Karen Hennessey is a partner in the Business Law Group in Gowling WLG’s Ottawa office. She provides advice to clients with respect to structuring, organizing and reorganizing their business and in planning for and implementing the client’s growth (or exit) strategies through M&A transactions. Karen’s clients rely on her to be a trusted adviser to handle their day-to-day legal needs and to act as a “legal quarterback,” managing and coordinating the work of specialists when needed. She also acts as outside general counsel for a number of public and private sector entities. Her practice covers a range of industries and companies including start-ups, owner-operated and family-run businesses as well as large national and multinational corporations. In 2014, Karen received the Ottawa Business Journal’s “Forty under 40” award for her accomplishments as a leader in business and the community. In 2015, she was recognized as one of Lexpert’s Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40. In 2018, she was named “Businesswoman of the Year” in the professional category by the Women’s Business Network in Ottawa in recognition of her business acumen, outstanding leadership and community engagement. In 2021, Karen received an Excellence Award as a “Female Trailblazer” from the Canadian Law Awards.
