The Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA) has announced that its new name is the Canadian Bar Association In-House Lawyers (CBA In-House), noting that the rebrand reflects the trend toward acknowledging the in-house role’s strategic and specialized nature.
“As in-house lawyers, we're no longer working quietly behind the scenes — we're at the centre of business strategy, risk, and governance,” said Ranj Sangra, current CBA In-House president and associate general counsel at Ballard Power Systems Inc., in a news release.
In its news release, CBA In-House said its new identity confirms its role as Canada’s only national legal organization focusing solely on in-house lawyers. The association added that its rebrand comes in the context of growing economic uncertainty and legal complexity.
“Many of the challenges we face are uniquely Canadian, and this new identity reflects who we are today: a coast-to-coast-to-coast in-house legal community navigating complexity together,” Sangra added.
In its news release, CBA In-House said it seeks to represent the perspective of the country’s in-house legal community.
Given that it is part of the CBA, its over 5,000 members across Canada’s provinces, territories, sectors, and industries can access a network of more than 40,000 legal professionals and career and professional development resources designed especially for in-house practitioners.
New board
CBA In-House has also revealed the election results for its 2025–26 board of directors as of Sept. 1. On that date, Sangra will shift into the role of past president.
Officers:
- President: Jennifer Freund, Law Society of Alberta
- Vice president: David Mousavi, NRT Technology Corp.
- Treasurer: Angela Yousofi, TD Bank
Members-at-large for 2024–26:
- David Avren
- Janine Jones, R.F. Binnie & Associates Ltd.
- Melanie Mortensen, BC Ministry of the Attorney General, Legal Services Branch, Office of Legislative Counsel
- CBA board representative: Heidi Schedler, Halifax Port Authority
Members-at-large for 2025–27:
- Mobolanle Depo-Fajumo, Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan
- Dev Jagdev, Rogers Communications Inc.
- Andrea Lamy, Alberta Electric System Operator
Branch representatives, appointed by their respective branches:
- Peter Kletas, Port of Vancouver (British Columbia)
- Jay White, Edmonton Regional Airports Authority (Alberta North)
- Brianna Wartman, Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. (Alberta South)
- Bonnie Leib, SGI Canada (Saskatchewan)
- Cory Shangreaux, Richardson International Limited (Manitoba)
- Claudia Sgro, Law Society of Ontario (Ontario)
- Denis Lavoie, VIA Rail Canada Inc. (Quebec)
- Phil Thériault, Purolator Inc. (New Brunswick)
- Ross Larkin, IMP Group International Inc. (Nova Scotia)
- Justin Caines, NL’s Department of Health and Community Services (Newfoundland and Labrador)
The elected members-at-large will serve two-year terms. In its news release, CBA In-House thanked all its members for continuing to contribute to the nation’s in-house legal community.
“We would like to thank the many members who stood for election,” CBA In-House said in a LinkedIn post.