Rising Stars

WE ARE PLEASED to introduce you to this year's Lexpert Rising Stars. You have likely already worked with or encountered these lawyers before now. They have led on transactions, advanced caselaw in new directions and directed their law departments through modern challenges. While demonstrating leadership in their careers, they have also contributed to their communities and profession in interesting and diverse ways. We hope you will read and be inspired.

CAROLINE ABELA

WEIRFOULDS LLP >TORONTO

Caroline is a partner with the business litigation and estates and trusts group. She has a record of success in high-stakes litigation, where creative solutions are often required. She frequently acts on complex multi-jurisdictional litigation, overseeing numerous lawyers. She combines a high degree of professionalism and legal expertise with a genuine understanding of her clients and their needs. Her ability to display a sense of urgency, while exuding confidence and calm, is much appreciated by clients dealing with multiple complex and difficult matters. She recently brought together several colleagues to create an anti-corruption group for the firm. She has been a member of the internal nominating committee and served as co-chair of the students committee. She is recognized as a committed mentor to young lawyers, a strong supporter of women in the law, and a role model who exhibits integrity and poise while balancing the duties of lawyer and mother. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Western Ontario, a frequent moot court judge at the University of Toronto, and a guest instructor for the U of T Intensive Trial Advocacy course.

GEORGE ANTONOPOULOS

DENTONS CANADA LLP > CALGARY

George's practice focuses on planning, drafting, negotiating and completing complex energy transactions and project work in the upstream and midstream oil and gas sectors. He advises clients with respect to mergers and acquisitions and divestitures, joint venture arrangements, commodity transportation arrangements, corporate reorganizations and energy project development. He has been involved in many recent public transactions, including several multi-billion dollar acquisitions and joint venture deals. He's a key member of the firm's energy transactions group and initial contact on a number of significant energy matters for large, sophisticated clients. His considerable experience in unconventional resource joint ventures has given him the understanding to achieve balanced and fair joint venture arrangements for his clients. He also regularly acts as a mentor and involves junior lawyers in drafting and negotiating transaction agreements. He is a member of the board of directors for the Canadian Energy Law Foundation, whose purpose is to help foster understanding of energy law by practitioners. He's also an organizer of the Alberta Bar Association's negotiation competitions, which is held annually for law students at various Canadian Universities.

AARON ATKINSON

FASKEN MARTINEAU DUMOULIN LLP > TORONTO

Aaron has been involved in many of the top mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and corporate finance deals shaping the Canadian business and legal landscape. In 2012, he helped lead Canadian Pacific Railway's advisory team in its proxy battle with Pershing Square, a Lexpert Top 10 Deal, and he continues to advise CP and its board. He played a key role on the team advising Viterra's board of directors in its $6.1-billion sale to Glencore, another Lexpert Top 10 Deal. In 2010, he played a pivotal role in Lexpert's Corporate Deal of the Year, advising on Magna International's dual-class share capital reorganization. He also played a key role in creating the firm's M&A editorial board and its securities and M&A blog. He has a passion for teaching and mentoring young lawyers and students, and, in 2007, he organized and taught the corporate finance course, free of charge, at his alma mater, the University of Windsor Law School. For three years he has worked with two other lawyers to organize the annual Langdon Hall Securities Law Practitioners Conference. He chairs the firm's United Way leadership campaign, leading a team of 25 colleagues and significantly increasing participation of younger lawyers.

JEFFREY BAKKER

BLAKE, CASSELS & GRAYDON LLP > CALGARY

Jeff articled with the firm in 2004, and has since practised in the Calgary securities group as a partner. He has become a recognized expert and leader in public financings and mergers and acquisitions transactions, cross-border securities offerings, executive compensation plans and reserves disclosure issues. He has been a significant member of the team in the Agrium/JANA proxy contest, the $15.1-billion acquisition of Nexen by China National Offshore Oil Company, and the $3.2-billion acquisition of Provident Energy Ltd. by Pembina Pipeline, to name a few. He has acted on behalf of underwriters and dealers in both public and private offerings of equity and debt, and assists clients with corporate governance matters and continuous disclosure compliance obligations, as well as general corporate and commercial matters. He is active in developing important client relationships through presentations on topics such as M&A and emerging issues in capital markets transactions. He is involved in student recruiting, including serving on the firm's Calgary student committee, and also functioning as a mentor to associates, articling and summer students.

SARIT BATNER

MCCARTHY TÉTRAULT LLP > TORONTO

Sarit is a litigator whose trial and appellate practice covers a range of complex matters, from breach of contract and fiduciary duty to taxation, franchise disputes, oppression and professional negligence. She has a strong record at trial and in her motions and appeals, and her success in the most complex and challenging cases has earned her a place among the firm's top counsel nationally. Her innovative and nimble work is helping set the law in Ontario and Canada. This year, she appeared as lead counsel before the Supreme Court of Canada on a nationally important case concerning access to justice. She was the firm's mentor of the year in 2012, recognized for building associates' skills by consistently testing the limits of their abilities. As a lawyer, teacher and active community member, she is a recognized leader. She serves on the fundraising board of the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children and on the management team of the Canadian Medical Protective Agency. She teaches trial advocacy at the University of Toronto, speaks frequently on legal matters, and has written articles for Lexpert and papers for the Law Society of Upper Canada and other legal conferences.

PHILIPPE BOURASSA

BLAKE, CASSELS & GRAYDON LLP >MONTREAL

Philippe has worked on a large number of complex and challenging infrastructure transactions, mergers and acquisitions and strategic commercial deals. His business acumen and legal abilities have earned high praise from sophisticated clients in the successful conclusion of many M&A deals. He has taken a keen interest in infrastructure and emerging P3 areas in Quebec. His participation in many of the most significant P3 projects in Quebec, and in project finance transactions outside Quebec, have allowed him to gain important experience and competitive advantage. He has successfully led files comprised of large teams of lawyers, clerks and students in P3 deals and M&A transactions. He has been a great contributor to the firm, constantly exceeding budget and devoting substantial time and effort to student recruiting, professional development, mentoring, and the development and improvement of precedents. He has demonstrated an ability to attract important new clients and to develop and maintain solid relationships with existing major clients. Recently, he has taken a new leadership role as co-chair of the firm's Montreal mentoring initiative. He supports several charities and community organizations, including Le Grand Défi Pierre Lavoie, Procure, Muscular Dystrophy and the CHUM/ CUSM hospitals redevelopment project.

KINJI BOURCHIER

LAWSON LUNDELL LLP >VANCOUVER

Kinji Bourchier is a partner and commercial litigator, who has appeared as lead counsel at all levels of court in BC, at the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, and before several administrative bodies. He has also been involved in seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. He is a top originator of new work and a leading developer of long-standing client relationships. He's known for his ability to grasp the intricacies of his clients' businesses and providing practical solutions without losing sight of the law. He is an excellent leader of large legal teams, while his compassion and leadership skills have enhanced the development of many young lawyers. He is a key recruiting lawyer and commits much of his time to identifying new talent. He has played a crucial part on mentoring and recruitment committees for more than 13 years, and senior partners regard him as part of the glue that holds the firm together. His community work includes giving hundreds of volunteer hours annually, as a director of Reed Athletics Fund, which is committed to developing Canadian Olympic hopefuls, and as a past director and member of the Hoop-Law Society, which raises money for underprivileged children.

DAVID BRONSKILL

GOODMANS LLP >TORONTO

As a partner, David Bronskill has developed a diverse practice focusing on municipal law matters for private and public sector clients throughout Ontario. His ability to synthesize complex issues quickly, and to present persuasive arguments skillfully to all levels of decision makers has made him a first choice for clients looking to resolve or litigate complex planning and development issues. He has appeared before municipal councils and the Ontario Municipal Board to obtain approvals for a variety of intensification projects in the City of Toronto, as well as greenfield developments in surrounding communities. He invests in clients by providing exceptional service in terms of work product and ongoing strategic advice. He served as chair of the University of Toronto alumni executive committee for three years and in other lead roles. He works on the Law Society of Upper Canada's Feed the Hungry Program, leading efforts on Sunday mornings to feed the city's less fortunate. He is a member of the advisory board of the Toronto Lords Basketball Association, an elite girls program awarding scholarships to aid in academic/ athletic pursuits, and he is the board chair of the Toronto Humane Society.

SHELAGH CARNEGIE

GOWLING LAFLEUR HENDERSON LLP >TORONTO

Shelagh is a partner in the intellectual property group, specializing in trademark and entertainment law. She acts for a diverse, high-profile group of clients in Canada and around the world, from large public and private companies to respected artists and charities. She manages the Canadian trademark prosecution and related trademark needs of such prominent clients as Starbucks, Hewlett-Packard, the Canadian Standards Association, Sun Products and Indspire (formerly the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation). She is a remarkable cross-seller, who produces a substantial amount of work for her colleagues practising in other areas. Her dedication to client service is evident in the in-house secondments she has undertaken to strengthen her firm's position with major clients such as Coca-Cola, Weston/Loblaws and Quiksilver. She has also been a leader in efforts develop alternate client services and billing mod els. As a partner and a mother of two young girls she displays an unparalleled ability to balance the demands of work and family. She provides pro bono legal advice to a variety of groups and individuals, such as The Advocates' Society, the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance, various Aboriginal artists and Food Banks Canada.

SHANDRA CZARNECKI

AIKINS MACAULAY & THORVALDSON >WINNIPEG

Shandra practises labour and employment law, representing management of public and private sector organizations across a variety of industries. She provides practical and strategic advice on all matters relating to labour and employment law. She is known for her ability to navigate complex labour issues within the context of practical business solutions. She keeps her clients informed on changes to federal and provincial labour and employment-related legislation, and how they will need to adjust to meet changing employer obligations. She's consistently recognized by her clients for her responsiveness to their calls, whenever their needs arise. She has mentored HR professionals at the outset of their careers by providing clear guidance on all aspects of labour, employment and human resource matters. She is the co-chair of the Professions Division for United Way Winnipeg and a member of the board of directors of a local daycare centre. She is a former member of the board of directors of the Human Resource Management Association of Manitoba and a former chair of its government relations, legislative review and governance committees. She is also a former deputy commissioner of the Manitoba Residential Tenancies Commission.

PASCALE DIONNE

BCF LLP >MONTREAL

Pascale is a corporate and finance lawyer. She has developed a holistic vision of all aspects of a transaction, from establishing the acquisition strategy to financing the deal, which gives her the ability to anticipate and handle all milestones and legal challenges. Recent transactions have included acquisitions in excess of $100 million, supporting equity investments and debt financing. She has been on the firm's board of directors since 2009, where she's responsible for human resources and initiatives in the mentoring and evaluation of associates. She was designated as the firm's representative on the advisory board of the Justicia program, a Quebec Bar initiative aimed at increasing retention rates for women in private practice. She is often cited as a role model, within and outside the firm, for those who wish to balance their careers with parental roles. In 2011-2012, she was involved in planning the fundraising activities for a sixth grade Spanish-immersion trip to Ecuador, where she accompanied a group of 30 twelve-year-old children for 10 days.

NADIA EFFENDI

BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP >OTTAWA

Nadia is a member of the firm's commercial litigation and appeal and review groups, as well as chair of the firm's Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) agency group. She has represented a wide variety of clients in a number of high-profile and complex cases before all levels of court, including the SCC, in civil and public litigation matters. As SCC agency chair, and a former SCC law clerk, she leads a team that has acquired expertise in representing and providing strategic advice to law firms and their clients across Canada in appearances before the SCC. She frequently assists clients who require bilingual legal services, especially before federal courts and administrative tribunals. She delivers papers and presentations on topics ranging from privacy law to administrative law and civil procedure. She provides pro bono agency services for numerous not-for-profit organizations that appear before the SCC, including the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Insolvency Institute of Canada, and veterans seeking disability benefits. She is also a director (since 2009) and secretary (since 2012) of Citizen Advocacy, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities.

JONATHAN FOREMAN

HARRISON PENSA LLP >LONDON

Jon has accumulated substantial trial experience in the class actions field. After identifying class actions as an emerging area within the legal profession, Jon focused his career on establishing a class actions group for the firm. Under his leadership, the practice has experienced steady and consistent growth over the past ten years and is now among the larger class actions practices in Canada. As a result of Jon's ability to identify opportunities, relationships and growth areas, the class actions practice has been diversified to include insurance, securities law, pensions and employment law, consumer law and intellectual property. In 2012, Jon joined the University of Western Ontario Faculty of Law as an adjunct professor lecturing on class actions. He will teach the course again this year. He has written and presented extensively on class actions at several national legal conferences. Jon serves as chair of both associate and student programs at the firm, and he recently played an integral role in the firm's decision to open a Toronto office. Jon has served as president of the riding association for the Ontario Liberal Party in London North Centre.

TED FRANKEL

CASSELS BROCK & BLACKWELL LLP >TORONTO

Ted is a partner in the advocacy group and a valued litigator with the firm. He has established himself as a go-to partner for complicated matters ranging from corporate and commercial to municipal and elections law, acting as first chair on trials for various large entities and major clients. Ted represented members of parliament against the Council of Canadians in the now-famous “robocalls” case. His submissions generated media headlines such as, “Lawyer tears apart polling data,” and he succeeded in having all seven applications against Conservative MPs dismissed. As lead counsel in more than 30 successful mediations, he has been an effective proponent of alternative dispute resolution. Ted was among the first to volunteer at the Superior Court Law Help Centre, run by Pro Bono Law Ontario. Since 2008, he has assisted more than 130 litigants otherwise priced-out of access to justice. Ted is a founding member of the firm's pro bono committee, where his enthusiasm has been instrumental in bringing 18 fellow litigators on board. He serves on the board of directors of the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre and is an outspoken participant in the Palmerston Area Residents' Association.

ADRIAN FROST

THOMPSON DORFMAN SWEATMAN LLP >WINNIPEG

Adrian has built a labour and employment practice that includes a large public sector component, with an emphasis on healthcare and education. In the private sector, he represents multi-jurisdictional manufacturing companies with large workforces. He has negotiated collective agreements, led negotiating teams, and acted as lead counsel for dozens of grievance arbitrations and human rights proceedings. Adrian is the youngest member of the firm's management committee and has participated in developing the strategic plan. He served on the student committee from 2001 to 2013, in which he acted as committee chair from 2007 to 2013. Adrian frequently speaks on employment topics at client seminars and various professional development sessions and has often presented for the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers. He has been the chair or co-chair of the Labour and Employment section of the Manitoba Bar Association for the past five years and participated as a performing cast member in three major fundraising productions. He has led the firm's United Way campaign for the past five years and served as vice president, president and past president on the board of directors of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.

MINDY GILBERT

DAVIES WARD PHILLIPS & VINEBERG LLP >TORONTO

Mindy is a partner in the corporate and commercial practice with a focus on corporate finance and private and public mergers and acquisitions. She has advised clients on many critical transactions, including initial public offerings for Xceed Mortgage and Potash Ridge; Xceed's application to become a federally regulated bank and its acquisition by MCAN Mortgage. She was lead negotiator for Hebei Iron and Steel for its investment in Alderon Iron Ore, guiding Hebei through its first significant investment outside China, managing a team of lawyers in Canada and China and negotiating price-adjustment mechanisms for Hebei. She managed a cross-Canada team of lawyers and played a leading role in advising private equity funds acquiring 299 North American seniors' living communities, including 34 in Canada. Through business development trips to China, Mindy has helped build the firm's China practice, while her knowledge of securities law has strengthened the firm's relationships with issuer and underwriter clients. She's a member of the firm's student and career development committees, in which she mentors several students and associates and takes a leading role in the advancement of female lawyers. Mindy has been the co-chair of the firm's United Way Leadership Campaign since 2010.

CANDACE GRAMMOND

PITBLADO LAW >WINNIPEG

Candace manages a litigation practice that includes significant work for the Public Utilities Board of Manitoba (PUB). She has served as lead counsel to the PUB since 2008, primarily regarding vehicle and driver rates applications filed by Manitoba Public Insurance. She has made multiple appearances in the Manitoba Court of Appeal involving law-making cases relating to payment of benefits to catastrophic injury victims; dependents' relief in Manitoba, and references to the Master by a Queen's Bench judge. She is a member of the firm's executive committee, holding the portfolio of marketing and business development, and is a member of the strategic planning committee. She has led the firm's transition from a lawyer-directed marketing and business development function to one led by a non-lawyer specialist. She is a member of the Grace Hospital Foundation board of directors and its gala committee; is a supervising lawyer for the Legal Help Centre; is an instructor at the University of Manitoba Law School; and is a former instructor and evaluator for the Law Society of Manitoba articling program. She is a past recipient of the Manitoba Bar Association Pro Bono Public Interest Project Award and a former member of the marketing committee of the Philharmonic Choir

MARTHA HARRISON

HEENAN BLAIKIE LLP >TORONTO

Martha is a partner in international law and trade, including trade remedies, export and import controls and investment arbitration. She has built a new practice area relating to international product regulation, addressing the growing number of consumer product regulatory regimes in Canada. She has appeared before the Canada Border Services Agency and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal in dozens of trade remedy and public procurement cases. She has developed rare expertise in Canadian export controls in the aerospace and defence industries, building the firm a strong client base in this area. She has acted as co-counsel in some of the highest-profile trade disputes under NAFTA Chapter 11 and other international trade law. Martha maintains excellent relationships with the firm's trade sector clients, plays a pivotal role in expanding mandates from major retailers, and leads the firm in offering cutting-edge services through seminars and web-based training. Martha has served as an executive of the Ontario Bar Association International and chaired the Canadian Bar Association Export Controls, Controlled Goods, and Sanctions Committee. She has given committed support to the retention of women at the firm and in practice generally, and acted as an adjunct professor of international arbitration at Queen's University.

STEWART HAYNE

COX & PALMER >HALIFAX

Stewart has leveraged his science and technology background to become one the few lawyers in Atlantic Canada practising intellectual property and technology law, both litigation and commercial. He has litigated cases arising out of licensed trade secrets, trademark infringement, patent infringement, and copyright infringement, including novel issues arising out of the use of open-source software. A significant component of his practice is medical defence matters, further leveraging his science background. His practice also includes assisting in corporate transactions with intellectual property components. He has assisted in the sale of corporate telecommunications divisions and in the $6-billion Muskrat Falls agreement. Formerly IP counsel with Ballard Power Systems, he assisted in the sale of Ballard's automotive division to Daimler AG and Ford Motor Company. Stewart's reputation in his practice area has attracted and retained significant work for the firm, including start-up businesses and patent prosecution work that was previously referred out. He has contributed to the firm's strategic planning and assisted with associate recruitment. Stewart sits on the board of the Regional Residential Services Society, an organization that offers residential choices for adults with intellectual disabilities.

MARTIN IGNASIAK

OSLER, HOSKIN & HARCOURT LLP >CALGARY

Martin is a lead partner in the regulatory, environmental and Aboriginal law group. He runs legal teams on large and complex hearings and often provides last-minute pinch-hitting on other files. His practice focuses on advocacy work for large corporate clients advancing large-scale resource or energy projects through provincial, territorial and federal regulatory regimes that are currently undergoing rapid change. He also leads complex negotiations with Aboriginal groups who may be affected by regulatory approvals. With his broad legal knowledge, he's often asked to advise on complicated matters in the mining, manufacturing, natural resources, power and energy sectors. He acts as a trusted advisor to several major multi-national energy companies. Martin runs multiple major hearings, has opened dozens of matters with new clients, and is a proven revenue generator. Martin sits on the firm's legal professionals committee, taking a keen interest in the development of the firm's legal talent. As a mentor, he believes in student and associate engagement at all levels, encouraging initiative in dedicated juniors. Martin is a former chair of the Edmonton Police Commission and former vice president of the Polish Heritage Society, preparing the society's successful application for registered charity status on a pro bono basis.

GUS KARANTZOULIS

BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP >TORONTO

Gus practises in financial services with an emphasis on lending, securitization, private equity and project and infrastructure finance. He has advised on financing more than 14 energy projects in the past 12 months and has been listed in Lexpert's “Big Deals” directory in connection with 62 significant commercial transactions. Recent files include acting as Canadian counsel to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in connection with its $2.3-billion acquisition of Capsugel; advising Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Canada Housing Trust in connection with more than $300 billion in CMHC-guaranteed Canada Mortgage Bonds; and advising a financial institution in connection with the securitization of a $500-million portfolio of credit card receivables. Gus is regularly called upon to assist other offices with cross-Canada financing transactions. Through his participation in the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association — including membership on 16 subcommittees — he has developed significant US referral work. Gus is also involved with the Hellenic Canadian Lawyers Association, a nonprofit group for legal professionals and students of Greek origin, which recently launched a pro bono program to assist the Hellenic-Canadian community with legal issues.

JAMES KONDOPULOS

ROPER GREYELL LLP >VANCOUVER

James has built a substantial practice advising employers in labour relations, employment and human rights law. He provides representation to employers and employees in wrongful dismissal actions and investigates allegations of workplace harassment, bullying, and code of conduct violations. He has appeared before all levels of court and various workplace-related administrative tribunals in British Columbia. James has added to the firm's strength in growth areas of the law, including advising and acting for employers in the medical and dental fields and representing executives, senior managers and high-net-worth individuals in wrongful dismissal actions. He's active in client development and networking and a strong supporter of office collegiality, working as co-counsel, co-author and co-presenter on a regular basis. He's accessible to partners, associates, administrative staff and students. James is the current chair of the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia Branch - Employment Law Section; an executive member of the CBA National Labour and Employment Law Section; and he volunteers as a moot court judge in the UBC Law Moot Court Program. As chair of the Employment Law Section he has supported its ongoing donations to Access Pro Bono, a nonprofit group, which works to increase access to justice for people with limited means.

SAVVAS KOTSOPOULOS

MILLER THOMSON LLP >TORONTO

Savvas is a partner and co-chair of the firm's national real estate group and chair of the national retail group. He has taken a leading role in a number of high-profile real estate transactions, including the disposition by a Canadian retailer of its lease portfolio to an American retailer for more than $1 billion; the introduction of a Fortune 500, big-box, home improvement retailer to Canada through a series of high-profile real estate acquisitions; the acquisition of hundreds of acres of contaminated industrial lands and hydro generation infrastructure in Northern Ontario for brownfield redevelopers, and many other high-profile transactions. Savvas has originated many new files for the firm, including introducing several new institutional and retail clients and expanding existing relationships. He is regularly called upon to lead files requiring priority execution, and to co-ordinate multi-disciplinary teams. Savvas sits on the board of Toronto's Financial District Business Improvement Area, the largest in Canada, and is a member of the board of directors of the Hellenic Canadian Board of Trade, which seeks to drive business and career growth among young professionals of Hellenic descent.

BRENT KRAUS

BENNETT JONES LLP >CALGARY

Brent has advised on a number of large and complex Canadian and international transactions. He has advised leading international energy producers and a major energy services company on acquisitions, initial public offerings, public financings, and private placements worth several tens of billions of dollars. Brent has been recognized by new partners as a mentor in their career development and is known as a go-to guy for advice on difficult acquisitions and securities transactions. He is personally responsible for bringing to the firm clients such as the world's largest oilfield services company, other energy service companies, and several leading capital investment firms focusing on the energy sector. His professional skills, client service and cross-selling have led to a number of new client files for his firm's corporate, litigation, and insolvency groups. Brent is a board member of the Calgary-based Association for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured, a not-for-profit group that assists rehab and daily living skills of clients suffering from traumatic brain injury and stroke. He's treasurer of the Galileo Educational Network, which works to improve school curriculum across Canada through interactive learning methods and he regularly volunteers with – and has written articles for – EPAC, the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada.

STÉPHANIE LA ROCQUE

DE GRANDPRÉ CHAIT >MONTREAL

Stéphanie is a litigator with 12 years of experience. She has secured dismissals of two appeal motions filed by opponents before the Supreme Court of Canada. She builds confidence in clients, and they have responded by diversifying the nature and increasing the volume of mandates entrusted to her. Despite being one of the youngest partners in the firm, she was named co-chair of the litigation group, where she established credibility at a time of major change in the vision of the firm. Her mentoring activities include individual coaching in court procedures, pleading techniques, and integration within the firm. Perfectly bilingual, she serves clients throughout Canada and the United States, who appreciate her ability to deal with matters in two languages simultaneously without losing any meaning in translation. Clients appreciate her concern for eliminating or limiting the risk of future litigation, helping them to modify existing contracts to comply with Quebec's Consumer Protection Act and recent judgments. She sat for many years on the board of Meals on Wheels of Greater Montreal, including a year as treasurer. An active member of the Quebec Bar, she has taught civil procedure for the past two years at l'École du Barreau.

SIGNE LEISK

CASSELS BROCK & BLACKWELL LLP >TORONTO

Signe is actively involved in structuring and executing large development deals that will permanently enhance the landscape of Toronto and other municipalities. She leads teams of consultants on large-scale, complex development projects, working with many divergent groups. She acted for Infrastructure Ontario on the redevelopment of the 32-hectare West Don Lands along Toronto's waterfront, previously stalled by their past industrial use and flood-plain location. She secured subdivision approval for 6,000 residential units, commercial space, schools and parks, and the site will be an athletes' village for the Pan/Parapan American Games in 2015. She also acted for the University of Toronto in securing multiple approvals for Games facilities, including a $200-million aquatics centre on a site that straddles city and University lands. Under her leadership, the firm's municipal, planning and environmental group has grown exponentially and she is also now a member of the executive committee. She is board secretary of the Greater Toronto YWCA, which provides support to women and girls facing violence, poverty and discrimination. She works with a homeless shelter, two emergency shelters, transitional housing and 533 units of affordable housing and assisted development of the new 300-unit Elm Centre, Toronto's largest affordable housing project in a decade.

AMANDA LINETT

STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP >TORONTO

Amanda is a partner in the Toronto securities group. She has led and managed teams of lawyers on very large and complex transactions, developing recognized expertise in corporate and securities law, M&A and corporate finance. She has counselled issuers, boards of directors and special committees in numerous acquisitions and represents issuers and underwriters in a wide range of corporate finance transactions. Her broad client base includes mining, aerospace and technology companies, pension plans, retailers, hedge funds, investment banks and private equity firms. She acted for Baffinland Iron Mines in a series of competing takeover bids that finished with bidders joining forces to acquire Baffinland, a struggle that also added to Canada's jurisprudence on poison pills. She acts as a formal mentor to young lawyers, and sits on four of the firm's committees. She raises funds for causes including the Ride to Conquer Cancer; CIBC Run for the Cure, and the United Way. She was a member of the organizing committee for Henry's Tournament for Health, which raised close to $300,000 for the Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre (Mount Sinai). She will teach corporate finance at the University of Western Ontario this year.

TARA MACKAY

TORYS LLP >NEW YORK

Tara has advised on more than 30 P3 transactions, and became one of few lawyers who can claim to have spent her entire career on complex P3 and other major capital projects. In her first year, she was the second-in-command lawyer for the William Osler Health Centre, Ontario's first hospital P3. Later, she negotiated and closed the maintenance subcontracts for the Vancouver Ambulatory Care Centre, BC's first hospital P3 project. In each case, she was the youngest lawyer involved. Tara had a key role in the first Infrastructure Ontario transactions for North Bay Regional Health Centre and the Niagara Health System, and was the primary drafter for what became Ontario's “template” P3 project agreement. Leading general contractors in Canada, Germany, Spain, the US, Australia and the UK have asked for her support on deals, initially as a technical expert and quickly transitioning to a trusted project lead. In May, she relocated to the firm's New York office, where she is now the key contact for the US P3 practice. Tara has provided pro bono legal services to a Toronto school for disadvantaged children, and has acted on two election campaigns for a former Ontario cabinet minister.

GUY MARTEL

STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP >MONTREAL

Guy has practised bankruptcy and insolvency law since 1998, becoming involved in a number of significant insolvency files. He has also represented a number of purchasers in distressed M&A transactions. He frequently advises domestic and foreign financial institutions, as well as accounting firms and financial advisors in insolvency matters, and has led legal teams in many large and complex domestic and cross-border restructuring transactions. He has been involved in several cases and transactions that have led to important developments in litigation and insolvency matters in Quebec. As a member of the Comité de liaison avec la Cour supérieure, Chambre commercial, he has participated in drafting and reviewing several model orders for insolvency practice in Quebec. He routinely travels to the US and other jurisdictions, meeting with existing and prospective clients, as well as law firms, and promoting the firm's restructuring practice. Every year, he publishes articles or speaks at conferences across Canada. His community involvement includes participation in the Jewish General Hospital Foundation's cabinet, the Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation, and Les ateliers de formation et d'apprentissage au travail.

SHANE MCLEAN

LABARGE WEINSTEIN LLP >OTTAWA

Shane's practice focuses on advising public companies, but he also works with private companies, venture capital, private equity and other institutional investors. He has led or played a substantial role in dozens of transactions, including reverse takeovers, defence of takeover bids, mergers and acquisitions, private placements, normal-course issuer bids, initial public offerings and commercial redevelopment projects. Many public company clients have appointed him as corporate secretary. He is a certified specialist in corporate and commercial law who freely shares his knowledge with colleagues. In 2011, he was asked to sit on the Law Society's Solicitor Competency Review Panel, reviewing and revising the competencies to be tested on the solicitor bar exam in Ontario. He has led internal projects to improve remote access to files, increase efficiencies in repetitive client work, streamline compliance solutions for public companies and open a new Vancouver office. After 13 years with the firm, he was recently named managing partner. He has taught commercial law and business organizations at the University of Ottawa. He mentors young lawyers and provides pro bono advice to start-up companies, especially those founded by first-time entrepreneurs, and his early stage legal advice and networking support have been key factors in several successful startups.

MATTHEW MILNE-SMITH

DAVIES WARD PHILLIPS & VINEBERG LLP >TORONTO

Matthew is a leading member of the firm's litigation group, who has taken lead or cocounsel roles in important cases dealing with novel issues in civil liberties, irregularities in voting procedures, enforcing foreign judgments, dismissals of class actions, insolvencies and market misrepresentation claims, among many others. He is skilled both as a courtroom advocate and as a negotiator of solutions outside court. In numerous appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada he has helped to shape the law in areas as diverse as a solicitor's duties of loyalty, division of powers, freedom of speech, electoral misconduct and corporate duties. He has been central to the firm's expansion of its relationship with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, managing dozens of litigation files for OLG through a combination of courtroom victories and negotiated resolutions. He has served as a director for AboutFace International, a registered charity that provides support, resources and educational programs on behalf of individuals with facial differences. He is also a member of the Advocates' Society, the Ontario Bar Association, the Metropolitan Lawyers' Association and the New York State Bar Association.

GREG MOORES

STEWART MCKELVEY >ST. JOHN'S

Greg practises in commercial litigation, energy regulation and private arbitration. He has appeared before various levels of court in Alberta and Newfoundland, as well as energy regulatory authorities in both provinces. He has acted as lead counsel before the International Court of Arbitration in a breach-of-contract matter; acted as co-counsel in resolving a complex multi-party dispute in the offshore energy industry, and provided ongoing advice in private arbitrations regarding mineral royalty issues. He has led environmental litigation against the Government of Canada and acted as lead counsel in construction-industry litigation around claims for design and remediation issues on contaminated sites. He plays an active role in the firm's management, leads the natural resources practice group, and leads a client service team responsible for the relationship with a multinational oil and gas company. He consistently makes a substantial contribution to the firm's financial success and his willingness to take on mentorship of associates, students and staff has helped to build the firm. He is a member of the United Way campaign management team in Newfoundland; an instructor of the Bar Admission Course for civil procedure; an instructor of the Law Society's Continuing Legal Education Program and a member of the Law Society's Discipline Committee.

ROBERT NEARING

MCCARTHY TÉTRAULT LLP >CALGARY

Robert is a Calgary-based partner in the firm's tax group. His practice focuses primarily on the tax aspects of innovative financing structures, mergers and acquisitions and complicated reorganizations, including complex cross-border transactions and intra-group restructuring. He recently advised TransAlta Corporation on its proposed formation of TransAlta Renewables Inc.; Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. on its spinoffs of PetroBakken Energy Ltd., and Petrominerals Ltd. on its acquisition of Result Energy; and Heritage Oil Plc. in the disposal of its interests in Block 1 and Block 3A in Uganda for US$1.35 billion cash and an additional US$100 million. He played a key role in developing and implementing a tax-advantaged stock dividend program for a number of Calgary companies that attracted new clients to the firm. He is a passionate fundraiser for the JDRF, an organization supporting a cure to type 1 diabetes. His family is deeply involved in the cause and this year a team including his sons raised more than $30,000 in the Telus Walk to Cure Diabetes. He is also a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation and the Canadian Petroleum Tax Society, where he is a frequent speaker at their events.

ANU NIJHAWAN

BENNETT JONES LLP >CALGARY

Anu's ability to analyze multi-faceted tax issues within the commercial realities of a deal results in clients and firm lawyers regularly seeking her assistance on significant, and often novel, transactions. She has advised Sino-Forest Corporation in connection with its $1.8-billion restructuring under the Companies Creditors' Arrangement Act; Glencore International in its $6.1-billion acquisition of Viterra Inc. and the spin-off of certain assets; trusts or underwriters on proposed initial public offerings; MEG Energy on its $400-million public bought deal common share financing and concurrent $400-million private placement; Marathon Oil Corporation on the spin-off of Marathon Petroleum and many other important deals. She is a dedicated “firm-builder,” serving as an articling principal and an active committee member for articling students, associate review and partnership admission. She is involved in various community initiatives, including volunteering in clean-up efforts related to the 2013 Calgary floods and developing a website for a playground-fundraising project. For five years, she served as a director of the Women's Centre of Calgary and, on an ad-hoc basis, offers pro bono legal advice to not-for-profits, including restructurings and charitable registration.

ANDREW NUNES

FASKEN MARTINEAU DUMOULIN LLP >TORONTO

Andrew has advised clients in several mergers and acquisitions involving critical technology law issues, including the sale of Compagnie D'Assurances to Roins Financial Services, a Lexpert Top 10 Deal in 2012. He has advised technology and non-technology clients on all aspects of M&A transactions and a number of large and small clients concerning a range of domestic and international commercial transactions and technology-related issues. He's a ranked lawyer in the field of technology law in Canadian and global listings. He is a client manager who has strengthened relationships, broadened the scope of work and ensured high-quality, cost-effective service. He's a key player in the firm's US strategy and a leader in diversity efforts. He trains and mentors students and junior lawyers and serves as vice chair of the Toronto IT practice. He provides pro-bono legal advice to various faith-based organizations. He's a long-standing member of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL); a member of the CABL Articling Task Force Committee; and a member of the selection committee for the CABL/Fasken Lucie and Thornton Blackburn Scholarship. He's a director for the York Technology Alliance, and an executive of the National Bar Association Commercial Law section.

JOEL RAMSEY

OSLER, HOSKIN & HARCOURT LLP >TORONTO

Joel counts two major banks among clients in the Canadian financial sector who regularly seek his counsel – and his retail clients include Canadian icons. Many of his clients have operations throughout the world and seek his advice on global and cross-border sourcing strategies. He has advised various major banks on deals involving a mobile payment offering; outsourcing of information technologies; multi-vendor sourcing strategy; a master services agreement with a major telco; the implementation of a new contact centre technology and implementation and operation of a complex financial risk-management solution. He has assumed case and client responsibilities beyond his years. He is a highly effective negotiator and a team builder, who is regularly sought out as a formal and informal mentor to the eight associates in the firm's technology group. As a leader in a constantly evolving legal, business and technological environment, he is an innovator in the practice of technology law, and has been instrumental in establishing best practices that raise the bar and are emulated by other practitioners in the technology field. He is an active member of the Canadian IT Law Association and is regularly invited by other professional organizations to present on complex topics related to his practice.

MICHAEL RICHARDS

DAVIS LLP >TORONTO

Michael has built a thriving employment and labour practice and has been recognized as a “Litigator to Watch” in Lexpert's 2011 Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers. He regularly provides advice to major clients, from national book sellers and leading international entertainment companies to big names in warehousing and fashion design, assisting in matters from complicated reorganizations to avoiding litigation. He represents employers in civil claims, labour arbitration matters, collective bargaining and defence of human rights applications. He has defended claims dealing with complex and novel issues of law, such as the obligation of employers to provide permanent modified duties to disabled employees. Michael has been a chair of the firm's Toronto student committee for the past four years, leading efforts to recruit, train and retain students as associates and has mentored numerous students and associates over the past 10 years. Michael has provided regular pro bono counsel to Future Possibilities for Kids, Arraymusic, and has been chair of the Danny Grossman Dance Company for seven years, helping correct its budget, rebuild its board and establish a strong future.

MATTHEW SAMMON

LENCZNER SLAGHT ROYCE SMITH GRIFFIN LLP >TORONTO

Matthew acts for clients in a wide variety of areas, including commercial litigation, professional liability, medical negligence litigation, real property disputes, administrative law, insolvency, environmental litigation, estates litigation, personal injury litigation and employment law. He has conducted numerous prosecutions before regulatory bodies and appeared as counsel on proceedings before the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board. He has acted as co-counsel in one case before the Supreme Court of Canada and lead counsel for applicants in another high-profile SCC case seeking advancement of legal expenses in an action alleging breach of fiduciary duties and unjust enrichment. He has taken on the role of partner responsible for human resources; he's an active mentor to junior lawyers, and is often sought out by senior partners for his insight into complex legal issues. Matthew regularly assists individual plaintiffs in employment cases pro bono, at deeply discounted rates, or on contingency. As a member of The Advocates' Society and the Ontario Bar Association, he is active in continuing legal education.

AMANDEEP SANDHU

MCMILLAN LLP >VANCOUVER

Amandeep is a partner and key member of the firm's capital markets group, who specializes in mergers and acquisitions and financings and, particularly, in the mining industry. He has played a significant role in major Canadian M&A transactions, including Glamis Gold's offer to acquire Goldcorp Inc., and Teck Resources Limited's offer to acquire Inco Limited. He has been a key participant in an extensive list of other major resource-industry transactions, some deals exceeding the $1-billion mark, and has also lent his expertise to deals in the software and biotech industries. A chartered financial analyst, Amandeep is a natural leader in complex transactions. He's also a leader in the firm's Asian business development initiatives, a mentor, and role model for younger lawyers. As chair of the firm's inclusion and diversity committee, he has led important initiatives and developed new policies. He has served as president and director of the South Asian Bar Association of BC, as a director of the North American South Asian Bar Association, and as a governing board member of the BC Chapter of the Canada-India Business Council.

DOUG SKINNER

MCINNES COOPER >ST. JOHN'S

Doug is a litigator and regional manager for the firm. His practice focuses on insurance, maritime law, bankruptcy and insolvency. He was counsel for Lloyd's of London in a 2010 court of appeal case interpreting an exclusive jurisdiction clause in a marine insurance policy that is now regularly cited in Canadian courts of appeal. In another widely cited court of appeal case, his arguments addressed the duty of care of expert witnesses retained in civil litigation and when experts should be protected at trial by the doctrine of witness immunity. He acts for chartered Canadian and international banks in asset recovery and insolvency, primarily in the area of ship arrest and judicial sales, and he advises companies in the Canadian offshore oil industry. As regional manager of the St. John's office for four years, he has significantly expanded business with banks and insurance companies and led growth in the number of lawyers in the firm and the range of expertise offered. He is on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters, which provides pro bono legal advice on a range of matters. He speaks regularly at national conferences, and was recently nominated to serve on the Federal Court Rules committee.

LISA TALBOT

TORYS LLP >TORONTO

Lisa is a partner and leader of the employment litigation practice, leading on all types of workplace disputes, including wrongful dismissal, human rights and harassment claims. She was a lead partner for Chiefs of Ontario and the Ontario First Nations LP in complex, multiparty litigation over revenues from Casino Rama that included settlement of a claim against the Province of Ontario involving billions of dollars. She was chief strategist and client manager in a 50-day trial on a claim by Rama First Nation for hundreds of millions of dollars. She advises on sensitive and high-profile executive terminations and on defusing complicated workplace disputes that carry reputational risk. She teaches advocacy at the firm and for the Advocates' Society, Osgoode Trial Advocacy Workshop and Notre Dame Trial Advocacy Program. She is co-editor of the Canadian third edition of Modern Trial Advocacy and serves on the executive of the Ontario Bar Association, Labour and Employment section. As a member of the firm's pro bono committee, she championed initiatives that nearly doubled pro bono hours in 2011. She has given hundreds of hours to pro bono work, including for Right To Play, World Wildlife Fund and the Visual Artists Legal Clinic of Ontario.

TERESA TOMCHAK

FARRIS, VAUGHAN, WILLS & MURPHY LLP >VANCOUVER

Teresa has been involved in several high-profile securities litigation cases before the courts and securities commissions. She was co-counsel to Carl Icahn during a battle for Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., which involved an oppression action and appeal and two applications to the British Columbia Securities Commission to cease trade on two poison pills. She was also involved in a successful defence before the BC Court of Appeal, resulting in the first decision of an appellate court in Canada to consider the validity of a poison pill. She has regularly charted new legal ground, including the first decision of the BC Securities Commission on the appropriate jurisdiction in which to bring an application for a cease trade order on a poison pill and the first Canadian court decision on the validity of an Advance Notice Policy. She frequently speaks at seminars presented by the firm for corporate clients on securities litigation matters and she's active in the development of younger lawyers. She's a volunteer with the Pro Bono Duty Counsel program and a mentor with the Canadian Bar Association's Women Lawyers Forum Mentoring Program. She competed for Canada at the World Triathlon Championships in London, England in September 2013.

MELANEY WAGNER

GOODMANS LLP >TORONTO

Melaney has been a partner in the firm's corporate restructuring group for five years, and has been a major contributor to its success. She practises in the areas of commercial insolvency, restructuring, corporate, private equity and financing. Her experience includes acting for a variety of stakeholders in many complex recapitalizations and arrangements under the Canada Business Corporations Act, and commercial financing transactions and restructurings under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act. She has played leading and significant roles in Canada's largest and most prominent restructurings. She is involved in many programs that strengthen and develop client relationships. She is member of the organizing committee for the firm's Women in Law initiative, providing continuing professional development opportunities for female legal professionals. She serves as vice-chair on the board of the Canadian Network of the International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC). She has led many of its programs, including a women's community outreach initiative. She has been actively involved with the Toronto Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association and currently sits on the education committee.

WENDY WAGNER

GOWLING LAFLEUR HENDERSON LLP >OTTAWA

Wendy practises defamation, media and international trade law. She has appeared at all levels of court and successfully represented key clients across a range of industries. She has acted in some of the most significant decisions in Canadian defamation law, including recognition by the Supreme Court of Canada of a new defence of “public interest responsible communication.” She acted for Prime Minister Stephen Harper in his defamation suit against the Liberal Party, defending allegations he knew of an act of bribery, and has represented various corporate clients and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. She is among the firm's key performers and contributes greatly both to developing new business and retaining clients. As a member of the marketing and business development committee, she regularly organizes events, delivers seminars and writes articles about issues relevant to firm clients. She devotes several hundred non-billable hours to firm and pro bono initiatives such as the Supreme Court of Canada intervention on behalf of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. She created and teaches a University of Ottawa course on defamation and media law.

SVEN WALKER

DALE & LESSMANN LLP >TORONTO

Sven was promoted to partner after only three years of practice and has subsequently established the firm's largest practice. A native of Germany, he serves clients in German, French and English. He has worked, lived and studied law on both sides of the Atlantic and is recognized in the Canadian-European business community as an expert on cross-border legal issues and the Canadian renewable energy industry. He leads the firm's renewable energy practice group, which acts for five of the world's top 10 renewable energy companies. He has played a key role in assisting many European-based renewable energy clients to successfully apply their competitive advantages to the rapidly-growing Canadian market. He has a record as a facilitator for joint venture opportunities, funding opportunities, and for helping clients to navigate the often-murky waters of regulatory change. He has advised his clients in the development, acquisition, structuring, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of more than 2.5 gigawatts of wind, solar, hydro, natural gas and biogas projects across Canada. He serves as a board member of the Danish Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers his time to charitable organizations such as The International Bach Festival.

JODI WILDEMAN

MACPHERSON LESLIE & TYERMAN LLP >REGINA

Jodi is a litigator practising primarily in commercial law, with extensive experience on lengthy and complex actions. Her practice includes litigation involving trusts, oppression, shareholders disputes, insurance, construction, class actions and tax law. She has appeared before the Saskatchewan and Alberta Courts of Queen's Bench and Appeal. She defended clients in a high stakes trust action in Alberta, involving 38 motions, months of discoveries, numerous appeals and a six-week trial, ending in dismissal of all claims against her clients — which was upheld on appeal. She saw the need for a tax specialist in the firm's Regina office and expanded her practice to include tax litigation and dispute resolution. She coaches students and young lawyers in their research and writing skills and is leading recruitment for the firm's Saskatchewan offices. Young lawyers seek her out as a mentor. She is division chair of law for the Regina United Way and a volunteer on the 2013 Grey Cup Planning Committee. She was a sessional lecturer at the University of Regina, where she taught business law, and has written articles for the Saskatchewan Law Review.

IN-HOUSE COUNSEL:

LAILA BRABANDER

CHUBB INSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA >TORONTO

As assistant vice president and specialty claims manager, Laila manages large litigation files against corporate defendants insured by the company. Her team handles directors and officers (D&O), fiduciary, employment, media, and errors and omissions (E&O) claims brought against insured parties. She has served as senior company liaison with outside counsel in two major class actions, which are now considered precedents in this growing area of law. She has also worked closely with outside counsel in the publication of two books on directors' and officers' liability in Canada. She has acted as a mentor to numerous junior employees and participated as the client panel expert for the 2011 Langdon Hall Class Action Symposium for senior practitioners. She is an executive member of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association. She has been involved in supporting female lawyers through the Canadian Women's Foundation, which is dedicated to helping women and girls reach their full potential, and led a mentoring program with the largest number of international mentees from the company's global offices.

SENA BYUN

TELUS CORPORATION >VANCOUVER

Sena Byun is an integral member of the team which succeeded in moving TELUS from a common- and preferred-share structure to a single class of common shares, despite efforts by New York-based Mason Capital to block the change. The transaction was one of Lexpert's top 10 deals of 2012, due to an extended legal battle. She was TELUS's legal lead on two shareholder meetings and for implementing the share restructuring. She became the internal lead on contested meetings, proxy voting and foreign-ownership compliance. Her work on corporate reporting was highlighted when TELUS was recognized for excellence in all aspects of corporate reporting and received honourable mention for corporate governance reporting at the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants' (CICA) 2012 corporate reporting awards. She is a member of the TELUS Corporate Secretary team, which provides support to the board of directors and several of its committees, including Corporate Governance, and is active in staff and lawyer training. She has served on the board of the Vancouver Dance Centre Society, which oversees the Scotiabank Dance Centre, and also regularly volunteers as a mentor for leadership conferences held by the C3 Society, a group of volunteers bridging Korean and Canadian communities.

ERIN DION

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA >TORONTO

Erin has led the legal team, supporting the bank's capital and debt-raising activities for the last two years. In those two years she has led registration of US$12 billion in covered bonds with the US Securities and Exchange Commission; registration of the bank's covered bond program with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation; updated a European structured note program in Ireland; and advised on regular issuance throughout 2012 of “Uridashi” offerings in the Japanese market and issuance of subordinated debt in Trinidad and Tobago. She takes an active role in training and mentoring junior lawyers and in hiring new ones. Erin has been a vital part of the development of an extremely strong public company group within the general counsel group. Erin works with the Advancement of Women in Leadership Committee at the bank, and was a bank representative at the recent Rotman Business Leadership for Woman Lawyers conference. She is a member of the bank's pro bono team, which provides legal services to adoptive parents and older adoptees. She's a former member of the Canadian Rhythmic Gymnastics National Team, attending over 25 international competitions, including three World Championships and the 1995 Pan American Games.

SUSAN DOI

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB HOLDINGS INC. >WHISTLER, BC

Sue was the first in-house counsel at Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc., and has become a key member of the senior management team. She was an integral part of the legal team that completed the initial public offering of Whistler Blackcomb in November 2010. As general counsel of a new public company, she has played a leadership role in transitioning Whistler Blackcomb (WB) to its new status, and in coordinating between the company and its new board. She was sole counsel for WB on the negotiation of the venue agreement with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. As general counsel, she developed and implemented the new public company's first legal strategy. She is responsible for all legal staff and matters and has built much closer relationships between the legal department and the business units. She is a director of Destination BC, a crown corporation responsible for marketing BC as a tourism destination. She has volunteered her time to numerous charities, including the United Way, the Association for the Children of Mozambique, Immigrant and Visible Minority Women Against Abuse, and the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation.

MICHAEL GALEGO

PACIFIC RUBIALES ENERGY CORP.; CGX ENERGY, INC.; GRAN COLOMBIA GOLD >TORONTO

Over the past three years, Michael has worked with a group of entrepreneurs who have founded several public and private resource companies. As a result, he recently joined CGX Energy as its general counsel and secretary, and became deputy general counsel and secretary of Pacific Rubiales Energy (PRE). He has advised or acted in a US$1-billion senior note offering by PRE; dual-currency, US$750-million revolving credit facilities issued by PRE; a US$450-million senior note exchange offer and concurrent US$300-million senior note offering by PRE; and a US$80-million silver-linked note offering by Grand Colombia Gold. He also has significant experience in cross-border mergers and acquisitions in jurisdictions such as Colombia, Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Guyana. Michael has been recognized by PRE's executive committee as a “hero” of the company in 2011 and 2012. He is currently part of PRE's high potential group for young professionals who are seen as leaders in the company. Michael has been a board member of the Canadian Liver Foundation since 2007, and has been an active supporter of the Princess Margaret Hospital, helping to raise more than $15,000 for cancer research.

KEVIN GOLDSTEIN

BELL MEDIA >TORONTO

As vice-president of regulatory affairs, Kevin is responsible for all broadcasting-related regulatory matters for Bell Media. He has played a leading role for the company and its predecessors in almost every major transaction and regulatory proceeding for more than a decade. Highlights of his work include CTVglobemedia's $1.7-billion acquisition of CHUM Limited; BCE Inc.'s $3.2-billion acquisition of CTV Inc., which resulted in the formation of Bell Media; and BCE's $3.4-billion acquisition of Astral Media Inc. In addition, he has played a principal role in the successful resolution of the company's disputes with a number of key distributors relating to the carriage terms for its specialty television channels, as well the establishment of the CRTC's television group licensing policy. He routinely looks for opportunities to help his team develop and grow within the company. Many of his staff have been promoted over the years and/or have been recognized with internal excellence awards. Since 2010, Kevin has been a member of the board of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and currently serves as vice-chair. He also sits on the boards the Canadian Broadcasters Rights Agency and the Canadian Local Programming Improvement Fund.

SAMIR KHAN

RUSSELL INVESTMENTS CANADA LIMITED >TORONTO

Samir is the general counsel (Americas) of the investment funds firm Russell Investments, a member of its senior management team and its Canadian board of directors. He has led merger and acquisition negotiations on behalf of Russell for North America and South America, established a “reverse brain-drain” by leading the Russell US legal team from Canada, and recently resolved issues with US regulatory bodies seeking to assert rights to access client information. He created and led development of an entirely new way to manage exchange-rate volatility within existing investment funds, and led the launch of various investment fund products in Canada, which attracted more than $3 billion in assets under management. In 2009, he led the Russell legal team in a transaction that established a new relationship worth more than $2.5 billion. Samir's business and strategic knowledge has been recognized through Russell's 2011 Global Leadership Award, and he has been a committed advocate of diversity in the workplace. Samir is involved in The Citizen's Foundation, a group raising money for a new school in Pakistan, and he's involved in enhancing continuing education in the broader legal community.

MICHELLE O'BONSAWIN

THE ROYAL OTTAWA HEALTH CARE GROUP >OTTAWA

In 2009, following nine years as counsel at Canada Post, Michelle joined the company, where she established the legal services department. She appears regularly before the Consent and Capacity Board, the Ontario Review Board, and the Superior Court and Court of Appeal of Ontario on mental-health related matters. She has implemented a system for ensuring that appeals of treatment-capacity matters and motions for interim treatment orders are held on an expedited basis, which is looked to as precedent elsewhere in the province. She has resolved complex grievances and pay-equity complaints, involving difficult labour law and human rights issues. Her sound business mind has contributed to the company's bottom line by reducing legal costs by 50 per cent since her arrival, while still providing excellent client service. This work has included extensive review and reconciliation of all policies and procedures; successful transfer of an acute-care, 24-bed in-patient hospital and its associated community treatment teams to another institution; and settlement of a 20-year outstanding pay-equity complaint. She devotes time to the ROHCG/Algonquin College joint committee for mental health services to Aboriginal students.

WARREN RUDICK

MANULIFE ASSET MANAGEMENT >TORONTO

Warren specializes in Canadian and global investment law. Since joining the company in 2009, he has taken on primary legal responsibility for asset management activities and for certain businesses regulated in Canada, the US and the UK. His work has included drafting prospectuses and proxy circulars; obtaining key exemptions designing compliance programs; leading responses to regulatory inquiries and audits; providing strategic direction on regulatory changes; and serving as both counsel and corporate secretary to boards of directors and independent review committees. He led all corporate and securities law matters, including the offering memorandum, design of the governance structure, and agreements with institutional investors in the development of a new private real estate fund attracting some $500 million in assets. He led all legal and compliance teams in developing a global client access website that complies with securities laws of the 17 countries and territories. He is a trustee on the City of Toronto's independent investment advisory committee, advising on portfolio strategies and governance issues for the City's investments, and is director and chair of the finance and audit committee of the Toronto Centre for the Arts.

SHANNON YOUNG

NEXEN ENERGY ULC >CALGARY

As senior regulatory counsel, Shannon supervises a team of lawyers and analysts and manages all regulatory and legal matters related to the company's operations. She has led regulatory appearances in front of the Alberta Surface Rights Board, Investment Canada, the Competition Bureau, the Energy Resources Conservation Board and the National Energy Board. She acted as lead counsel for the company's proposed development of sour gas reserves within the City of Calgary, balancing the company's objectives with the interests of communities and other stakeholders. Her central role in the $15.1-billion acquisition of Nexen by China National Offshore Oil Company included compiling and organizing the Investment Canada Act application and the Competition Act notification and working closely with the Competition Bureau and Industry Canada to obtain transaction approval. Her ability to participate directly in regulatory issues has reduced reliance on external counsel. Shannon supports the Women's Shelter, and volunteers with the Calgary Reads Program. She is vice president of the Canadian Energy Law Foundation (CELF), where she has supported strong corporate governance principles and reviewed its annual submissions to the Alberta Law Review. She will become president of CELF in 2014.