Canadian Law Awards 2021 Commemorative Guide

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

COMMEMOR ATIVE GUIDE

AWARD SPONSORS

SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS

WOMEN GENERAL COUNSEL CANADA

OFFICIAL BALLOT ACCOUNTANTS

OFFICIAL MEDIA

SUPPORTED PUBLICATIONS

#LawAwardsCA www.lawawards.ca

ORGANIZER

NOVEMBER 25, 2021 | ONLINE

The Young Lawyers Summit will provide associates, partners and others in law firm leadership with practical insights and ideas on common challenges, issues and obstacles young lawyers face as they grow their professional profiles and legal practice skills and advance their careers.

Join us virtually on November 25 at the Young Lawyers Summit to ensure you are prepared as you navigate your path forward. As today’s legal industry rapidly evolves, having those skill sets, insights and ideas to maneuver your career and grow your practice will be critical to your future success.

SAVE THE DATE

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

A WORD FROM KEY MEDIA THANK YOU to everyone who took part in the second annual Canadian Law Awards.

After a challenging year that tested the resilience of many firms and clients, these awards offer a true snapshot of the best and brightest in the legal profession — those who have stepped up and offered a genuine reflection of excellence.

The Canadian Law Awards recognize the nation’s leading law firms, in-house legal teams, individuals, deals and cases over the past year.

This year’s awards celebrated and recognized excellence in the legal profession across 26 prestigious categories, focusing on the achievements of the country’s best in class. It was wonderful to see such strong support for the second annual Canadian Law Awards. We want to thank everyone who submitted a nomination and acknowledge our esteemed panel of judges for lending their time and expertise to the endeavour.

The Canadian Law Awards is brought to you by Key Media, the organizers of a variety of Awards ceremonies across Canada, where hundreds of professionals gather annually, in person or virtually, to acknowledge the best professionals across the nation. We are proud to continue our tradition by celebrating legal excellence and would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners and excellence awardees.

TABLE OF CONTENTS DEAL AWARDS Capital Markets Deal of the Year

34

Infrastructure & Projects Deal of the Year

36

Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year

37

M&A Deal of the Year

38

Mid-Market Deal of the Year

39

CASE AWARDS Class Action Team of the Year

39

Commercial Litigation Team of the Year

40

IN-HOUSE AWARDS Banking & Financial Institutions Law Department of the Year

40

Construction, Infrastructure & Transportation Law Department of the Year

42

Energy & Resources Law Department of the Year

43

Law Department Leader of the Year

44

Law Department Innovation Award

44

Canadian Law Department of the Year

44

FIRM AWARDS The Western Union Business Solutions Award for IP Boutique Law Firm of the Year

46

Atlantic Canada Law Firm of the Year

47

Ontario Law Firm of the Year

48

Prairies Law Firm of the Year

48

Quebec Law Firm of the Year

48

Western Canada Law Firm of the Year

49

Litigation & Dispute Resolution Boutique Law Firm of the Year

51

Litigator of the Year

51

Key Media is an award-winning global media company with eight offices around the world.

Our growing portfolio of market-leading products connect business communities and product providers together in six key verticals through print, online and events.

Best Use of Technology in a Law Firm

51

Managing Partner of the Year

53

www.keymedia.com

Tim Wilbur Editor-in-chief — Law Key Media

LEGAL PROFESSION AWARDS Pro Bono Initiative of the Year

53

The Bereskin & Parr Award for Diversity Initiative of the Year

55

Female Trailblazer

56 www.lawawards.ca

29

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

AN EVENT TO REMEMBER, AFTER A YEAR WE WOULD LIKE TO FORGET THE 2021 CANADIAN LAW AWARDS

WHILE THE last 18 months were anything but business as usu-

al, the Canadian legal profession did not slow down. Deals were inked, litigation fought, diversity and inclusion initiatives were conceived and strived for and technology continued — even sped up — its transformation of the industry.

Lawyers from across the country were forced to make their impact — whether before a judge or among their peers — via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Though many were ideally positioned to weather the storm, many lost their jobs and some lost family members and friends. For those spared the more severe consequences, the worry was ever-present.

With conditions so much less accommodating and the pandemic a constant distraction, a night of appreciation for the professionals who persevered was even more appropriate this year than in the before times.

30

www.lawawards.ca

The second annual Canadian Law Awards- presented by Lexpert and supported by Canadian Lawyer and InHouse magazines took place on May 20, 2021. Once again, the festivities were held virtually.

The day began with opening remarks from the host and CBC news anchor, Suhana Meharchand. That was followed by an afternoon of live virtual panels, led by some of the more than 130 excellence awardees nominated this year.

Panel Discussions The live virtual panels began with a conversation on intellectual property.

Moderated by Chris Day, director, payments and partnerships at Western Union Business Solutions, the participants discussed the evolution of IP, as intangible assets become the new drivers of

METHODOLOGY  Hundreds of nominations were received from firms and legal departments across the nation.  The Awards research team reviewed all nominations, applying its own knowledge and some third-party information, to identify the outstanding firms, teams, individuals, deals or cases in each category that receive Excellence Awards.  The second phase of the research process involved the submissions of the Excellence Awardees being forwarded to the independent judging panel for scoring against strict criteria. Judges’ scores were aggregated to produce a winner in each category, a process fully verified by independent auditors PwC.  Winners for all categories were announced during the virtual Canadian Law Awards event on May 20, 2021.

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

economic and business growth in Canada. Joining Day were Bob Sotiriadis, partner at Robic LLP and Matthew Zischka, managing partner at Smart & Biggar.

Day, Sotiriadis and Zischka talked about how IP law boutiques are uniquely positioned to drive economic growth by advising on issues related to technological and scientific innovation. On top of their legal expertise, these firms are equipped with a “deep understanding of the client’s technologies,” said Zischka. Clients with valuable IP need both specialties, he said.

“We have people who have a great passion for this area of the law who also have scientific and engineering backgrounds,” said Zischka. “And so, they’re able to really guide clients in ways that general practice lawyers can’t.”

www.lawawards.ca

31

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

This dynamism is also reflected in how firms are adapting to client needs by pursuing transaction and litigation work, the panelists said. While “significant transactions” will go to “multi-disciplinary practices,” firms with investment in transactional resources can be competitive in other classes of that work, said Sotiriadis. Zischka added that IP boutiques are building experienced litigation teams to handle IP-related disputes.

“There are many adjacent areas where IP practitioners can offer unique value,” he said.

At the award ceremony, the Western Union Business Solutions Award for IP Boutique Law Firm of the Year went to Smart & Biggar.

Following the IP experts was a panel of law firm leaders. Jennie Chan, national leader in Forensic Services at PwC, moderated “Leadership in a Time of Uncertainty — Lessons Learned from Success.”

The panel featured Mia Hempey, CEO of Nelligan O’Brien Payne LLP; Anik Trudel, CEO of Lavery Lawyers; Dave Leonard, CEO of McCarthy Tétrault LLP and Tom Curry, managing partner of Lenczner Slaght.

Optimism reigned as the participants described how COVID’s transformation of life provided opportunities for creativity, innovation and self-reflection.

The pandemic put a spotlight on leadership, said Dave Leonard, who was later awarded the prize for Managing Partner of the Year.

32

www.lawawards.ca

At the onset, decisions had to be transparent, and communication needed to be frequent, said Leonard. Every move took on greater importance and scrutiny intensified because team-members were concerned with their job security, health and safety, he said.

The level of communication was appreciated by the troops and Anik Trudel agreed that the COVID adaptation would remain post-pandemic.

The uncertainty of the last year-and-a-half cemented unity at law firms and other organizations, said Trudel. The sense of needing each other was accompanied by a generational shift where an organization’s collective purpose is more of a necessity for the younger cohort, she said.

“I don’t think that’s really been a driver for law firms in the past and I think now this is becoming a true necessity,” she said.

“The higher purpose, I think that will be at the heart of what will make people stay or leave a firm.”

Award Ceremony After the panels, Meharchand took to the virtual main stage to make the awards presentations.

There were awards for prominent deal-making, litigation, best use of technology, pro-bono and diversity initiatives, as well as awards for in-house legal departments, boutique and regional law firms and individual lawyers.

Taking home the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Boutique Law Firm of the Year was Lenczner Slaght, a firm based in Toronto.

“We set high standards for ourselves and it is always gratifying to know that our peers recognize that,” says Tom Curry, Lenczner Slaght’s managing partner.

“The pandemic has been very challenging for many lawyers.

In our case, we relied on our strong culture of collaboration to find new ways to support each other. In the past year, our commitment to each other grew stronger and we found new ways to work and stay together, while apart. The global pandemic has really brought the importance of our culture home to us and that is something we will continue to build on as we emerge from this challenge. We did it together and I am very proud of that.”

Sylvie Rodrigue says her 2021 Litigator of the Year Award is a “testament to the resilience and dedication” of her team at Torys LLP. “This award was particularly meaningful given the numerous adaptations Covid-19 forced all of us to make, including mastering virtual oral advocacy.”

Winner of the award for Female Trailblazer — Academia was Dean of the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Ryerson University, Donna Young. She told Lexpert she shares the honour with her faculty, who shares her vision for “upholding social justice, disrupting the status quo, and making change happen in the legal profession.”

“Last September, we made history by launching Canada’s newest law school in the midst of a global pandemic,” says

Young. “The pandemic has been incredibly difficult. It has laid bare inequities in society, disproportionately affecting those least able to withstand its impacts. And it has exposed weaknesses in our system of justice, highlighting the impact of anti-Asian, anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism. In this way it has reinforced the need for lawyers who are committed to serving the underserved.”

“ Showing care and compassion, obviously, that has always been an important aspect of leadership. But I think it is even more so now.”

Jennie Chan

National Leader of the Forensic Services Practice, PwC

www.lawawards.ca

33

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

CAPITAL MARKETS DEAL OF THE YEAR

Open to all capital markets deals that reached completion within 2020 for which the majority of the legal work was Canada-based. Judged on the legal work performed by Canadian organizations according to four criteria: size, complexity, breadth, and innovation.

WINNER

Creation of Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation and Brookfield Renewable Corporation Firms: Appleby, McMillan LLP, Torys LLP Accountants: Deloitte, EY, PwC, KPMG Banks: RBC Capital Markets

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Cornerstone financing of Intact Acquisition of RSA Firms: Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Clifford Chance, Latham & Watkins, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Stikeman Elliott, Torys LLP

Creation of a new form of Tier 1 Regulatory capital Firms: McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Torys LLP Banks: BMO, CIBC, CWB, NBC, RBC

GFL IPO Firms: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP Accountants: Deloitte LLP Banks: BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC; RBC Dominion Securities Inc.; Scotia Capital Inc.

Nuvei IPO and private placement Firms: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Ropes & Gray LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP Organizations: AST Trust Company, Novacap Management Inc., Accountants: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Banks: BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., CIBC World Markets, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Canada Inc., Cowen and Company, LLC, Credit Suisse Securities (Canada), Inc., Goldman Sachs Canada, Inc., Merrill Lynch Canada, Inc., National Bank Financial, Inc., Raymond James Ltd., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc., TD Securities Inc., William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

34

www.lawawards.ca

www.lawawards.ca

35

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

INFRASTRUCTURE & PROJECTS DEAL OF THE YEAR

Open to all infrastructure and projects deals that reached completion within 2020 for which the majority of the legal work was Canada-based. Judged on the legal work performed by Canadian organizations according to four criteria: size, complexity, breadth, and innovation.

WINNER

Financing of Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Firms: Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Stikeman Elliot LLP, Torys LLP Organizations: AIMCo, KKR Banks: RBC Capital Markets

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Financing of Cascade Power project Firms: Bennett Jones LLP, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Duncan Craig LLP, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Miller Thomson LLP, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Stewart McKelvey, Stikeman Elliot LLP, Torys LLP, Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP Banks: ATB Financial, Canadian Western Bank, Fiera Private Debt Fund VI LP, ING Capital LLC, Macquarie Capital Funding LLC, MUFG Bank, Ltd., Canada Branch, National Bank of Canada, Natixis, New York Branch, Nomura Corporate Funding Americas, LLC, Siemens Financial Ltd.

Financing of Edmonton Valley Line West LRT Extension Firms: Aird & Berlis LLP, Farris LLP, McCarthy Tétrault LLP Organizations: Marigold Infrastructure Partners Limited Partnership Accountants: Ernst & Young Banks: Scotia Capital

Financing of Louis-Hippolyte-La-Fontaine Tunnel Firms: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, Stikeman Elliot LLP Organizations: Desjardins Securities Banks: Bank of Nova Scotia, Business Development Bank of Canada, Fédération Des Caisses Desjardins Du Québec, Royal Bank of Canada, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Toronto-Dominion Bank

Financing of Nova Scotia Highway 104 Twinning Project Firms: Aird & Berlis LLP, Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, BOYNECLARKE LLP, Farris LLP, Stewart McKelvey

36

www.lawawards.ca

INSOLVENCY & RESTRUCTURING DEAL OF THE YEAR

Open to all insolvency and restructuring deals that reached completion within 2020 for which the majority of the legal work was Canada-based. Judged on the legal work performed by Canadian organizations according to four criteria: size, complexity, breadth, and innovation.

WINNER

CCAA Restructuring of Cirque du Soleil Firms: Bennett Jones LLP, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Goodmans LLP, Lavery Lawyers, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, McMillan LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP, Torys LLP, Woods LLP Accountants: Ernst & Young EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

CBCA restructuring of Just Energy Group Inc. Firms: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Goodmans LLP, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Torys LLP Organizations: Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc.

CCAA Restructuring of James E. Wagner Cultivation Corporation Firms: Bennett Jones LLP, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, DLA Piper, Torys LLP

CCAA Restructuring of Nemaska Lithium Firms: Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), Clyde & Co Canada LLP, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Dentons Canada LLP, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Goodmans LLP, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, Langlois lawyers, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Miller Thomson LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP, Torys LLP, Woods LLP Accountants: PwC Banks: National Bank Financial

Recapitalization of Calfrac Well Services Ltd. and its affiliates Firms: Bennett Jones LLP, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Dentons Canada LLP, Goodmans LLP, Lenczner Slaght, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright

www.lawawards.ca

37

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

M&A DEAL OF THE YEAR

Open to all M&A deals, including those that fall within the private equity sector, that reached completion within 2020 for which the majority of the legal work was Canada-based. Judged on the legal work performed by Canadian organizations according to four criteria: size, complexity, breadth, and innovation.

WINNER

KingSett Capital and Starlight Investments acquisition of Northview Apartment REIT Firms: Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Bloom Lanys PC, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Goodmans LLP, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Berkshire Partners Investment in VetStrategy Firms: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Goodmans LLP, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Torkin Manes LLP, Torys LLP

Equinix acquisition of Bell data centres Firms: Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP Banks: Citi, JPMorgan, RBC Capital Markets, TD Securities

HBC Going Private transaction Firms: Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, McMillan LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP, Torys LLP

Kirkland Lake acquisition of Detour Gold Firms: Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP Organizations: Laurel Hill, FTI Consulting Banks: BMO Capital Markets, Citi, TD

Power Financial reorganization transaction with Power Corporation Firms: Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Goodmans LLP, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

38

www.lawawards.ca

MID-MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

CLASS ACTION TEAM OF THE YEAR

Open to all deals with a value of CAD50-500m that reached completion within 2020 for which the majority of the legal work was Canada-based. Judged on the legal work performed by Canadian organizations according to four criteria: size, complexity, breadth, and innovation.

Open to a class action case rendered or settled in Canada’s courts in 2020 that involved upwards of 30 parties (plaintiffs). Judged on a single case’s size and complexity and the extent to which it set new standards of excellence in the delivery of legal services by the team.

WINNER

WINNER

GMP Capital acquisition of Richardson GMP

Bennett Jones LLP

Firms: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), Goodmans LLP, Lenczner Slaght, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Stikeman Elliot LLP, Voorheis & Co. LLP Organizations: Cormark Securities Inc., Gryphon Advisors Inc., Kingsdale Shareholder Services Inc.,Longview Communications & Public Affairs Banks: RBC Capital Markets

Winder v. Marriott International Inc.

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Evolution Mining acquisition of the Red Lake gold mine from Newmont

Auger Garnier Frédérick, BGA Avocats, McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Firms: Allens, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Goodmans LLP, McCarthy Tétrault LLP

NordStar Capital acquisition of Torstar Firms: Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Bennett Jones LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Torys LLP

Northleaf Capital Partners sale of non-controlling stake to Mackenzie Financial Corporation and Great-West Lifeco Firms: Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

Novacap acquisition of Logibec Inc. Firms: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Lavery Lawyers, Paul Hastings LLP, Stikeman Elliot LLP Accountants: Ernst & Young LLP

Brousseau v. Abbott Laboratories (Biaxin)

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) Fortin v. Mazda Canada Inc.

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), Eric K. Gillespie, Murray Klippenstein and Kathleen Coulter Good v. Toronto Police Services Board

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP, Siskinds LLP Boston Scientific Pelvic Mesh Class Action

www.lawawards.ca

39

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION TEAM OF THE YEAR

BANKING & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LAW DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR

Open to a commercial case rendered or settled in Canada’s courts in 2020, excluding class actions. Judged on a single case’s size and complexity and the extent to which it set new standards of excellence in the delivery of legal services by the team.

Open to all Canada-based law departments in banking or financial institutions (including banks, credit unions, lenders, insurance companies, pension funds and brokerage firms). Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

WINNER

WINNER

Arvay Finlay LLP, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), Caza Saikaley S.R.L./LLP, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Gall Legge Grant Zwack LLP, Grant Kovacs Norell, JFK Law Corporation, Lawson Lundell LLP, MacKenzie Fujisawa LLP, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, NG Ariss Fong, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Ratcliff and Company LLP, White Raven Law Corporation

TD Bank Group

Attorney General of British Columbia v. Attorney General of Canada (B.C.) EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Attorney General of Quebec, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Torys LLP, Vincent Karim and Ricardo Hrtschan

CIBC

Hydro-Québec v. Matta

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP, Stikeman Elliott LLP, Woods LLP 9354-9186 Québec inc. v. Callidus Capital Corp.

Dentons Canada LLP, Fillmore Riley LLP Canadian National Railway Company v. John Doe

40

www.lawawards.ca

Coast Capital Savings National Bank of Canada Royal Bank of Canada

LAWSON LUNDELL LLP ADVERT

EXCEPTIONAL. Lawson Lundell is a leading Western and Northern Canadian business law firm known for its practical, strategic approach to legal and business problems.

We are proud to be among exceptional organizations recognized by the Canadian Law Awards. Congratulations to all awardees!

lawsonlundell.com Vancouver | Kelowna | Calgary | Yellowknife

@lawsonlundell

www.lawawards.ca

41

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE & TRANSPORTATION LAW DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR

Open to all Canada-based law departments in construction, infrastructure or transportation organizations. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

FEATURED WINNER

WINNER

IBI Group

IBI Group

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Aecon Group Inc. Canada Lands Company Limited Infrastructure Ontario (IO) VIA Rail Canada Inc.

IBI LEGAL SERVICES is comprised of four licensed lawyers and one law clerk. Each is actively involved in providing practical, outcome-oriented advice on contracting, project risk management, business and product development. Working across six continents, Legal Services provides support on the lifecycle of IBI’s business, from business development, through to contract negotiation, and litigation management, with an emphasis on informed decision making that fuels IBI’s growth.

Over the course of 2020, they developed and implemented innovative tools to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of their services. Highlights include: 1. Robotic Process Automation (RPA): Created BotIBI, new botfunctionality designed to assist IBI professionals in licensing and contracting workflows. It is a go-to resource for employees looking for legal templates and answers to questions about licensing.

42

www.lawawards.ca

2. A utomated Contract Review: Developed an efficient means to respond to and negotiate service agreements and non-disclosure agreements critical to managing risk. By adopting LawGeex into their work, the company has automated the review and approval of contracts with unparalleled accuracy, consistency, and scalability through an advanced AI platform available 24/7 around the world.

3. L egal Spend Management Software: Integrated and leveraged AI legal management software BrightFlag, to create efficiencies in their practice and reduce legal spend.

4. C loud Based Entity Management: Athennian has transformed the company’s ability to ensure compliance and governance, while assisting in entity management, compliance tracking, e-filing and workflow automation.

For more information, visit: www.ibigroup.com

ENERGY & RESOURCES LAW DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR

Open to all Canada-based law departments in energy and resources (including mining) organizations.

Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

WINNER

FEATURED WINNER

Ontario Power Generation

Ontario Power Generation

EXCELLENCE AWARDEE

Plains Midstream Canada ULC (PMC)

DURING THE extraordinary year that was 2020, OPG’s dedicated workforce came through for Ontarians by providing a reliable and safe supply of electricity 24/7. Its Legal Department also embraced this spirit of agility and resiliency, maintaining their focus to support OPG through many complex matters that drove the company’s strategic growth plan, while enabling safe operations.

From carriage of significant and novel matters, to advancing a bestin-class ethics and equity program, to excellence in supporting OPG’s board and subsidiaries — the team accomplished all of this while maintaining engagement, productivity and connection with each other and business unit colleagues. Key company initiatives supported during this period include: • Accelerated efforts to building a diverse, committed, healthy, and agile workforce in a dynamic and changing industry by creating OPG’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, establishing ED&I as a corporate priority;

• Advanced the development of Small Modular Reactors, including resuming planning for a new nuclear build at OPG’s Darlington site; • Continued work related to the province’s largest infrastructure project, the $12.8B refurbishment of the Darlington Nuclear Generation Station, which will allow the station to continue to provide low cost, reliable, clean power for another 40 years; • Opened the new Centre for Canadian Nuclear Sustainability; • Finalized complex acquisitions to grow OPG’s diverse generating fleet; and • Launched OPG’s Climate Change Strategy and other projects and initiatives that support Canada and Ontario’s climate change goals, including the Ivy Charging Network for electric vehicles.

For more information, visit: www.opg.com

www.lawawards.ca

43

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

LAW DEPARTMENT LEADER OF THE YEAR

LAW DEPARTMENT INNOVATION AWARD

CANADIAN LAW DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR

Open to all Canada-based general counsels, chief legal officers, heads of legal, and etcetera, in in-house positions. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

Open to all projects or initiatives executed by Canada-based law departments in 2020. Judged on the significance, innovativeness and impact of the project or initiative.

Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

Open to all Canada-based law departments. Winners of the three sector-specific law department categories are included as excellence awardees for this category. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

Graeme McPhail Rogers Communications Inc.

TD Bank Group

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Pierre Marc Bellavance, LL.M., ASC

CPP Investments’ deal risk rating frameworks and app

Alberta Health Services

Beneva (La Capitale Insurance and Financial Services and SSQ Insurance)

IBI Group’s process automation tools

Julie Morel Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (“BRP”)

Carl DeLuca Detour Gold Corporation

Erica Zarkovich LifeLabs

David Hanick Starlight Investments

44

Teck Resources Ltd.’s Business Transformation Program - RACE21TM

www.lawawards.ca

Ivanhoe Cambridge inc.

Mastercard Foundation

Royal Bank of Canada’s contest rules compliance and global brand portfolio management

TELUS Communications

Siemens’ Healthineers in Canada app

IBI Group

Teranet Inc., Legal Services Group

Ontario Power Generation

FEATURED WINNER

TD Bank Group TD’S LEGAL DEPARTMENT is comprised of a diverse team of lawyers and other professionals with expertise tailored to meet the legal needs of TD’s various businesses and corporate functions. The team prides itself on enabling the business strategy, through creative and practical legal solutions. The team is collaborative, agile, resilient, innovative and technologically savvy, and is always up for fun along the way.

“Winning the Canadian Law Awards and being named Canadian Law Department of the year are incredible honours, particularly given the pressures associated with the pandemic,” says Jane Langford, SVP, Canadian Legal at TD. “The key to our success is our talented and incredibly hard-working team who are committed to our colleagues, customers and communities.

We will use this recognition as a motivator to push ourselves to higher levels of excellence, and as yet another reason to celebrate our amazing team!”

For more information, visit: www.td.com

www.lawawards.ca

45

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

THE WESTERN UNION BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AWARD FOR IP BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Open to all Canada-based law firms that derived at least 50% of their 2020 revenue from IP matters.

Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

AWARD SPONSOR

WESTERN UNION BUSINESS SOLUTIONS WINNER

Smart & Biggar

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala LLP Robic, LLP

“ We are proud to be a part of recognizing excellence in the IP legal profession. IP is an exciting practice and seems to be more important now than ever and will continue to go forward that way. Congratulations again to all the awardees and all the best.”

Chris Day Director of Payments and Partnerships, Western Union Business Solutions

46

www.lawawards.ca

Backed by a brand founded in 1851, Western Union Business Solutions is a trusted partner for international payments and foreign exchange.

Our global network offers payments in 130+ currencies across a network of over 200 countries and territories. Partnering with over 700 law firms across the globe, we know how to help streamline your firms’ domestic and cross-border payments. As a trusted partner to the legal industry, we provide an end-to-end payments solution to simplify complicated payments processes and drive efficiencies.

Our payments expertise includes servicing law firms to help with payments regarding intellectual property, immigration, mergers and acquisitions, settlements, foreign associates’ payroll and payments, partner draws and foreign office funding.

For more information, visit: business.westernunion.com/enca/global-payment-solutions/ legal

ATLANTIC CANADA LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Open to firms that have offices only in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and/or Newfoundland, and offer a wide range of legal services. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

WINNER

FEATURED WINNER

Smart & Biggar SMART & BIGGAR is widely recognized as Canada’s leading firm for intellectual property law. With offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary, and over 100 lawyers, patent agents and trademark agents, they are the largest firm focused purely on IP and related specialty areas.

With decades of experience in intellectual property, combined with their deep knowledge and expertise across a wide range of technologies and industries, Smart & Biggar provides clients with opportunities and solutions to leverage and maximize IP. For over a century, the firm has remained devoted to protecting their clients’ intellectual property and technology assets. Whether they are advising an innovative company on patent strategy, providing counsel on brand protection and enforcement, or handling the IP aspects of a corporate transaction, they provide clients with solutions to protect, enforce and leverage their IP.

Stewart McKelvey LLP

EXCELLENCE AWARDEE

Wagners

For more information, visit: www.smartbiggar.ca

“ We have people who have a great passion for this area of the law who also have scientific and engineering backgrounds. And so, they’re able to really guide clients in ways that general practice lawyers can’t.”

Matthew Zischka Managing Partner, Smart & Biggar

www.lawawards.ca

47

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

ONTARIO LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

PRAIRIES LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

QUEBEC LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

Open to firms that have offices only in Ontario, and offer a wide range of legal services. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

Open to firms that have offices only in Saskatchewan and/or Manitoba, and offer a wide range of legal services.

Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

Open to firms that have offices only in the province of Quebec (extending across the river to include Ottawa), and offer a wide range of legal services. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

Lerners LLP

Lavery Lawyers

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Barriston LLP

McDougall Gauley LLP

Langlois lawyers, LLP

Beard Winter LLP

McKercher LLP

Spiegel Sohmer

Torkin Manes LLP

Pitblado LLP

WeirFoulds LLP

48

Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP

www.lawawards.ca

WESTERN CANADA LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR Open to firms that have offices only in British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories and offer a wide range of legal services. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

WINNER

FEATURED EXCELLENCE AWARDEE

Farris LLP

Spiegel Sohmer AS ONE of Quebec’s most innovative firms, Spiegel Sohmer is called upon to lead prominent and influential matters in multiple industries, resulting in unrivalled experience. The last year has been one of the busiest in the history of the firm.

In an unprecedented year, their commercial department played an integral role in shepherding clients through an array of legal challenges participated by the global pandemic. Their commercial attorneys also identified numerous opportunities and assisted our privately-owned, owner-managed businesses in identifying and completing strategic acquisitions, mergers and restructurings — both locally and internationally — in several key sectors including food services, industrial real estate and technology, as well as sourcing and manufacturing personal protective equipment.

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Clark Wilson LLP Lawson Lundell LLP

In addition, Spiegel Sohmer advised on numerous leading taxation law matters, including planning for comprehensive reorganizations incorporating new Canadian operating subsidiaries, complex restructuring of share ownership and transfer of operational assets.

Moreover, Spiegel Sohmer successfully obtained leave to appeal on two separate decisions rendered by Justices of the Commercial Division of the Superior Court, in a rare Court of Appeal judgment dealing with the interpretation of article 32 of the Quebec Code of Civil Procedure.

For more information, visit: www.spiegelsohmer.com

www.lawawards.ca

49

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

WESTERN CANADA LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

FEATURED EXCELLENCE AWARDEE

Lawson Lundell LLP LAWSON LUNDELL is one of the largest and most experienced law firms in Western and Northern Canada. They are a leading full-service business law firm, known for their practical, strategic approach to legal and business problems.

With over 160 lawyers located in offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Kelowna and Yellowknife, they are widely recognized by respected legal and business publications.

The firm advises clients in all major industries active in Canada. Their diverse client base requires that they also focus

50

www.lawawards.ca

on activities in other parts of the world, which offers them ever increasing opportunities to stay aware of changes and developments worldwide.

Lawson Lundell is perfectly suited and prepared to provide the advice and commitment required to assist in their clients’ success. They are here to make a difference, as they have for 135 years.

For more information, visit: www.lawsonlundell.com

LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

LITIGATOR OF THE YEAR

BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN A LAW FIRM

Open to all Canada-based law firms that derived at least 50% of their 2020 revenue from litigation and dispute resolution. Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2020.

Open to all Canada-based litigators.

Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of litigation work performed during calendar year 2020.

Open to all Canada-based law firms.

Judged on the extent to which firms have pushed through technological innovation and implemented fresh approaches in creating and delivering legal products, including utilizing technology and new business models, through 2020.

WINNER

WINNER

WINNER

Lenczner Slaght

Sylvie Rodrigue Torys LLP

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP

Andrew I. Nathanson Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

Melissa Miller

Davidson Houle Allen LLP

Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP Jensen Shawa Solomon Duguid Hawkes LLP Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP Thomson Rogers

Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP

Crawford Smith Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

Brandon Kain

Gluckstein Lawyers McCarthy Tétrault LLP Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

www.lawawards.ca

51

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN A LAW FIRM

FEATURED EXCELLENCE AWARDEE

Gluckstein Lawyers CHARLES GLUCKSTEIN has long recognized the advantages that accompany innovation. He has worked tirelessly to modernize his practice to meet changing realities and better serve clients. Choosing to lead rather than follow, in 2018, Gluckstein Lawyers was among the first law firms in Canada to implement Filevine, a cloud-based customizable file management software platform with enhanced security measures.

It provides the law firm with access to all cases and documents, allowing lawyers to stay ahead of deadlines, move files forward, and facilitate communication with clients, other lawyers, insurers, healthcare providers, and legal support services.

Charles Gluckstein has made the most from emerging technology, integrating other cloud-based software programs into Filevine, including MedChart, Tracument, and VineSign, to create a seamless work process. Such integrated technologies

52

www.lawawards.ca

increase firm productivity and allow more time to connect with clients and build better cases.

Gluckstein Lawyers continue to implement innovative ideas to serve clients and the broader legal community better. In June 2020, Gluckstein Lawyers launched Butter Torts: A Truly Legal Canadian Podcast, which explores different areas of expertise, bringing important focus to community organizations and causes, in addition to being CPD-accredited for its legal content. Gluckstein hosted Risky Business in the fall, a CPDaccredited Medical Malpractice Conference seen by a national audience through Zoom.

The firm also began working with Brock University to create and implement a client-based iOS and Android app, launching 2021. The app will provide clients with up-to-date information about the firm, events, and resources at their fingertips.

For more information, visit: www.gluckstein.com

MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR

PRO BONO INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

Open to all managing partners, CEOs or similar of Canada-based law firms.

Judged on achievements, leadership and performance through 2020.

Open to any single pro bono or not-for-profit initiative executed by a Canada-based law firm or law department in 2020. Judged on the impact of the initiative and its contribution to society and the community.

WINNER

WINNER

Dave Leonard

Dentons Canada LLP

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Dentons helps employers put domestic abuse on the agenda

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Suzana Popovic-Montag

IMK s.e.n.c.r.l./LLP

Hull & Hull LLP

Contestation of Bill 21

Anik Trudel

Nelligan O’Brien Payne

Lavery Lawyers

Free Employment Helpline

Tom Curry

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Lenczner Slaght

Mia Hempey Nelligan O’Brien Payne LLP

Norton Rose Fulbright and Zú partner to support growing businesses in Quebec’s entertainment industry

www.lawawards.ca

53

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR

FEATURED EXCELLENCE AWARDEE

Suzana Popovic-Montag Hull & Hull LLP

SUZANA POPOVIC-MONTAG is the Managing Partner of Hull & Hull LLP, one of Canada’s leading estate litigation firms. As one of the country’s premier estate litigators with almost 25 years of litigation experience, she has successfully represented clients at every level of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada.

Trained in mediation at Harvard Law School, Suzana also maintains a specialized mediation practice through Hull Estate Mediation Inc., focusing on pre-death and post-death estate resolutions.

She is a frequent blogger and podcaster and speaks regularly at conferences across Canada. Suzana is the author of numerous academic articles on estates and trusts issues, and her articles are referred to in many of Canada’s leading estates texts.

54

www.lawawards.ca

She is a co-editor of Wills & Trusts Law Reports (U.K.) and Trust Quarterly Review (U.K.). Suzana is also the author and co-author of several academic texts, most notably: Probate Practice (5th Edition), Feeney’s Canadian Law of Wills (4th Edition) and Challenging the Validity of Wills (2nd Edition).

Suzana has been a Lexpert Ranked Lawyer since 2012 and recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada since 2009 in the area of Trusts and Estates.

She has also been selected as a recommended attorney by Global Law Experts. Suzana was called to the bar in 1997.

She has an LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario and an Honours B.A. in Economics and Math from Wilfrid Laurier University.

For more information, visit: www.hullandhull.com

THE BERESKIN & PARR AWARD FOR DIVERSITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

Open to all Canada-based law firms and law departments. Judged on the concrete steps the law firm or law department took during 2020 to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

WINNER

McCarthy Tétrault LLP McCarthy Tétrault’s Anti-Racism Strategy

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Aird & Berlis LLP ABDI

Dentons Canada LLP Standing up against anti-Black racism

Harper Grey LLP Life in Law

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP Race equity strategy

Ontario Regional Office of the Department of Justice (Canada) The Department of Justice Ontario Regional Office’s Commitment to Action on Diversity and Inclusion

AWARD SPONSOR

BERESKIN & PARR LLP Bereskin & Parr LLP is a leading Canadian full service intellectual property law firm serving clients across all industries around the world. Founded in 1965, the firm has grown to be one of the largest IP firms in Canada with offices located in major economic and technology centres. Bereskin & Parr is made up of more than 75 lawyers, patent and trademark agents, many of whom are recognized as leading practitioners in their specialized fields. The firm has established a depth of legal talent and systems to service clients in every aspect of patent, trademark, copyright, advertising & marketing law and IP litigation.

For more information, visit: www.bereskinparr.com

“ Bereskin & Parr’s founding 55 years ago was grounded in diversity and inclusion, making it part of our DNA.” Scott MacKendrick Partner and litigation-group member Bereskin & Parr LLP

www.lawawards.ca

55

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

FEMALE TRAILBLAZER Open to all Canada-based women lawyers. Judged on professional accomplishments, leadership, community involvement, and the extent to which the individual has either passively or actively contributed to gender equality in the legal profession in 2020.

ACADEMIA / GENERAL COUNSEL PRIVATE PRACTICE WINNER WINNER

Donna E. Young

Krista Hill

Ryerson University Faculty of Law

Torys LLP

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Jasmine Singh

Maria Scarfo

BMO Financial Group

Blaney McMurtry LLP

Bindu Cudjoe

Éloïse Gratton

CWB Financial Group

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)

Shannon Rogers

Robin Aitken, TEP

Global Relay

Cox & Palmer

Jennifer Suess

Elizabeth S. Dipchand

RioCan REIT

Dipchand LLP

Lisa Ford

Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy

Royal Bank of Canada

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP

Terrie-Lynne Devonish

Karen Hennessey

Staples Canada

Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP

Kathleen A. Howie

Lisa D. Ridgedale

The Co-operators Group Limited

Hakemi & Ridgedale LLP

Cheryl D’Sa Narwal Litigation

Allison Kuntz Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Sharon Vogel Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP

Sumeet (Sonu) Dhanju-Dhillon Torkin Manes LLP

56

www.lawawards.ca

FEATURED EXCELLENCE AWARDEE

Elizabeth S. Dipchand Dipchand LLP

ELIZABETH’S ACHIEVEMENTS are founded upon her ability to unify. She has the ability to turn colleagues into champions and clients into partners.

Community is the basis for everything she does, and everyone around her is a part of it. When she is not living a better way to practice law, she lends her time, name and resources to the advancement of women, marginalized communities and innovative ventures that deserve support.

Elizabeth is grateful for the opportunity to serve her community as a director on various boards (Shaw Festival, IPIC, G(irls)20). She is also strongly committed to professional excellence, the pursuit of ingenious solutions and is actively engaged in growing great lawyers. However, her most significant success comes from founding Dipchand LLP and leading a highly curated team.

Elizabeth’s natural talent for finding top-caliber professionals and dedication to the values of excellence, integrity, ingenuity and fun gives Dipchand LLP the big shop mentality with a village’s sense of community. The Dipchand LLP team sees how the legal world should be and brings it to a reality every day through the unique way that they practice law. As a client, just like her team and colleagues, you are invited into a professional relationship that lasts a lifetime. Their commitment to compassion, professional excellence, and curiosity is contagious for everyone they interact with.

For Elizabeth, the spotlight is not worth it if a shadow is cast onto others — success is only worth celebrating if it’s shared with those who helped pave the way.

For more information, visit: www.dipchand.com

www.lawawards.ca

57

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

FEMALE TRAILBLAZER

FEATURED EXCELLENCE AWARDEE

Jasmine Singh

BMO Financial Group JASMINE is Legal Counsel at BMO Financial Group. She is a derivatives lawyer based in Toronto where she provides advice on a range of capital markets transactions, with a focus on complex energy commodity derivatives and securities financing.

Jasmine is an advocate for the advancement of equity, justice and opportunity for women and racialized lawyers in the Canadian legal community. She is involved in a variety of community engagements and sits on the boards of several non-profit organizations.

Jasmine is the Vice President of the South Asian Bar Association (SABA) — Toronto Chapter, the largest legal diversity organization in Canada, with over 850 members in the GTA. In her capacity as Vice President and co-chair of the chapter’s Women’s Committee, she works with other diversity organizations, community stakeholders and provincial and federal governments to advocate for

58

www.lawawards.ca

matters affecting South Asian Lawyers and racialized communities at large.

She is also VP — Public Relations on SABA North America’s Executive Committee.

Jasmine is Treasurer of the ITLNCA NetworkS, an organization dedicated to assisting internationally trained lawyers with maximizing their employment opportunities in Canada.

She is a mentor in the Law in Action Within Schools (LAWS) program, which pairs lawyers with high school students who face barriers to success, with an aim of exposing them to law and justice through workshops and mentorship programs.

In 2019, she was a BMO Employee Giving Campaign Ambassador for the United Way. Jasmine is also an active member of BMO’s Legal & Regulatory Compliance Diversity Council Workplace Committee.

For more information, visit: www.bmo.com

2021 JUDGING PANEL Thank you to our esteemed judges for lending their time and expertise to help recognize and celebrate excellence in the legal profession GERRY APOSTOLATOS Former Chair of the Board of Directors Langlois Lawyers, LLP

MARC B. BARBEAU Former Chair of the Firm Stikeman Elliott LLP

STEPHEN BENEY Managing Partner Bereskin & Parr LLP

MARK T. BENNETT Managing Partner Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

LILAC BOSMA Senior Vice President and General Counsel HSBC Bank Canada

LYDIA BUGDEN, QC CEO & Managing Partner Stewart McKelvey

LYNN BURNS Executive Director Pro Bono Ontario

GORDON CAPERN Partner Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP

OLIVIER CHOUC Vice President, Law CN - Law and Office of the Corporate Secretary Canadian National Railway Company

JEFFREY COHEN Managing Partner Torkin Manes LLP

GEORGE COOPER, QC Chief Executive Officer and Partner Cox & Palmer

TOM CURRY Managing Partner Lenczner Slaght

STEPHEN J. D’AGOSTINO Managing Partner Thomson Rogers

JEFF DAVIS Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

PETER FELDBERG Firm Managing Partner Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

YONNI FUSHMAN Executive Vice President, CLO & Secretary, Aecon Group Inc. and Past Chair Ontario Bar Association’s Construction and Infrastructure Law section

FERNANDO GARCIA Vice President, Legal Cargojet

KARA RUSSELL GOLDSMITH Senior Legal Counsel Rogers Communications Inc.

MATTHEW GOTTLIEB Managing Partner Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP

DEBORAH GREENBERG Chief Information Officer, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Quebec Chapter Leader Women General Counsel Canada

DAVID GUNASEKERA Managing Partner DuMoulin Black LLP

ELSPETH HAGAN General Counsel, Global Compliance, McCain Foods Limited and President — Women General Counsel Canada

SHARON HAWARD-LAIRD General Counsel BMO Financial Group

DR. IAN HOLLOWAY PC QC PHD Professor and Dean of Law The University of Calgary

SHARI HOSAKI

CHARLES E. HURDON Managing Partner — Canada Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

DOMINIQUE HUSSEY Vice Chair, Toronto Managing Partner Bennett Jones LLP

JEFFREY JAY KAY Q.C. Managing Partner Farris LLP

KEVIN J. KILEY Managing Partner McInnes Cooper

JUSTIN KUTYAN

KEITH DAVID LABOSSIERE CEO & Managing Partner Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP

Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary Legal Affairs HarperCollins Canada and Harlequin

PHILIPPE JOHNSON Managing Partner, Montréal Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

MELISSA KENNEDY Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Sun Life Financial and Founding member — Legal Leaders for Diversity

LYNN KORBAK General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Toromont Industries Ltd

JAMES KOSA Partner, Technology and IP WeirFoulds LLP

National Leader and Senior Partner KPMG Law LLP

BINDU CUDJOE

SVP and General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, CWB Financial Group and Vice President Women General Counsel Canada

www.lawawards.ca

59

Canadian LAW AWARDS 2021

MICHAEL LADHA Legal Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

DALE H. LASTMAN, C.M. Chair Goodmans LLP

KIKELOMO LAWAL Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer CIBC

MARK LE BLANC General Counsel TVO

JEAN-FRANÇOIS LEGAULT Chief Legal & Risk Officer and Corporate Secretary VIA Rail Canada

TONY LINARDI General Counsel Golder Associates Ltd.

AV MAHARAJ Vice President HR, Corporate and Legal Affairs KraftHeinz Canada

BLAIR MCCREADIE Managing Partner, Toronto Dentons Canada LLP

ANDREW MCLAUGHLIN Vice President — Legal Affairs & General Counsel Major Drilling

ASHOK MENEN Investigation Counsel Ontario Securities Commission and Director South Asian Bar Association of Toronto

JOHN G. MURPHY National Managing Partner & CEO Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)

PETER V. NGUYEN SVP Legal, Associate General Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary, Descartes Systems Group and Founder GC Forum

KERRY O’REILLY WILKS Chief Officer, Legal, Regulatory & External Affairs TransAlta Corporation

LORNE O’REILLY Lead Counsel, Dow Chemical Canada ULC and VP & Treasurer and Member of the Board of Directors — Alberta Chapter, Association of Corporate Counsel

PAUL PATON, Q.C., JSD Thomas W. Lawlor QC Professor of Law and Ethics Faculty of Law, University of Alberta Visiting Scholar, American Bar Foundation (2019-20) University of Alberta

JANICE PAYNE Partner Nelligan O’Brien Payne LLP

MARK PERSAUD Senior Legal Counsel, Persaud Law Group and Justice Committee — Co-Chair The BlackNorth Initiative

ROBERT PIASENTIN Partner, Technology McMillan LLP

LEOLA PON In-House Counsel Toronto District School Board

KARRIN A. POWYS-LYBBE Partner Torys LLP

EMMANUEL PRESSMAN Chair, Corporate Department Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP

CLIFFORD G. PROUDFOOT, QC Managing Partner Lawson Lundell LLP

POONAM PURI Professor of Law, Osgoode Hall Law School York University

DOROTHY QUANN Chair of the Law & Business Advocacy Council Ted Rogers School of Management

TERRA REBICK Chief Counsel Thomson Reuters

NATHALIE RIZCALLA VP HR, Corporate and Legal Affairs Pelican International

TANYA ROTHE General Counsel D-Wave Systems Inc.

MELANIE SCHWEIZER VP — Legal Bell Canada

ROBERT SEIDEL, Q.C. Canada Managing Partner DLA Piper (Canada) LLP

GODYNE N.L. SIBAY Managing Partner, Ontario Region McCarthy Tétrault LLP

PHILIP SHAER Chief Legal Officer Canopy Growth Corp

JULIA SHIN DOI General Counsel, Secretary of the Board of Governors and University Privacy Officer Ryerson University

LISA SKAKUN General Counsel and Chief Corporate Development Officer Coast Capital Savings

ANNE SPAFFORD Toronto Managing Partner Lerners LLP

MARGOT SPENCE Manager, Corporate Law, ICBC and Chair — Canadian Corporate Counsel Association

BRYSON A. STOKES National Managing Partner Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

RAPHAEL TACHIE Senior Counsel, TD Bank Group and Vice President Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL)

ABIGAIL TURNER Partner Harper Grey LLP

MICHAEL WILLIAMS Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, General Counsel Richardson Wealth

HILDA WONG Senior Vice President and General Counsel, First National Financial LP and Secretary Women General Counsel Canada

ANDREA WOOD Chief Legal and Governance Officer TELUS

STEVEN ZAKEM Managing Partner Aird & Berlis LLP

60

www.lawawards.ca