darren's regular pro bono activity includes conducting education seminars and donating to non-profit organizations. He is the secretary of Junior Achievement Newfoundland and teaches financial literacy and career planning in junior high schools.
Jane O'Neill
McInnes Cooper
Halifax
Jane is a litigation partner who has appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Courts, all levels of civil courts in Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Securities Commission, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, and in private commercial arbitrations. Her clients include insurers, developers, and class members in the first securities-based class action in the province.
Jane's approach focuses on dispute resolution rather than litigation, recognizing that litigation is a necessary evil for commercial clients that can, however, be used effectively and cost-efficiently. When litigation ensues, she manages the litigation so as to create minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
Jane was the youngest partner ever elected to the firm's Board of Directors, which guides the firm's strategic direction and policy. She has helped develop the firm's securities litigation and regulatory enforcement practices as well as its shareholder disputes and oppression remedies practice, and participates in a successful pilot program where the firm offers virtual services to sole practitioners and small firms that need assistance. Jane is a leader in the implementation of new litigation support technology, and is actively involved in increasing the firm's diversity. An excellent team player and respected mentor, Jane tries to involve as many people as possible on files, striving to make the work as interesting and enriching as possible and ensuring that individuals receive credit for their contributions.
Jane has drawn on her bilingual abilities to volunteer as a judge in the Laskin Moot Court Competition. She also serves as counsel to the board of the Halifax Early Childhood School, a not-for-profit preschool in downtown Halifax.
Louis-Martin O'Neill
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Montréal
Louis-Martin's litigation practice embraces a broad spectrum of M&A, securities, corporate and commercial disputes, insolvency restructurings, as well as white-collar investigations and defence work. He is regularly involved in complex cases including the landmark case of BCE v. 1976 Debenture Holders, and obtained court approval for Abitibi-Consolidated's combination with Bowater.
Louis-Martin's client development skills have secured significant retainers including the Beaverbrook Foundation in connection with its litigation against the Beaverbrook Gallery, and Corus Entertainment regarding a defamation law case ultimately decided by the Supreme Court of Canada. He has spearheaded many development initiatives that other firm members have replicated, and was the impetus behind the firm's continuing legal education program in Montréal and Toronto. Louis-Martin is also well-versed in knowledge management, for which he has become a firm resource. He launched his own blog which provides legal practice tools and discusses productivity management, technology and work/life balance issues. As well, he is a respected legal writer who authored the enforcement chapter of the JurisClasseur on securities law and whose work has been quoted by the Quebec Court of Appeal.
Among Louis-Martin's strengths are an innate business sense, realistic risk assessments and practical suggestions to deal with risks. He communicates clearly, motivates his teams and keeps them focused on the end result. He is a role model and mentor for many young lawyers. In the community, Louis-Martin is involved in the Garde-manger pour Tous, which provides healthy lunches to elementary students in Montréal's poorest neighbourhoods.
Mathieu Piche-Messier
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Montréal
Mathieu, a BLG partner, is a litigator practising in commercial fraud, technology, industrial espionage, entertainment law and intellectual property enforcement litigation. He has executed and enforced Anton Piller orders covering multiple locations and involving the coordination of 15-person raid teams. Both the courts and many of Canada's major law firms including Stikeman Elliott LLP; Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP; Heenan Blaikie LLP; Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP have retained him to act as Independent Supervising Solicitor for Anton Piller orders. Mathieu has also enforced Mareva injunctions worldwide. His clients include Canadian, American, European and Asian concerns, including financial institutions, and his extensive contacts in the business community have helped him attract new clients for various firm departments, including litigation, real estate, labour and corporate commercial.
Mathieu is a team player who is Chair of Young Bar Association of Montréal (YBAM), a 4,200-member organization with an operational budget of $500,000. In that role, he expanded the organization's pro bono program to three other cities and created the Pro Bono BLG & YBAM Small Claims program, which engages 30 BLG associates. He is one of the drafters of the Pro Bono QC's corporate structure and is a member of BLG's Pro Bono Committee. In the community, he belongs to Sortie 13, a group of 13 community leaders who provide ideas to improve socio-economic conditions in Québec. Mathieu also sits on the boards of Cirque Éloise, LOGIQ Foundation, En!fant-Retour QC, and Make-a-Wish QC.
Kenneth Pogrin
Manulife Financial
Toronto
Ken is Manulife's Vice President, Canadian Investment Counsel and leads Manulife's investing activities in Canada. His experience embraces Manulife's investment in CIBC, indirect investment in a toll road, participation in the Maple consortium, acquisition of assets in oil and gas, and investment in private equity and infrastructure funds in Canada, the US and Asia. He is also part of the legal leadership team for Manulife Asset Management and oversees the company's global equity aggregation system and related filings.
As the first dedicated investment lawyer at Manulife, Ken has built a talented transaction team that has earned the respect of the company's various internal investment teams who had not previously worked with an active in-house transactional legal practice. This has led to a rapid increase in the volume and scope of the in-house legal function in the Investment Division.
Ken has integrated himself into the internal business decision making process. His strengths include a strong sense of urgency and effective prioritization that optimizes client service. He encourages full access by team members to the most senior decision makers and allows individuals to shine internally and externally. He uses external counsel effectively and does not strive for special recognition for himself.
Ken taught at the University of Western Ontario's Faculty of Law and sits on the boards of The Village Shul, a Toronto synagogue, and the Jewish Enrichment Center in Manhattan.
Curtis Serra
Suncor Energy Inc.
Calgary
Curtis is Director, Legal Affairs, Energy Supply, Trading & Development at Suncor. He was lead counsel for Suncor's strategic alliance with Total that involved three multi-billion dollar oilsands projects. Curtis structured and negotiated this agreement and managed multiple related agreements involving various geographies and numerous external stakeholders. He obtained Competition Bureau approval (the first formal competition approval under new merger guidelines), renegotiated existing contracts, and concluded novel and complex agreements to integrate the joint venture with existing infrastructure and services. These, and other transactions in which Curtis has been involved, have added significant value for Suncor's shareholders.
Curtis is a courageous, honest and straightforward leader who does not take himself too seriously. He is interested in the welfare of others and holds to high ethical standards. He has a strong sense of commercial exigency and an ability to balance risk and reward in complex circumstances. Among his strengths is a focus on results that add value to Suncor's business, an ability to anticipate and prepare for change, and an intuition that allows him to immediately align legal strategy with changing business objectives. He is generous with his time and works collaboratively to find solutions. He manages 15 individuals and is an excellent motivator and mentor.
Curtis is active in the community and the profession, and mentors law students as part of the Canadian Bar Association's Mentor Program.
Crawford Smith
Torys LLP
Toronto
Crawford, the Litigation Practice Group leader at Torys, has demonstrated an ability to master complex concepts in areas as diverse as accounting, actuarial standards, competition and energy policy. He is lead litigation counsel for First Capital Realty and one of the lead partners for CIBC in the $10 billion defense of a proposed securities class action. Crawford also represents CCS Corporation in its defence of the Competition Bureau's application to dissolve a recent acquisition.
As practice group leader, Crawford has played a significant role in capitalizing on opportunities for development. He has brought a number of clients to the firm, including Google Inc., Travelex and Altegrity/Kroll, delivering both litigation and corporate work. He is the client manager for 13 clients, including Shell Canada. His strengths go beyond the financial and structural dimension of business issues to understanding the reputational and operational impact of litigation. Crawford has demonstrated his adaptability by moving his own practice into the energy and infrastructure space. He actively seeks opportunities to push work down and colleagues have called him an ideal team member, undoubtedly influenced by his role as the goalie for Torys' hockey team.
Crawford has done pro bono work for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, is a volunteer in the Advocates' Society's pro bono LSUC Discipline Committee Duty Counsel Program and taught advocacy at Osgoode Hall Law School programs.
Jennifer Spencer
Miller Thomson LLP
Toronto
As a partner in Miller Thomson's litigation group, Jennifer's practice engages commercial disputes, land use and development, agriculture, Aboriginal and regulatory matters. She has been lead counsel on significant farm practices protection disputes in the agriculture sector; on disputes in the charitable and not-for-profit sectors; and co-counsel for the American manufacturer of police weapons at the provincial public inquiry into their use and safety. With an outstanding ability to master both details and the big picture, Jennifer is a skilled negotiator who is adept at using both litigation and dispute resolution to maximize clients' legal and business objectives.
Jennifer is involved in recruiting, training and mentoring and sits on firm committees locally and nationally. She was integral to advancing changes in the firm's pro bono initiative. Jennifer is an Executive Committee member and change leader in the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch. She stands out as a team player in all these endeavours and in her practice.
Jennifer has received Pro Bono Law of BC's Lawyer of the Year Award, was on the Access Pro Bono roster of the Civil Chambers Project, is a Director of the Parkinson Society British Columbia and volunteers in the YWCA High School Mentorship Program.
Lisa Junio Stiver
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP
Winnipeg
Lisa, a partner at Thompson Dorfman, combines a focus on government procurement law with a general transaction-based commercial practice that includes technology law as well as the purchase, financing, and development of commercial real property for private entities and public institutions. Her clients include the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority for whom she provided advice on the acquisition of a province-wide healthcare information system to improve access to patient information. The mandate included a negotiated RFP, evaluations conducted by a team of over 50 experts, advising the Proposal Evaluation Committee of over 300 healthcare professionals, and acting as lead external counsel in contract negotiations with three vendors. As well, Lisa assisted this client in defining the legal and business framework and scope for the outsourcing of key business and administrative components of a hospital system and the procurement of an electronic health record system.
Lisa markets the firm's practice area through conferences, publications and seminars. She is an effective cross-seller who recognizes the importance of mentoring junior lawyers through her membership on the Associates Committee. Lisa is an active recruiter and participates in the firm's strategic planning. She strives to build relationships between clients and other firm members.
Lisa teaches at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law and instructs at the Center for Professional Legal Education course for articling students. She is on the Finance and Administration Committee of the United Way and works with the Manitoba Chapter of TEC Trusted Advisors. As well, Lisa is Vice President of the Nor'West Co-op Community Health Centre Inc. and past President of Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers.
David Stolow
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Montréal
David's corporate commercial litigation practice includes appearances in the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, and all Québec civil courts. He has extensive international and domestic arbitration experience, including acting as an arbitrator of commercial disputes.
David is the go-to litigation lawyer for some of the firm's most important clients including the Caisse de dépot, ALDO and Corus, largely as a result of his record of success including three wins at the SCC, his superb advocacy skills, meticulous preparation and dedication to his clients. He has demonstrated excellent judgment, a client-centric approach involving a comprehensive understanding of business strategy, and a focus on the big picture. Clients regularly call on him as a strategic business advisor.
Just two years into his practice, David foresaw the impact of the 2003 amendments to Québec class action legislation. He became a leader in developing and marketing the firm's class action practice. David's excellent relationships with colleagues and opposing counsel have led to numerous internal and external referrals. He works closely with his Toronto partners on cross-border arbitrations and class actions, has shown great respect for collective effort and serves as a mentor to students and associates.
David's dedication to community is evidenced by serving as one of the youngest presidents of the Lord Reading Law Society; acting pro bono in the SCC in Bruker v. Marcovitz; serving as Chair of Concordia University's Academic Hearing Panels; acting as a Moot Court judge at McGill and coaching his son's hockey team.
Kristin Taylor
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto
As general counsel to CAMH, Kristin has represented her employer at a coroner's inquest and negotiated disputes between CAMH and its physicians. To ensure CAMH's responsiveness to new legislation, Kristin undertook an extensive review of CAMH bylaws, policies and practices and completed the culture shift through a CAMH-wide “roadshow” presentation. She is leading CAMH in its preparations for the onslaught of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act through education and development of policy and process. Kristin also plays an integral role in CAMH's Quality of Care work that ensures stakeholders are able to conduct critical incident reviews with proper support and protections. Kristin has conducted an extensive review of CAMH's legal needs and identified areas of over-reliance on external counsel and need for internal supports, decreasing the legal budget by half in her two years at CAMH.
Kristin is adept at balancing the interests of clinicians, CAMH values, and patients, with a talent for making legalese easy to understand in a unique and complex corporate structure that includes physicians who are independent contractors rather than employees. She is an excellent collaborator and efficient and productive team player. Recent executive departures at CAMH have increased her role and responsibilities.
A mother of two very young children, Kristin finds time to be a devoted health law educator, delivering an average of eight presentations annually to a variety of organizations, and playing a leadership role through her work with Osgoode Hall Law School, the Ontario Hospital Association and the Ontario Bar Association.
Brian Thiessen
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Calgary
Brian is the national Co-chair of Blakes' Labour and Employment Law Group; has developed the Group's Calgary practice into one of the firm's most successful practice groups; is a leading partner on the firm's US initiative; founder of the firm's Privacy Law Practice Group; and excels at client development.
Brian's transactional mandates include representing Suncor Energy Inc. regarding the labour and employment law aspects of Suncor's $1.75 billion oil sands joint venture with Total E&P Canada Ltd., which the media has recognized as “one of the most complex oil sands joint ventures in recent years”; Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited in its $1 billion balance sheet restructuring; and Nexen Inc. in the $1 billion sale of its natural gas and power marketing businesses.
The Calgary Labour and Employment Law Practice Group is known for having an extremely cohesive team environment, attracting many students and associates eager to nurture their practice. Brian actively seeks opportunities to allow students and associates to develop individual, front-line relationships with clients, has worked extensively with the firm's Associate and Student Committees, and is known as an excellent mentor.
Brian spent four years on the firm's Pro Bono Committee. He led a team in a successful homebuilding collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, serves on the board of the Ronald McDonald House Calgary and is the President of the Alberta Party.
Peter Tolensky
Lawson Lundell LLP
Vancouver
Peter leads Lawson Lundell's real estate practice and has led the way on some of the most significant developments in British Columbia. He is particularly expert on airspace subdivision, and is the founder and Co-chair of Air Space Taskforce. His clients include Canderel Group, Epta Properties, Salient Group, Townline, Oxford Properties and DTZ Barnike. He also numbers pension funds and utility providers among his clients. Peter's deal-making prowess and his ability to listen, assess and provide swift and solid advice distinguish him.
Peter invests conscientiously in client relationships and in the firm's marketing efforts. His mentorship strengths attract junior lawyers to his practice group. He is a leader in initiating change as evidenced by his cutting-edge work relating to airspace subdivision and his membership in the firm's Knowledge Management Group. He consistently volunteers his department to pilot a range of innovative workspace and business intelligence reports.
Peter is actively involved with Vancouver's Jewish community, serving a two-year term on the board of Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue, to whom he has contributed one-quarter of his legal work on an $18 million redevelopment project on a pro bono basis. He is on the Organizing Committee and fundraises for the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University exchange program, supports the Building for Kids campaigns at B.C. Children's Hospital and raises funds for the Jewish Family Services Agency.
Jennifer Traub
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Toronto
Jennifer is a mining partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP whose practice has more than quadrupled since 2008. Her practice experience includes 10 strategic acquisitions for Goldcorp over the last decade ranging in size from $100 million to $10 billion, and equity financings aggregating $1.7 billion since 2008 for Canaco Resources, Canada Lithium, Sandstorm Gold, Sandstorm Metals, Silver Wheaton, Stonegate Agricom and Thompson Creek. She also represents underwriters, including BMO Capital Markets, GMP Securities, Macquarie Capital Markets, Paradigm Capital and TD Securities, on corporate financings. Jen delegates thousands of hours of work annually to partners, associates and students.
Jen is a leader on initiatives focused on the support and advancement of women. She chairs the firm's Women's Practice Development Committee, is co-founder of the Cassels Brock Women in Mining Group, initiated a knowledge management team in the Securities Group to keep clients and colleagues apprised of securities law developments, and is a formal and informal mentor to many associates in that group.
As a key client relationship manager, technical lawyer, business originator, mentor and advocate of women lawyers, Jen demonstrates her ability to deal professionally, effectively and efficiently with people at all levels, inside and outside of the firm, every day. In managing large and complex files, she regularly oversees sizeable teams of lawyers from various practice areas, from students to senior partners, and coordinates their interaction with in-house counsel and other senior decision makers from client companies, investment banks and other parties.
Lianne Tysowski
Macleod Dixon LLP
Calgary
Lianne, a partner at Macleod Dixon, is a corporate finance, M&A and corporate reorganization lawyer. Her work has included acting for Forzani Group Ltd. on Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited's $770 million takeover bid, advising ArPetrol Inc. on its reverse takeover of RPT Resources Ltd., and advising the independent committee of ProEx Energy Ltd., on the $22 billion combination with Progress Energy Trust.
Clients commend Lianne for her attention to business realities, and she is adept at helping them identify opportunities resulting from changes in the business climate. Lianne does not shy away from novel transactions or issues, as evidenced when she launched the first hostile bid by advertisement on the first trading day that provincial regulations authorized such a bid.
Lianne is very active in business development, including acting as the relationship partner for WesternZagros Resources Ltd. and TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd. She has taught a marketing/rainmaking course to associates, and is an active recruiter of lateral hires and as a member of the Articling Committee.
Lianne has often had key responsibility for co-ordinating and managing various teams of lawyers within the firm and is the key relationship partner for ongoing issuer work for a number of clients, a task that invokes considerable co-ordination and management skills.
Lianne has fundraised and provided pro bono legal services in support of the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival Association. She has assisted with the firm's United Way Campaign, provided pro bono services to the organization, and received an Arbor Award for voluntary service to the University of Toronto Law School. A mother of two young children, she also volunteers for school activities and committees.
Brendan Van Niejenhuis
Stockwoods LLP
Toronto
Brendan, made a partner at Stockwoods well before the usual partnership track would have dictated, has amassed over 40 reported decisions and 10 appearances in the Court of Appeal in his eight years at the Bar. He is counsel in a broad variety of matters and many of his clients are public agencies, including the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Ontario Securities Commission, IIROC, the Ontario Racing Commission and the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. He successfully prosecuted a $100 million hedge fund fraud case for the OSC. Brendan's strengths include an ability to anticipate and respond to clients' needs.
Brendan has played a leadership role in the firm's recent web and legal media marketing initiative, is a frequent presenter at conferences, and is under contract to publish a regularly updated practice manual for tribunal hearings and judicial review proceedings. As well, he is a team player who seeks out advocacy opportunities for junior colleagues. He takes mentoring and giving feedback seriously and frequently refers work to others. He acknowledges the contributions of his junior colleagues to the Court and clients and takes personal responsibility for their errors.
Brendan acted pro bono for the journalist Stevie Cameron at the inquiry into the Schreiber-Mulroney affair. He also represents Parkdale residents in a rental reduction dispute and associated class actions, and is roster counsel in the Advocates' Society Court of Appeal Pro Bono program. Brendan teaches administrative law at Queen's University Faculty of Law and Osgoode Hall Law School.
Marc Wasserman
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Toronto
Marc, a partner in Osler's Insolvency & Restructuring Practice Group, is instrumental in the senior leadership of large multi-disciplinary teams on Canada's largest and most complex corporate restructuring mandates and is often the primary client contact person. He is regularly involved in restructuring proceedings in courts throughout Canada and the US. Some recent examples of Marc's mandates include representing Canwest in its CCAA proceedings; General Motors of Canada Limited in its successful out of court restructuring in Canada; and Angiotech Pharmaceuticals in its cross-border restructuring. Thinking outside the box is high among Marc's professional strengths. He can see preferred outcomes in the early stages of a case, which enables him to provide strategic and timely advice and structure a case to minimize business disruptions.
Marc has implemented a marketing initiative aimed at US-based hedge and private equity funds seeking distressed opportunities in Canada. He has developed relationships with the leaders at several key restructuring, accounting and law firms in the US and Canada and has attracted significant mandates for the firm. He played a lead role in developing and presenting seminars on recent changes to insolvency law, and has adapted his practice to meet the new realities presented by alternative financiers who have replaced traditional lenders in complex insolvency cases. He is a frequent author and speaker in his field.
Marc is a team player who challenges associates to take ownership of their assignments, and initiated monthly meetings for junior lawyers to discuss business development opportunities. He sits on Osler's Student Committee and is a regular mentor as well as a contributor to the firm's continuing legal education program. He is active in his community and has served as a soccer coach.
John Wilkin
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Toronto
John, a partner at Blakes, focuses on complex financing and M&A transactions for public companies, principally in the mining, telecommunications and financial services sectors. He also co-ordinates the mining practice and plays a key role in the European initiative. John's mandates include representing dealers on the establishment of CIBC's €8 billion covered bond program and Equinox on its A$1.2 billion acquisition of Citadel Resources Group Limited. He has successfully identified and pursued new client development opportunities in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. He is a leader in structuring transactions for and addressing the unique issues faced by issuers dual-listed in Canada and Australia.
John's expertise has been recognized by the OSC, who invited him to participate in consultations relating to revisions of National Instrument 43-101; the TSX, who invited him to present a joint seminar on TSX listings to the Prospectors and Developers Association; and various Canadian and UK law schools where John has taught.
John takes a strategic approach to practice, identifying trends and developing expertise that allow him to maximize opportunities. For example, by taking a leave to obtain his masters' degree at Oxford and then working in the firm's London office, he developed the legal and marketing skills that allowed him to build a securities practice with an international profile. His work requires him to manage teams composed of Blakes lawyers across multiple practice areas, foreign lawyers and agents, financial advisors, technical experts and accountants.
John is an important contributor to the firm's culture and cohesiveness, acting as a conduit to the Toronto office for out-of-town partners, a key member of the London office, and a mentor to those with whom he works.
Tom Zverina
Torys LLP
Toronto
Tom, a Torys partner, is the lead lawyer for debt transactions and a key member of the team that services Woodbridge and Thomson Reuters Corporation. His mandates include acting as counsel in respect of $20 billion in bridge facilities regarding the combination of Thomson with Reuters Group, which he completed in a four-week period; and representing CTVglobemedia Inc. in respect of CTVgm's $2 billion in debt facilities. He is very sensitive to the business need for flexibility in operating and financial covenants. Clients say that he can think outside the box, noting his proposal of a unique structure based on US deals to rework a client's credit arrangements.
Tom spends considerable time developing alternative fee arrangements that have led to many new opportunities. He has brought several clients to the firm, including Ryder System Inc., Stepan Company, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Aecon Group Inc. and Primus Telecommunications, Inc. He is adaptable, changing his focus from acquisition financing to restructuring and bankruptcy financing as the economy deteriorated. He has developed a network of financing lawyers who trade conflict referrals. Tom oversees Torys' corporate associates and works hard to ensure the proper development of younger lawyers. He tries to deflect praise for his work to the associates on his team.
As a former national track and field member, Tom is active in the athletic community. He raised funds to allow a young athlete to compete for the national team and ultimately at the 2008 Olympics. He also does pro bono work regarding sponsorship agreements and dispute resolution for amateur athletes, and sits on the Advisory Committee of the Toronto Lords, an organization that helps disadvantaged teenage girls play basketball.
— files from Julius Melnitzer
To say “diversity is growing” runs the risk of overstatement; it has a long way to go. And what does Lexpert mean by diversity in the Rising Stars awards? We mean that included in the roster of winners are lawyers from visible minority groups, lawyers with disabilities, and women. We also mean that included in that roster are winners committing themselves and their firms to diversity initiatives: Kate Broer of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, for instance, might be called a “pioneer” in law firm diversity leadership, even though she was a winner only a few years ago.
Having said that, every year we receive at least one letter to the editor commenting on a lack of diversity in our pages — Rising Stars is often mentioned. Is there more Lexpert should consider doing to ameliorate diversity in its observation of the profession and its awards? Is there more that firms should be doing?
Lexpert also sees another level of diversity on the increase in its awards: lawyers from a variety of practices. We remain largely focussed on law firms that face business clients and on corporate law departments. However, there are winners who are exceptions to this context, and the context itself has broadened: This year we have a winner from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. In 2007, John Fox from the Toronto Community Housing Corporation was a winner. Yes, it is a corporation, and certainly his nomination profile was set out in business terms; still, his winning brought breadth to the award.
Clearly, there is breadth and a depth in the Canadian in-house Bar. This year we received a record-breaking number of in-house nominations from a wide range of industry sectors and companies of different sizes. We understand that law firm nominators are showing their appreciation for their in-house colleagues and clients. That they do so in such detail is impressive. Law firms and their in-house clients must surely be working as business partners when the former can describe the latter's role with evident knowledge and understanding.
And whether in-house or law firm or government department, the Rising Stars finalists have increasingly distinctive profiles. It may be that nominators have gotten more creative at completing nomination forms; however, we believe there is more to it than that. For example, in the area of pro bono or volunteer activity, Rising Stars finalists are very particular: one supports the board of a centre that helps persons with eating disorders, while another supports a non-profit organization that helps young people in underprivileged villages in Québec, France and India.
This year, the distinctiveness within Rising Stars nomination profiles wasn't all about good news. One nominator told us, for example, about the in-house counsel who worked through the issues attendant upon significant layoffs; another in-house counsel has to work differently because of new competitive challenges in his industry. Meanwhile, a nominated litigator was commended by a client for how he worked through a mixed win and loss on a case.
Repeatedly, we saw terms such as “unique insight” and “distinctive value.” As the profession evolves and our Rising Stars awards prove continually much-coveted, we're excited to see what next year's nominations bring. Will in-house counsel start nominating law firm lawyers?
Daniel Batista
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Toronto
Dan is a “go-to” partner at the firm for complex and high profile M&A transactions. Clients rely on him to develop acquisition strategies; structure transactions; advise acquirors, targets and their boards of directors and independent committees regarding acquisition and defensive tactics; and negotiate and draft principal documentation. His mandates include advising DundeeWealth Inc. in connection with its 2011 acquisition by the Bank of Nova Scotia and the related spin-off of Dundee Capital Markets in a $3.2 billion (enterprise value) transaction; acting for the original issuer trustees in the $32 billion ABCP restructuring; acting for Dofasco Inc. on its $5.6 billion sale to Arcelor SA of Luxembourg in 2006; acting for O&Y Properties Corporation in connection with its $2 billion sale to a consortium led by Brookfield Properties; and acting for Rogers Wireless Inc. on its $1.5 billion takeover bid for Microcell Telecommunications Inc.
Dan is a leader within the firm's Securities and M&A Group, responsible for identifying changes in the legal services landscape and developing relevant strategic responses, including technological innovation and associate training. His leadership and teamwork skills are evidenced by his role in coordinating the work of 25 lawyers on the DundeeWealth transaction so efficiently that it closed in just two months. Dan is highly regarded by his colleagues, both because of his willingness to share interesting and meaningful work and because of the appreciation he shows for their efforts.
Dan has taught corporate finance and M&A pro bono at the University of Windsor Law School since 2007.
Chris Bennett
McMillan LLP
Toronto
Chris has led more than a dozen high-profile public-private partnership transactions in the past three years, acting for lenders, sponsors, developers and contractors. The projects include the $1.1 billion St. Joseph's Healthcare project in London; the $634 million Mental Health Centre in Penetaguishene; and the Northwest Anthony Henday Drive project, named the 2008 P3 Deal of the Year (Americas) by Project Finance International. Chris' well-rounded practice gives him an overview of commercial issues that he engages to overcome barriers to successful projects. His strengths include the ability to focus clients on risk allocation issues and help them develop a variety of creative mitigants.
Chris has played a leading role in the Projects Group by expanding it from a lender-focused practice to a broad-based team acting for varied market players. He generates significant work for other lawyers through his dedication to cross-selling, has helped develop innovative fee arrangements and is adept at identifying new market trends. As government policies evolve, Chris works with other proactive groups to explore opportunities to use his expertise on non-P3 projects. He is an excellent team player, having positioned partners as deal team leaders on various projects, thereby sharing the most interesting work and providing opportunities for others to build relationships. He ensures that associates' efforts are acknowledged by the firm and by clients.
Chris co-developed a P3 course at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and teaches it on a pro bono base. He also co-teaches an LL.M. course and co-chaired Osgoode Hall Law School's Intensive Short Court in Commercial Loan Finance and Security.
Robert Carelli
Stikeman Elliott LLP
Montréal
Robert is a securities, corporate finance and M&A partner whose mandates include the Yellow Pages Income Fund, Air Canada and Dollarama Inc. initial public offerings. He recently led the transaction team on the $1.1 billion high-yield note Canada/US note offering from Air Canada. Public and private investment funds are among his clients.
Robert has contributed significantly to the strengthening and expansion of business with several of the firm's largest clients including Yellow Media, Air Canada, ACE Aviation, Dollarama and Bain. He has also developed his own client base, principally in his investment fund practice. He serves on the Students and Knowledge Management Committees and initiated the firm's Poker Night for investment bankers. He presents seminars internally and to clients, and takes ownership of new developments and future business opportunities. Robert receives frequent referral conflict mandates from other firms.
Robert has led teams of up to 15 individuals including associates, paralegals, translators and students. He has been repeatedly chosen as a mentor and is viewed as a teaching lawyer. From the start of a new matter, he seeks to create a team approach in which all team members feel supported.
Robert has provided pro bono corporate advice to the Office of Technology Transfer of a Montréal university.
Casey Chisick
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Toronto
Casey is a copyright and entertainment partner at Cassels Brock. His clients include Rogers Communications, EMI Music Publishing, Postmedia, the Globe and Mail, Toronto Sun Media, Corus, CMRRA and SODRAC. His work has led to a complete overhaul of the music licensing system in Canada, an industry that generates more than $100 million annually, and he has been at the forefront of litigation dealing with the distribution of digital content.
Casey delegates to more than 50 partners, associates and students across the firm each year, managing multidisciplinary service teams and leading groups of lawyers on complex litigation and regulatory files. The relationships he has developed with US firms have led to thousands of billable hours of referred trademark work, an area in which he himself is not heavily involved.
Casey founded the firm's Fashion Industry Practice Group, the first of its kind in Canada, and is Chair of the Student Committee and Professional Development Committee. He is a passionate advocate for the advancement of female lawyers, spearheaded a major study of associate career development and is a devoted mentor. He has also been heavily involved in the development of technological and practice support capabilities for the firm, including its document management system.
A former law professor at the University of Manitoba, Casey has taught at Osgoode Hall Law School for 10 years. He is a board member of Soulpepper Theatre and counsel to the Toronto Centre for the Arts and Mount Sinai Hospital Auxiliary.
Ryan Dalziel
Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP
Vancouver
in his seven years at the Bar, Ryan, a partner at Bull Housser, has argued seven cases — three of them pro bono — in the Supreme Court of Canada. His clients in these cases included Rio Tinto Alcan, the British Columbia Government, Adbusters Media Foundation, and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. In his arguments at the SCC, he has dealt with a wide range of subjects including Aboriginal rights, freedom of expression, search and seizure, human rights procedures and tobacco industry litigation. His creativity with legal issues, cost consciousness and efficiency has been a major factor in his success, and his advisory role at the firm arises in a variety of contexts and practice areas.
Ryan is a leader in the legal community and within the firm. He is among a group of about 10 counsel who periodically provide feedback to the Court of Appeal Rules Committee about procedural matters. He was instrumental in creating a unified Litigation and Dispute Resolution team at the firm.
Ryan's successes are a reflection of his ability to work with and draw on the strengths of others, including with extensive internal teams at various levels of government, national and multinational corporations, First Nations and financial institutions. Other Vancouver firms have recognized Ryan's collaborative skills by asking him to participate in joint litigation teams. Young lawyers are drawn to him because he remains engaging and fun while practising at a high level and taking his role as a mentor very seriously.
Aaron Arun Dhir
Osgoode Hall Law School of York University
Toronto
An associate professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, Aaron obtained tenure at age thirty-five. His teaching and research interests include corporate law, governance and corporate social responsibility. His success is attributable to his ability to identify and engage connections between seemingly distinct fields. In the past, corporate law and social justice have been seen as separate areas, with little relation to one another. A prevailing theme in Aaron's scholarship is a rejection of this dichotomy. He has published widely and his work is referenced in judicial decisions, facta, legislative reform submissions, and commission and civil society organization reports. He has been an invited expert in the most significant policy reform initiatives in his area of expertise, and co-convened a multi-stakeholder United Nations consultation that produced a report informing the final report presented to the U.N. Human Rights Council on issues relating to business and human rights. In 2009, Corporate Knights magazine recognized this work as among “some of the most exciting work” currently being conducted at Canadian law schools in “advancing the frontiers of justice.”
Aaron has received three teaching awards and was nominated for a fourth. He fosters a stimulating intellectual environment and an inclusive classroom culture, incorporates student teams into his research and has worked with 14 different research assistants. Aaron employs diverse pedagogies such as buzz groups, brainstorming and simulations to accommodate different learning styles and multiple intelligences. His courses in Transnational Corporations and Human Rights, and Race and Gender in Corporate Law and Governance were the first offered in these areas at Canadian law schools.
Huy Do
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Toronto
Huy is a competition and foreign investment law specialist at Fasken Martineau. His mandates includes Rogers' acquisition of Microcell; Arcelor's acquisition of Dofasco; RBS's acquisition of ABN Amro, the largest financial services merger in history; the sale of CHUM to Bell Globemedia; and the sale of Addax Petroleum by Sinopec. Huy has also advised numerous clients on cartel investigations by the Canadian Competition Bureau and their foreign counterparts in the US, Europe and Asia. He is currently engaged in precedent-setting litigation against the Competition Bureau in relation to its use of s. 11 orders. And at the invitation of the Canadian Competition Bureau, Huy served as a non-governmental advisor to the International Competition Network.
Huy, who sits on the firm's Ontario Region Business Development Committee, is the client manager for Credit Suisse and was instrumental in having Fasken Martineau appointed as one of only three Canadian firms on Credit Suisse's preferred counsel list. He is also a member of the firm's Asia Pacific Practice Group. Huy's strengths include analysis that cuts through nuance to make complicated matters clear and understandable to clients, and teamwork skills that are evident in his organization of Fasken Martineau's lawyers on Credit Suisse retainers, many of which are not in his area of expertise.
Huy sits on the board of Daytrippers, which funds educational and cultural trips for low-income individuals in remote areas. He also participated in Pathways to Education and, despite being forced to flee to Canada from Vietnam, he has sought to assist his home country by providing advice to the country's government on its application to join the World Trade Organization.
Jonathan Feldman
Goodmans LLP
Toronto
Jonathan is a corporate and securities partner at Goodmans who emphasizes M&A in his practice. With international experience working in New York, Paris and Mexico City, he is well-versed in cross-border matters. He played a lead role representing RX Exploration's special committee in its most recent proxy contest; MLSE in its concert promotion joint venture with Live Nation Canada, Inc.; and Starz Media Group, Inc. in its sale of Starz Media Canada Co.
Jon oversees the firm's business development initiatives, demonstrating both creativity and innovation. He organized a joint program with the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association on practice management for over 90 in-house counsel; the event was so successful that the attendees have requested it become an annual event. Jon is the author of numerous articles.
The breadth of Jon's knowledge has allowed him to adjust his practice to reflect market trends, most recently adapting to the increase in shareholder activism in Canada so that he now has significant experience representing clients in these matters. He is cool under pressure with a contagious work ethic. He is the mentor for his practice group and responsible for overseeing the evaluations of all articling students. Jon also sits on the firm's CLE Committee.
Jon is founder of the Barrie to Baycrest 100 km bike ride, which has raised over $8.6 million over the last 15 years for the Baycrest Foundation. He teaches at the University of Toronto Law School and is a member of the University's Alumni Committee.
Richard Samuel Fridman
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Toronto
Richard's M&A and securities practice at Davies has engaged him in complex transactions including Fronteer Gold Inc.'s $2.3 billion acquisition by Newmont Mining Corp.; the $260 million sale of Aurora Energy's uranium assets to Paladin Energy Ltd.; and MAG Silver Corp.'s successful defense of a $350 million hostile takeover bid by Fresnillo plc.
Richard's background as a management consultant at McKinsey & Co. gives him a keen understanding of business, which he successfully leverages in his legal practice. Clients have praised his ability to manage complex transactions and coordinate large teams to achieve clearly defined objectives.
Richard was co-author of the firm's shareholder voting project and plays a key role in firm thought-leadership initiatives. He is a regular presenter at internal meetings on developing legal issues.
Richard sits on the Student Committee, acts as a mentor, and presents regularly to students on legal practice matters. He has led the Law Society of Upper's Canada's session on client communications for the past two years.
Richard organized and will be co-leading a team of 20 Davies lawyers in connection with a planting and stewardship event taking place at the Toronto Brickworks. This initiative in support of Evergreen (a charity focused on creating and sustaining green spaces in urban centers) will involve the planting of trees, shrubs and wildflowers and removing invasive species of plants.
Kathryn Fuller
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Toronto
Kathryn is a securities and business lawyer at BLG who focuses on the investment management industry, bringing complex investment products and services to the market. With a background in business, she has developed a deep understanding of that industry. Kathryn has been involved in more than 50 prospectus filings for mutual funds, more than 50 investor meetings involving mergers and other changes to funds, and has advocated for many clients to obtain exemptions from securities legislation. In one case, she set a precedent by convincing the OSC to allow a discretionary investment management firm to invest the assets of its “non-accredited investor” clients in non-prospectus qualified mutual funds. Her clients include the Bank of Montreal, the National Bank, IA Clarington and Gluskin Sheff + Associates.
Kathryn is a successful business developer, having secured Gluskin Sheff and a large insurance company as firm clients. She also helps build the firm's Montréal office. She is active in the Investment Funds Institute of Canada's fund governance, point of sale, and conference planning committees, and speaks and writes regularly on her area of expertise.
Kathryn mentors students, associates and law clerks, reviews client publications and leads associate training sessions. Her wealth of knowledge and experience also make her a valuable resource to her seniors. Kathryn participates in BLG's Read to Kids program, working with elementary students to foster a love of learning.
Sony Gill
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Calgary
Sony is a partner in McCarthy Tétrault's Business Law Group, focusing on Corporate Finance and M&A. He advises companies and investment dealers on a broad range of matters. His transactions include three acquisitions by Crescent Point Energy Corp. totalling more than $2.2 billion; a $244 million corporate acquisition of Spartan Exploration Ltd. and the creation of a new public oil and gas company; PetroNova Inc.'s $65.4 million IPO; Greenfields Petroleum Corporation's $41.4 million IPO. Clients call him a gifted multi-tasker with a penchant for getting results.
Sony regularly organizes client functions to explore potential business opportunities and partnerships. He also actively cross-sells clients and promotes the interests of clients to other service providers, including investment banks, generating substantial work for other lawyers. As well, he seeks out business in international jurisdictions including an initiative in Colombia with a team of lawyers who provided Colombian oil and gas, mining and power players with an overview of opportunities to access capital in Canada.
Sony is Co-chair of the firm's Recruitment and Student Committees and has been instrumental to the growth of the Calgary office. He also engages in significant formal and informal mentoring, winning the Associate Mentor of the Year award in 2009. In 2010, Sony was one of the top three Calgary fundraisers for the Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk for Hope.
April D. Grosse
Bennett Jones LLP
Calgary
April is a commercial litigation and arbitration partner at Bennett Jones who practises at the trial and appeal levels with mandates in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Clients and colleagues have sought her assistance on significant cases in a variety of areas from the outset, including a $110 million intellectual property claim just four years into her career. Her excellent relationships with opposing counsel have led to referrals from competing firms.
April is creative, entrepreneurial, practical and cost-sensitive with an instinctive understanding of the business side of practising law. She developed her own paperless practice and knowledge of e-discovery issues before the firm had acquired the relevant software.
April's marketing efforts include presenting at external seminars and promoting events targeted at women in business. She is a key recruiter for the firm, has served as an articling principal four times, spends numerous hours as a formal and informal mentor, edits the firm's energy law publication and conducts internal seminars on a variety of topics.
April prefers to work in teams and regularly involves juniors, peers and more senior lawyers in files and business development, inviting at least one associate to each marketing event she attends and freely referring files to lawyers whose experience is better suited to the work.
April is active in Pro Bono Law Alberta and other pro bono endeavours, teaches at the Alberta Bar Admission Course, and plays hockey with the Zonta Club in the South Alberta Women's Hockey Association.
David Grout
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP
Calgary
David's corporate commercial experience at BD&P has included acting as lead commercial counsel to a major utility infrastructure company regarding the implementation of a procurement process to complete upwards of $2 billion in construction work, and a host of long-term alliance and relationship agreements with terms extending to 15 years. David's clients include an international aircraft leasing company, CWC Well Services Corp., TransAlta Corporation, DC Energy Services and WestJet Airlines. His background in-house has given him a keen sense for aligning clients' business issues with complex legal advice. His facility for working with others has hastened his success.
David, recognized as a leader at BD&P, is a team builder adept at initiating and coordinating events that strengthen team bonds. As well, he is integral to the firm's student recruitment efforts, has taken a major role in the development of junior lawyers, and wrote a new marketing plan for his business unit at the firm. His tendency is to give credit where it is due without ever seeking personal recognition.
David's pro bono activities include being a director of the Missing Children's Society of Canada, and providing pro bono services to various Calgary organizations including the Bow River Bruins Hockey Association, EnCorps Dance Society, and the Airdrie and District Human Society. He is a Steering and Advisory Committee member of the Calgary branch of the University of Alberta Alumni Association and an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association Business Subsection — Southern Alberta.
Andrea Hatzinikolas
Petrominerales Ltd; PetroBakken Energy Ltd. and Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd.
Calgary
Andrea is general counsel and corporate secretary at Petrominerales. She has had the lead in-house role in a wide range of complicated matters involving M&A, property acquisitions and dispositions, intellectual property, litigation management, public disclosure and investor relations, as well as regulatory and employment matters, and securities, corporate and technology related transactions. She simultaneously works on multiple financings, litigation matters and annual disclosure requirements even while heavily involved in transactions.
Andrea has been an integral part of the three companies' growth from capitalization of $1.6 billion to about $7 billion through her leadership in driving deals forward. She navigates complex legal issues to arrive at practical solutions to meet her companies' needs. She has helped retain key personnel from targets and helped integrate the culture of merged organizations. Her responsiveness is evidence by her ability to quickly learn legal areas outside of her core M&A and securities law competence. She is extraordinarily pleasant in her relations, with a positive and upbeat attitude even in times of stress, and is careful to recognize others' contribution, including those behind the scenes such as administrative staff and paralegals.
Andrea helped organize and sits on the board of the Foundation for Canadian Investment for Latin American Opportunities, a charity that provides education to help reduce levels of poverty in South America.
Weiguo (William) He
Davis LLP
Vancouver
Qualified in New York and Massachusetts as well as British Columbia, William focuses on M&A and securities at Davis and leads the firm's China practice. His admission to the partnership after only three and a half years of practice are a testament to his exceptional skills and client portfolio which includes one of China's largest banks, a major Chinese airline, other leading state-owned enterprises and NYSE-listed companies.
As a first year associate, William brought in one of China's largest banks as a client and advised on the financing mandate. Under tight deadlines, multi-party communications, cross-border legal issues involving Canada, China and Hong Kong, and the requirements for work to be completed in English and Mandarin, William successfully navigated through the minefields and proved his ability beyond his years. As a second year associate, William managed a proposed $300 million investment from a Chinese client that involved due diligence, private placement by tranches, change of control with an option to acquire more shares, an oppression remedy, lock-up agreements, and take-over bid to several hundred shareholders spread in multiple international jurisdictions. He coordinated the work among Davis lawyers from 10 different practice groups and a US co-counsel.
William plays an active role in Vancouver's Chinese community. He has volunteered as a Careers Day panelist for SUCCESS, presented at Young Entrepreneurs' Association seminars and participated in Children's Hospital charity events.
Sean Hern
Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP
Vancouver/Victoria
Sean is a litigation partner at Farris who has argued in all British Columbia courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. His high-profile cases include litigation over the $2 billion Canada line, extradition matters, special prosecutions, and constitutional challenges. His strengths include the translation of complex business needs into practical legal solutions, and a familiarity and ease with mobile technology that makes him readily available to clients at all times.
Sean, who sits on Farris' Strategy Committee, conceived of and leads the Victoria office, the firm's first geographic expansion and entrusted to Sean in only his fourth year of practice. There he has built an education and technology practice while maintaining an excellent reputation in the Vancouver market. The complexity of his cases mandates frequent consultation with large teams, necessitating sophisticated communication skills with various tiers of lawyers and personalities. He is a valuable resource to other lawyers at the firm and a diligent mentor to students. Despite long hours, he maintains an uncompromising commitment to his family, setting an excellent example for his peers.
Sean's community contributions include pro bono work for needy individuals and the B.C. Freedom of Information and Privacy Association. He also sits on the board of the Newbold Theatre, dedicated to works that reflect Canada's diversity in the broadest sense.
Georald S. Ingborg
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Vancouver
Georald is a partner and leader in Fasken Martineau's Securities & M&A Practice. His practice spans multiple industry sectors including mining, alternative energy and technology. Georald's recent mandates include the $265 million initial public offering in Canada and concurrent $450 million acquisition of mineral properties for Pretium Resources, and the $331 million acquisition of Athabasca Potash by BHP Billiton. He provides 24-hour service for Australian, European and Chinese clients. His strengths are plain language, a keen understanding of his clients' businesses, superb planning skills, and an international perspective.
Internally, Georald oversees the firm's 25 paralegals in Vancouver and the regional Corporate Services Department, acting as registrar and records officer for more than 4,000 entities. In these roles, he is pivotal in updating corporate precedents and internal technology. He is a member of the firm's Student Committee in Vancouver, a formal and informal mentor for students and associates, and speaks regularly on securities law at internal and external conferences and seminars.
Georald's community service includes regular volunteering with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, representing the legal sector on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Ride for Diabetes Research's fundraising efforts, and sitting on the board of the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of Greater Vancouver.
Manju Jessa
RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)
Toronto
Manju is senior counsel for RBC, leading the international private client and credit legal teams globally. The transactions in which she participates involve up to $100,000,000 and cross numerous borders. The high net worth and ultra-high net worth bank clients for whom she structures transactions require innovative and bespoke solutions within tight time constraints. Strategies suggested by Manju have on a number of occasions allowed certain transactions to occur that would have otherwise have been declined.
Manju is also involved in product development for this market. She sits on a number of internal committees and actively supports pro bono initiatives. As well, Manju takes a personal interest in summer students and interns.
Manju has been innovative in restructuring the manner in which legal services are provided by the RBC Law Group to various international business units and credit centres resulting in a substantial enhancement in efficiency; a reduction in turnaround time; an increase in the breadth of advice provided; improvement in the overall satisfaction regarding the advice provided; and a material decrease in external legal spending.
Manju has had the foresight to encourage team members to develop new areas of expertise and to spread responsibility among them. She has arranged secondments to other parts of the Law Group by way of exposing lawyers to products and services that are or might be of interest to the clients of Global Wealth Management.
Richard Kirby
Felesky Flynn LLP
Edmonton
Richard, the managing partner of Felesky Flynn's Edmonton office, has been vital to the office's success since joining the firm as an articling student. He focuses his tax practice on Northern Alberta. His mandates include numerous cross-border transactions, particularly for private corporations. Richard recently quarterbacked a deal team that included two national law firms, a large accounting firm, the vendor's sole shareholder, and its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, all involved in a $307 million divestiture. Richard also services client across Western Canada, Ontario and British Columbia in sectors such as oilfield services, real estate development, electricity delivery and construction. Richard speaks the language of both business and tax fluently and is actively involved in identifying opportunities for clients. His strengths include the flexibility to make fundamental changes to transactions or operating structures when commercial reality changes.
Richard has been instrumental in the firm's recruitment successes. He is a strong team player, delegating freely by way of encouraging creativity, technical proficiency and idea-sharing. He was on the Planning Committee for the CTF Prairie Provinces Tax Conference and the Edmonton Tax Lawyers and Accountants Discussion Group, and is past Chair of the Northern Alberta Tax Section of the Canadian Bar Association. He writes and speaks regularly on tax matters.
Richard is a former Director of the Support Network and the Alberta Show Jumping Association. He is a major donor to the Stollery Children's Hospital and was the largest fundraiser for the Climb for the Cure, reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro in the process.
Philip Jason Kroft
Stikeman Elliott LLP
Toronto
Jason, a partner at Stikeman Elliott, practises in the areas of banking law, corporate finance and financial regulatory reform. He is called upon regularly by Canadian and foreign banks, pension funds, governmental entities, and global financial institutions to share his expertise on the developing regulatory landscape for financial products transactions. He provides special counsel to many of the world's top financial institutions and played a leading role in the $32 billion Asset-Backed Commercial Paper restructuring. He has developed a leading Ontario practice in the development, structuring and financing of roof-top solar facilities and leads the firm's national emissions trading and climate change practice. Opposing counsel regularly engage him on new mandates.
Jason has used his profile to introduce Stikeman Elliott lawyers and students to clients and contacts at the world's leading financial institutions. He regularly shares his insights and connections with others and partners with younger lawyers in developing connections. He is a member of the firm's Education Committee.
Jason has taken a leading role in creating a mine debt finance practice based in large part on a proprietary technology and document architecture that he created for a large European bank. This project involved incorporating expertise from corporate/commercial, derivatives, banking, mining and tax colleagues; interacting with counsel in emerging economies such as Panama, Mexico, Peru, Malaysia, among others; and translating the technology in a way that works within different legal and regulatory systems and economic realities. Jason is the team captain of this initiative, which includes, at times, 15 or more Stikeman Elliott lawyers on numerous files working concurrently with numerous counsel in foreign locations.
Jason teaches at Osgoode Hall Law School and leads the firm's pro bono business law clinic there. He is the Chair of the Kidney Foundation's National Capital Campaign and was formerly Co-chair of University Health Network's Capital Campaign in transplantation.
Trevor Lawson
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Toronto
Trevor's broad practice as a McCarthy Tétrault partner encompasses employment litigation, labour relations, corporate transactions, executive compensation and privacy. He has appeared at all levels of Ontario civil courts, the Labour Relations Board, Human Rights Tribunals, boards of arbitration and coroner's inquests. He was lead employment counsel on the $2.1 billion acquisition of Husky International Ltd. by OMERS Private Equity and Berkshire Partners, and CIBC's $2.1 billion acquisition of Citibank Canada's Canadian Mastercard portfolio. His clients also include the Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited, Rio Tinto Alcan, Pepsi Beverages Canada, St. Michael's Hospital, Goldman Sachs, the TD Bank and the Bank of Nova Scotia. Trevor delivers solutions to complex problems in a cost-efficient manner, and the broad scope of his practice allows him to shift focus quickly when economic conditions change.
Trevor continually identifies business opportunities, and is responsible for expanding relationships with Advanced Micro Devices and Pepsi. He is a regular go-to person when the firm assembles RFP teams.
As Chair of the Associates Committee, he helped create programs to assist associates in acquiring business development skills. He prepared a Legal Update to help businesses prepare for the Toronto G20, a publication that received extensive media coverage.
Trevor contributes articles to the ABA's International Employment magazine, and worked with an ABA Committee on submissions to the U.S. State Department regarding the conflict between Canadian human rights law and proposed amendments to American arms trafficking legislation. He is featured frequently by media and does pro bono work for Sheena's Place in support of people with eating disorders.
Neal L.D. Leard
Stewart McKelvey
Saint John
Neal, a partner at Stewart McKelvey, has a diverse, transaction-based practice focused on industrial/infrastructure projects and commercial real estate. He also advises in corporate and financing matters, and his adaptability has ensured him a full file load at all times. His experience includes representing the Province of New Brunswick on various infrastructure projects such as the Trans-Canada Highway Project; acting for a Canadian REIT on its acquisition of 61 properties in Atlantic Canada, Ontario, and Québec; and counselling the operator of Canada's first liquefied natural gas terminal. Neal's strengths include breaking down complex issues into simple terms and combining that with a high degree of responsiveness to clients. Just how highly clients value Neal's judgment is evidenced by his being asked to participate with them in the hiring process for positions within their organizations.
Neal sits on the Recruiting Committee and the Associates Evaluation and Compensation Committee. He often organizes business development activities and is a frequent contributor to firm publications and seminars. He is a team player who takes the time to offer feedback to associates and students.
Neal is Co-chair of the City of Saint John Taxation Review Committee, and was pro bono counsel to a joint committee established to amalgamate two churches and to Habitat for Humanity Saint John. He served as a director of the Saint John Community Loan Fund and the Saint John Human Development Council.
Lucas Lung
Lerners LLP
Toronto
Lucas is a litigator at Lerners. As a student, he became involved in public interest cases at home and abroad, preparing a UNHCR report that revealed flaws in the organization's refugee status process. He also helped prepare the factum for Supreme Court intervention by the University of Toronto's Human Rights Clinic, Human Rights Watch, and the Canadian Jewish Congress in Mugesera v. Canada. In practice, he has remained involved in complex public interest cases, particularly those involving hate propaganda, and led the dialogue that these cases have inspired in the media. On the commercial side, he managed the collection, development and analysis of a database involving millions of documents as part of a Lerners team that defended IMAX in a complicated securities class action. His experience has taken him before all levels of Ontario Court and the Supreme Court of Canada.
Lucas has developed his advocacy skills and distinguished himself by engaging the public and pro bono law. He has taken a leadership and mentorship role with other young lawyers, teaching them to apply his exacting standards of service and care to their cases and clients. He demonstrates an ability to identify the core needs of those for whom he is working.
The Advocates' Society has awarded its Arleen Goss Young Advocates' Award to Lucas. The not-for-profit organizations that he has worked with, including St. Jude Community Homes Toronto and the Community Legal Clinic for Simcoe, Haliburton and Kawartha Lakes, have recognized his abilities by asking him to assume leadership roles for them.
Robert Mason
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP
Toronto
Robert, a partner at Gowlings and Vice Chair of the firm's Mining Group, serves international mining companies and investment banks in his corporate finance and M&A practice. His clients include BMO Capital Markets, CIBC World Markets and Jennings Capital Inc. His mandates include acting on First Uranium's $230 million initial public offering and Royal Gold Corp.'s $700 million purchase of International Royal Corporation. He has taken an active role in expanding the firm's international mining corporate finance and M&A presence, including drafting a national strategy to make Gowlings a leading firm for underwriting work.
Robert has flourished by anticipating and embracing new business and practice areas, transitioning into mining law after working as a technology securities lawyer until the dot.com era ended. As well, he has transitioned from a domestic mining practice to an international practice that includes South Africa, Chile, China, Australia and Russia. Robert's strengths include understanding that he is a transaction strategist as well as a securities advisor. Many clients call him on a weekly, or even daily basis, to discuss both the legal and business aspects of potential transactions.
Robert is a consummate team player who is adamant that any strategy he is working on is not an individual one, but a Gowlings endeavour. He has mentored dozens of students and lawyers, giving them unparalleled levels of client contact, including involving associates in business meetings and client development events.
Inspired by his father's close ties with Newfoundland's artistic community, Robert has used his client development initiatives to benefit the theatre, most notably Soulpepper Theatre Company, which Gowlings sponsors.
Josh Joseph Bedard McElman
Cox & Palmer
Saint John/Fredericton
A bankruptcy and insolvency lawyer at Cox & Palmer, Josh has been lead or co-lead counsel on all of the largest insolvencies in Atlantic Canada since 2007, including the $250 million CCAA application for Atcon Construction Group, a consortium of 22 corporations operating internationally in the construction, energy, manufacturing and environmental industries. He also acts for lenders on large syndicated loans, most recently as co-lead Atlantic Canada counsel for the $300 million financing of Cooke Aquaculture.
Internally, Josh identified and implemented changes to the firm's recruitment process, making it more responsive to Cox & Palmer's changing needs. He developed an orientation, training and mentorship program for students and is an active participants in associate retreats.
Josh is reluctant to take credit for his hard work on any file and would prefer to discuss the team he works with. He pushes associates to take the lead on matters and deal directly with the clients. He often takes associates to client development events as he fully believes they are an integral part of the firm's success and his own. Josh also understands that each member of a team has differing personal demands and tries to craft each player's role so that he or she encounters little or no conflict with life outside of the office.
Josh is the former Chair of the CBA's New Brunswick Young Lawyers and the Law Day Committee. His community activities include directorships at the Friends of Hestia House & Second Stage Housing, and the Symphony New Brunswick Foundation Inc. He also provides ongoing pro bono legal counsel to various non-profits in all aspects of their operations.
Shevaun McGrath
Goodmans LLP
Toronto
Shevaun is an M&A and corporate finance partner at Goodmans. Her significant mandates include advising Sirius Canada Inc. in its $520 million merger with Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.; Amdocs Limited in its $211 million acquisition of Bridgewater Systems Corporation; Colony Capital LLC in its US$4.5 billion acquisition along with Kingdom Hotels International of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Inc.; and OMERS Private Equity in its US$7.75 billion acquisition with Apax Partners of Thomson Learning Higher Education Assets. She also led the asset securitization team advising the Investors Committee in the ABCP matter.
Shevaun has a demonstrated track record of attracting business to the firm and is passionately engaged in expanding her practice. She combines excellent legal ability with the talent to distill complex legal and business issues in a way that makes sense to her clients. She has a natural ability to bring teams together, and a tremendous capacity to support young lawyers and students. She is a member of the Student and CLE Committees. Her positive approach to re-entering practice on returning from two maternity leaves has drawn other firm members to seek her guidance in managing their transitions.
In the community, Shevaun has volunteered as an infant loss facilitator with the Bereaved Families of Ontario since 2003 and is a member of the organization's board. She runs the marriage course for newlyweds at her parish and organizes fundraisers at her children's school.
Zahra Nurmohamed
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP
Toronto
Zahra is a tax partner at FMC. Her significant mandates include acting as tax counsel to Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Limited for its $4.9 billion acquisition by Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.; Canadian counsel to Andean Resources Limited for its $3.6 billion acquisition by Goldcorp Inc.; Canadian counsel to Stillwater Mining Company in connection with its US$118 million acquisition of Marathon PGM Corporation; and counsel to the management shareholders of Pareto Corporation for its $125 million acquisition by private equity firm The Riverside Company.
Zahra's commitment to client service is evidenced by her ability to anticipate the on-going needs of clients after a deal closes or a financing has been completed. A significant part of her practice is based on internal referrals from FMC lawyers across the country. She is involved in recruiting, mentoring and planning client events. She is the youngest member of the Senior Resource Tax Practitioners' Institute, an invitation-only program. Her strengths include a common sense approach to transactions and a commitment to staying on top of a practice in which change is the only constant. With the full support of the firm, Zahra has become a role model for alternative work arrangements by reducing her practice some 20 per cent by way of garnering the flexibility to spend time with her five-year-old twin boys.
Zahra is actively involved in the Ismaili Muslim Community as the Vice Chair for Legal Matters for the Ismaili Council. She writes and presents regularly, and also has editorial responsibilities with three tax publications. Zahra has taught at the University of Windsor Law School and the Bar Admission Course.
Darren David O'Keefe
Benson Myles PLC Inc.
St. John's
Darren is an M&A, corporate finance and construction lawyer with Benson Myles, who is also licensed in New York, and focuses on complex domestic and international transactions, including a $650 million US-based high yield bond transaction and a $110 million credit agreement. His clients include foreign telecommunications companies, a Canadian chartered bank (to whom he is provincial co-counsel) and many local businesses, particularly in the construction industry. Known for his business pragmatism, Darren regularly offers practical advice on issues beyond traditional legal practice.
Darren is a member of the firm's Marketing and Articling Committees, leads the firm's technology initiatives, was responsible for the firm's new website, and directs the firm's advertising and media campaigns. In 2013, Darren will be the youngest individual and first lawyer to be President of Newfoundland's Canadian Home Builders Association. He sits on the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association's Governance Committee.
A team player, Darren manages local attorneys and corporate secretarial services for over 60 Caribbean and Latin American companies. He consistently involves fellow associates in his work, is a frequent mentor, and regularly refers files — including the negotiation and settlement of a $40 million construction contract — to senior and junior colleagues.
Darren's regular pro bono activity includes conducting education seminars and donating to non-profit organizations. He is the secretary of Junior Achievement Newfoundland and teaches financial literacy and career planning in junior high schools.
Jane O'Neill
McInnes Cooper
Halifax
Jane is a litigation partner who has appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Courts, all levels of civil courts in Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Securities Commission, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, and in private commercial arbitrations. Her clients include insurers, developers, and class members in the first securities-based class action in the province.
Jane's approach focuses on dispute resolution rather than litigation, recognizing that litigation is a necessary evil for commercial clients that can, however, be used effectively and cost-efficiently. When litigation ensues, she manages the litigation so as to create minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
Jane was the youngest partner ever elected to the firm's Board of Directors, which guides the firm's strategic direction and policy. She has helped develop the firm's securities litigation and regulatory enforcement practices as well as its shareholder disputes and oppression remedies practice, and participates in a successful pilot program where the firm offers virtual services to sole practitioners and small firms that need assistance. Jane is a leader in the implementation of new litigation support technology, and is actively involved in increasing the firm's diversity. An excellent team player and respected mentor, Jane tries to involve as many people as possible on files, striving to make the work as interesting and enriching as possible and ensuring that individuals receive credit for their contributions.
Jane has drawn on her bilingual abilities to volunteer as a judge in the Laskin Moot Court Competition. She also serves as counsel to the board of the Halifax Early Childhood School, a not-for-profit preschool in downtown Halifax.
Louis-Martin O'Neill
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Montréal
Louis-Martin's litigation practice embraces a broad spectrum of M&A, securities, corporate and commercial disputes, insolvency restructurings, as well as white-collar investigations and defence work. He is regularly involved in complex cases including the landmark case of BCE v. 1976 Debenture Holders, and obtained court approval for Abitibi-Consolidated's combination with Bowater.
Louis-Martin's client development skills have secured significant retainers including the Beaverbrook Foundation in connection with its litigation against the Beaverbrook Gallery, and Corus Entertainment regarding a defamation law case ultimately decided by the Supreme Court of Canada. He has spearheaded many development initiatives that other firm members have replicated, and was the impetus behind the firm's continuing legal education program in Montréal and Toronto. Louis-Martin is also well-versed in knowledge management, for which he has become a firm resource. He launched his own blog which provides legal practice tools and discusses productivity management, technology and work/life balance issues. As well, he is a respected legal writer who authored the enforcement chapter of the JurisClasseur on securities law and whose work has been quoted by the Quebec Court of Appeal.
Among Louis-Martin's strengths are an innate business sense, realistic risk assessments and practical suggestions to deal with risks. He communicates clearly, motivates his teams and keeps them focused on the end result. He is a role model and mentor for many young lawyers. In the community, Louis-Martin is involved in the Garde-manger pour Tous, which provides healthy lunches to elementary students in Montréal's poorest neighbourhoods.
Mathieu Piche-Messier
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Montréal
Mathieu, a BLG partner, is a litigator practising in commercial fraud, technology, industrial espionage, entertainment law and intellectual property enforcement litigation. He has executed and enforced Anton Piller orders covering multiple locations and involving the coordination of 15-person raid teams. Both the courts and many of Canada's major law firms including Stikeman Elliott LLP; Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP; Heenan Blaikie LLP; Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP have retained him to act as Independent Supervising Solicitor for Anton Piller orders. Mathieu has also enforced Mareva injunctions worldwide. His clients include Canadian, American, European and Asian concerns, including financial institutions, and his extensive contacts in the business community have helped him attract new clients for various firm departments, including litigation, real estate, labour and corporate commercial.
Mathieu is a team player who is Chair of Young Bar Association of Montréal (YBAM), a 4,200-member organization with an operational budget of $500,000. In that role, he expanded the organization's pro bono program to three other cities and created the Pro Bono BLG & YBAM Small Claims program, which engages 30 BLG associates. He is one of the drafters of the Pro Bono QC's corporate structure and is a member of BLG's Pro Bono Committee. In the community, he belongs to Sortie 13, a group of 13 community leaders who provide ideas to improve socio-economic conditions in Québec. Mathieu also sits on the boards of Cirque Éloise, LOGIQ Foundation, En!fant-Retour QC, and Make-a-Wish QC.
Kenneth Pogrin
Manulife Financial
Toronto
Ken is Manulife's Vice President, Canadian Investment Counsel and leads Manulife's investing activities in Canada. His experience embraces Manulife's investment in CIBC, indirect investment in a toll road, participation in the Maple consortium, acquisition of assets in oil and gas, and investment in private equity and infrastructure funds in Canada, the US and Asia. He is also part of the legal leadership team for Manulife Asset Management and oversees the company's global equity aggregation system and related filings.
As the first dedicated investment lawyer at Manulife, Ken has built a talented transaction team that has earned the respect of the company's various internal investment teams who had not previously worked with an active in-house transactional legal practice. This has led to a rapid increase in the volume and scope of the in-house legal function in the Investment Division.
Ken has integrated himself into the internal business decision making process. His strengths include a strong sense of urgency and effective prioritization that optimizes client service. He encourages full access by team members to the most senior decision makers and allows individuals to shine internally and externally. He uses external counsel effectively and does not strive for special recognition for himself.
Ken taught at the University of Western Ontario's Faculty of Law and sits on the boards of The Village Shul, a Toronto synagogue, and the Jewish Enrichment Center in Manhattan.
Curtis Serra
Suncor Energy Inc.
Calgary
Curtis is Director, Legal Affairs, Energy Supply, Trading & Development at Suncor. He was lead counsel for Suncor's strategic alliance with Total that involved three multi-billion dollar oilsands projects. Curtis structured and negotiated this agreement and managed multiple related agreements involving various geographies and numerous external stakeholders. He obtained Competition Bureau approval (the first formal competition approval under new merger guidelines), renegotiated existing contracts, and concluded novel and complex agreements to integrate the joint venture with existing infrastructure and services. These, and other transactions in which Curtis has been involved, have added significant value for Suncor's shareholders.
Curtis is a courageous, honest and straightforward leader who does not take himself too seriously. He is interested in the welfare of others and holds to high ethical standards. He has a strong sense of commercial exigency and an ability to balance risk and reward in complex circumstances. Among his strengths is a focus on results that add value to Suncor's business, an ability to anticipate and prepare for change, and an intuition that allows him to immediately align legal strategy with changing business objectives. He is generous with his time and works collaboratively to find solutions. He manages 15 individuals and is an excellent motivator and mentor.
Curtis is active in the community and the profession, and mentors law students as part of the Canadian Bar Association's Mentor Program.
Crawford Smith
Torys LLP
Toronto
Crawford, the Litigation Practice Group leader at Torys, has demonstrated an ability to master complex concepts in areas as diverse as accounting, actuarial standards, competition and energy policy. He is lead litigation counsel for First Capital Realty and one of the lead partners for CIBC in the $10 billion defense of a proposed securities class action. Crawford also represents CCS Corporation in its defence of the Competition Bureau's application to dissolve a recent acquisition.
As practice group leader, Crawford has played a significant role in capitalizing on opportunities for development. He has brought a number of clients to the firm, including Google Inc., Travelex and Altegrity/Kroll, delivering both litigation and corporate work. He is the client manager for 13 clients, including Shell Canada. His strengths go beyond the financial and structural dimension of business issues to understanding the reputational and operational impact of litigation. Crawford has demonstrated his adaptability by moving his own practice into the energy and infrastructure space. He actively seeks opportunities to push work down and colleagues have called him an ideal team member, undoubtedly influenced by his role as the goalie for Torys' hockey team.
Crawford has done pro bono work for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, is a volunteer in the Advocates' Society's pro bono LSUC Discipline Committee Duty Counsel Program and taught advocacy at Osgoode Hall Law School programs.
Jennifer Spencer
Miller Thomson LLP
Toronto
As a partner in Miller Thomson's litigation group, Jennifer's practice engages commercial disputes, land use and development, agriculture, Aboriginal and regulatory matters. She has been lead counsel on significant farm practices protection disputes in the agriculture sector; on disputes in the charitable and not-for-profit sectors; and co-counsel for the American manufacturer of police weapons at the provincial public inquiry into their use and safety. With an outstanding ability to master both details and the big picture, Jennifer is a skilled negotiator who is adept at using both litigation and dispute resolution to maximize clients' legal and business objectives.
Jennifer is involved in recruiting, training and mentoring and sits on firm committees locally and nationally. She was integral to advancing changes in the firm's pro bono initiative. Jennifer is an Executive Committee member and change leader in the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch. She stands out as a team player in all these endeavours and in her practice.
Jennifer has received Pro Bono Law of BC's Lawyer of the Year Award, was on the Access Pro Bono roster of the Civil Chambers Project, is a Director of the Parkinson Society British Columbia and volunteers in the YWCA High School Mentorship Program.
Lisa Junio Stiver
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP
Winnipeg
Lisa, a partner at Thompson Dorfman, combines a focus on government procurement law with a general transaction-based commercial practice that includes technology law as well as the purchase, financing, and development of commercial real property for private entities and public institutions. Her clients include the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority for whom she provided advice on the acquisition of a province-wide healthcare information system to improve access to patient information. The mandate included a negotiated RFP, evaluations conducted by a team of over 50 experts, advising the Proposal Evaluation Committee of over 300 healthcare professionals, and acting as lead external counsel in contract negotiations with three vendors. As well, Lisa assisted this client in defining the legal and business framework and scope for the outsourcing of key business and administrative components of a hospital system and the procurement of an electronic health record system.
Lisa markets the firm's practice area through conferences, publications and seminars. She is an effective cross-seller who recognizes the importance of mentoring junior lawyers through her membership on the Associates Committee. Lisa is an active recruiter and participates in the firm's strategic planning. She strives to build relationships between clients and other firm members.
Lisa teaches at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law and instructs at the Center for Professional Legal Education course for articling students. She is on the Finance and Administration Committee of the United Way and works with the Manitoba Chapter of TEC Trusted Advisors. As well, Lisa is Vice President of the Nor'West Co-op Community Health Centre Inc. and past President of Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers.
David Stolow
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Montréal
David's corporate commercial litigation practice includes appearances in the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, and all Québec civil courts. He has extensive international and domestic arbitration experience, including acting as an arbitrator of commercial disputes.
David is the go-to litigation lawyer for some of the firm's most important clients including the Caisse de dépot, ALDO and Corus, largely as a result of his record of success including three wins at the SCC, his superb advocacy skills, meticulous preparation and dedication to his clients. He has demonstrated excellent judgment, a client-centric approach involving a comprehensive understanding of business strategy, and a focus on the big picture. Clients regularly call on him as a strategic business advisor.
Just two years into his practice, David foresaw the impact of the 2003 amendments to Québec class action legislation. He became a leader in developing and marketing the firm's class action practice. David's excellent relationships with colleagues and opposing counsel have led to numerous internal and external referrals. He works closely with his Toronto partners on cross-border arbitrations and class actions, has shown great respect for collective effort and serves as a mentor to students and associates.
David's dedication to community is evidenced by serving as one of the youngest presidents of the Lord Reading Law Society; acting pro bono in the SCC in Bruker v. Marcovitz; serving as Chair of Concordia University's Academic Hearing Panels; acting as a Moot Court judge at McGill and coaching his son's hockey team.
Kristin Taylor
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto
As general counsel to CAMH, Kristin has represented her employer at a coroner's inquest and negotiated disputes between CAMH and its physicians. To ensure CAMH's responsiveness to new legislation, Kristin undertook an extensive review of CAMH bylaws, policies and practices and completed the culture shift through a CAMH-wide “roadshow” presentation. She is leading CAMH in its preparations for the onslaught of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act through education and development of policy and process. Kristin also plays an integral role in CAMH's Quality of Care work that ensures stakeholders are able to conduct critical incident reviews with proper support and protections. Kristin has conducted an extensive review of CAMH's legal needs and identified areas of over-reliance on external counsel and need for internal supports, decreasing the legal budget by half in her two years at CAMH.
Kristin is adept at balancing the interests of clinicians, CAMH values, and patients, with a talent for making legalese easy to understand in a unique and complex corporate structure that includes physicians who are independent contractors rather than employees. She is an excellent collaborator and efficient and productive team player. Recent executive departures at CAMH have increased her role and responsibilities.
A mother of two very young children, Kristin finds time to be a devoted health law educator, delivering an average of eight presentations annually to a variety of organizations, and playing a leadership role through her work with Osgoode Hall Law School, the Ontario Hospital Association and the Ontario Bar Association.
Brian Thiessen
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Calgary
Brian is the national Co-chair of Blakes' Labour and Employment Law Group; has developed the Group's Calgary practice into one of the firm's most successful practice groups; is a leading partner on the firm's US initiative; founder of the firm's Privacy Law Practice Group; and excels at client development.
Brian's transactional mandates include representing Suncor Energy Inc. regarding the labour and employment law aspects of Suncor's $1.75 billion oil sands joint venture with Total E&P Canada Ltd., which the media has recognized as “one of the most complex oil sands joint ventures in recent years”; Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited in its $1 billion balance sheet restructuring; and Nexen Inc. in the $1 billion sale of its natural gas and power marketing businesses.
The Calgary Labour and Employment Law Practice Group is known for having an extremely cohesive team environment, attracting many students and associates eager to nurture their practice. Brian actively seeks opportunities to allow students and associates to develop individual, front-line relationships with clients, has worked extensively with the firm's Associate and Student Committees, and is known as an excellent mentor.
Brian spent four years on the firm's Pro Bono Committee. He led a team in a successful homebuilding collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, serves on the board of the Ronald McDonald House Calgary and is the President of the Alberta Party.
Peter Tolensky
Lawson Lundell LLP
Vancouver
Peter leads Lawson Lundell's real estate practice and has led the way on some of the most significant developments in British Columbia. He is particularly expert on airspace subdivision, and is the founder and Co-chair of Air Space Taskforce. His clients include Canderel Group, Epta Properties, Salient Group, Townline, Oxford Properties and DTZ Barnike. He also numbers pension funds and utility providers among his clients. Peter's deal-making prowess and his ability to listen, assess and provide swift and solid advice distinguish him.
Peter invests conscientiously in client relationships and in the firm's marketing efforts. His mentorship strengths attract junior lawyers to his practice group. He is a leader in initiating change as evidenced by his cutting-edge work relating to airspace subdivision and his membership in the firm's Knowledge Management Group. He consistently volunteers his department to pilot a range of innovative workspace and business intelligence reports.
Peter is actively involved with Vancouver's Jewish community, serving a two-year term on the board of Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue, to whom he has contributed one-quarter of his legal work on an $18 million redevelopment project on a pro bono basis. He is on the Organizing Committee and fundraises for the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University exchange program, supports the Building for Kids campaigns at B.C. Children's Hospital and raises funds for the Jewish Family Services Agency.
Jennifer Traub
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Toronto
Jennifer is a mining partner at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP whose practice has more than quadrupled since 2008. Her practice experience includes 10 strategic acquisitions for Goldcorp over the last decade ranging in size from $100 million to $10 billion, and equity financings aggregating $1.7 billion since 2008 for Canaco Resources, Canada Lithium, Sandstorm Gold, Sandstorm Metals, Silver Wheaton, Stonegate Agricom and Thompson Creek. She also represents underwriters, including BMO Capital Markets, GMP Securities, Macquarie Capital Markets, Paradigm Capital and TD Securities, on corporate financings. Jen delegates thousands of hours of work annually to partners, associates and students.
Jen is a leader on initiatives focused on the support and advancement of women. She chairs the firm's Women's Practice Development Committee, is co-founder of the Cassels Brock Women in Mining Group, initiated a knowledge management team in the Securities Group to keep clients and colleagues apprised of securities law developments, and is a formal and informal mentor to many associates in that group.
As a key client relationship manager, technical lawyer, business originator, mentor and advocate of women lawyers, Jen demonstrates her ability to deal professionally, effectively and efficiently with people at all levels, inside and outside of the firm, every day. In managing large and complex files, she regularly oversees sizeable teams of lawyers from various practice areas, from students to senior partners, and coordinates their interaction with in-house counsel and other senior decision makers from client companies, investment banks and other parties.
Lianne Tysowski
Macleod Dixon LLP
Calgary
Lianne, a partner at Macleod Dixon, is a corporate finance, M&A and corporate reorganization lawyer. Her work has included acting for Forzani Group Ltd. on Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited's $770 million takeover bid, advising ArPetrol Inc. on its reverse takeover of RPT Resources Ltd., and advising the independent committee of ProEx Energy Ltd., on the $22 billion combination with Progress Energy Trust.
Clients commend Lianne for her attention to business realities, and she is adept at helping them identify opportunities resulting from changes in the business climate. Lianne does not shy away from novel transactions or issues, as evidenced when she launched the first hostile bid by advertisement on the first trading day that provincial regulations authorized such a bid.
Lianne is very active in business development, including acting as the relationship partner for WesternZagros Resources Ltd. and TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd. She has taught a marketing/rainmaking course to associates, and is an active recruiter of lateral hires and as a member of the Articling Committee.
Lianne has often had key responsibility for co-ordinating and managing various teams of lawyers within the firm and is the key relationship partner for ongoing issuer work for a number of clients, a task that invokes considerable co-ordination and management skills.
Lianne has fundraised and provided pro bono legal services in support of the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival Association. She has assisted with the firm's United Way Campaign, provided pro bono services to the organization, and received an Arbor Award for voluntary service to the University of Toronto Law School. A mother of two young children, she also volunteers for school activities and committees.
Brendan Van Niejenhuis
Stockwoods LLP
Toronto
Brendan, made a partner at Stockwoods well before the usual partnership track would have dictated, has amassed over 40 reported decisions and 10 appearances in the Court of Appeal in his eight years at the Bar. He is counsel in a broad variety of matters and many of his clients are public agencies, including the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Ontario Securities Commission, IIROC, the Ontario Racing Commission and the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants. He successfully prosecuted a $100 million hedge fund fraud case for the OSC. Brendan's strengths include an ability to anticipate and respond to clients' needs.
Brendan has played a leadership role in the firm's recent web and legal media marketing initiative, is a frequent presenter at conferences, and is under contract to publish a regularly updated practice manual for tribunal hearings and judicial review proceedings. As well, he is a team player who seeks out advocacy opportunities for junior colleagues. He takes mentoring and giving feedback seriously and frequently refers work to others. He acknowledges the contributions of his junior colleagues to the Court and clients and takes personal responsibility for their errors.
Brendan acted pro bono for the journalist Stevie Cameron at the inquiry into the Schreiber-Mulroney affair. He also represents Parkdale residents in a rental reduction dispute and associated class actions, and is roster counsel in the Advocates' Society Court of Appeal Pro Bono program. Brendan teaches administrative law at Queen's University Faculty of Law and Osgoode Hall Law School.
Marc Wasserman
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Toronto
Marc, a partner in Osler's Insolvency & Restructuring Practice Group, is instrumental in the senior leadership of large multi-disciplinary teams on Canada's largest and most complex corporate restructuring mandates and is often the primary client contact person. He is regularly involved in restructuring proceedings in courts throughout Canada and the US. Some recent examples of Marc's mandates include representing Canwest in its CCAA proceedings; General Motors of Canada Limited in its successful out of court restructuring in Canada; and Angiotech Pharmaceuticals in its cross-border restructuring. Thinking outside the box is high among Marc's professional strengths. He can see preferred outcomes in the early stages of a case, which enables him to provide strategic and timely advice and structure a case to minimize business disruptions.
Marc has implemented a marketing initiative aimed at US-based hedge and private equity funds seeking distressed opportunities in Canada. He has developed relationships with the leaders at several key restructuring, accounting and law firms in the US and Canada and has attracted significant mandates for the firm. He played a lead role in developing and presenting seminars on recent changes to insolvency law, and has adapted his practice to meet the new realities presented by alternative financiers who have replaced traditional lenders in complex insolvency cases. He is a frequent author and speaker in his field.
Marc is a team player who challenges associates to take ownership of their assignments, and initiated monthly meetings for junior lawyers to discuss business development opportunities. He sits on Osler's Student Committee and is a regular mentor as well as a contributor to the firm's continuing legal education program. He is active in his community and has served as a soccer coach.
John Wilkin
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Toronto
John, a partner at Blakes, focuses on complex financing and M&A transactions for public companies, principally in the mining, telecommunications and financial services sectors. He also co-ordinates the mining practice and plays a key role in the European initiative. John's mandates include representing dealers on the establishment of CIBC's €8 billion covered bond program and Equinox on its A$1.2 billion acquisition of Citadel Resources Group Limited. He has successfully identified and pursued new client development opportunities in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. He is a leader in structuring transactions for and addressing the unique issues faced by issuers dual-listed in Canada and Australia.
John's expertise has been recognized by the OSC, who invited him to participate in consultations relating to revisions of National Instrument 43-101; the TSX, who invited him to present a joint seminar on TSX listings to the Prospectors and Developers Association; and various Canadian and UK law schools where John has taught.
John takes a strategic approach to practice, identifying trends and developing expertise that allow him to maximize opportunities. For example, by taking a leave to obtain his masters' degree at Oxford and then working in the firm's London office, he developed the legal and marketing skills that allowed him to build a securities practice with an international profile. His work requires him to manage teams composed of Blakes lawyers across multiple practice areas, foreign lawyers and agents, financial advisors, technical experts and accountants.
John is an important contributor to the firm's culture and cohesiveness, acting as a conduit to the Toronto office for out-of-town partners, a key member of the London office, and a mentor to those with whom he works.
Tom Zverina
Torys LLP
Toronto
Tom, a Torys partner, is the lead lawyer for debt transactions and a key member of the team that services Woodbridge and Thomson Reuters Corporation. His mandates include acting as counsel in respect of $20 billion in bridge facilities regarding the combination of Thomson with Reuters Group, which he completed in a four-week period; and representing CTVglobemedia Inc. in respect of CTVgm's $2 billion in debt facilities. He is very sensitive to the business need for flexibility in operating and financial covenants. Clients say that he can think outside the box, noting his proposal of a unique structure based on US deals to rework a client's credit arrangements.
Tom spends considerable time developing alternative fee arrangements that have led to many new opportunities. He has brought several clients to the firm, including Ryder System Inc., Stepan Company, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Aecon Group Inc. and Primus Telecommunications, Inc. He is adaptable, changing his focus from acquisition financing to restructuring and bankruptcy financing as the economy deteriorated. He has developed a network of financing lawyers who trade conflict referrals. Tom oversees Torys' corporate associates and works hard to ensure the proper development of younger lawyers. He tries to deflect praise for his work to the associates on his team.
As a former national track and field member, Tom is active in the athletic community. He raised funds to allow a young athlete to compete for the national team and ultimately at the 2008 Olympics. He also does pro bono work regarding sponsorship agreements and dispute resolution for amateur athletes, and sits on the Advisory Committee of the Toronto Lords, an organization that helps disadvantaged teenage girls play basketball.
— files from Julius Melnitzer
