Ten law firms across Canada made new announcements
Welcome to this week’s roundup of movements among major law firms, in which we sum up significant hires, promotions, departures and other announcements.
Bereskin & Parr LLP
The firm launched the quantum technologies practice group. The new group provides legal, patent and trademark agency services to companies developing quantum computers, quantum sensors and other related quantum technologies and businesses using quantum technology.
Blaney McMurtry LLP
The firm promoted two associates, Lucas Kittmer and Sonia Shantikumar, to partner.
Kittmer is a member of the insurance litigation group. He specializes in loss property claims, construction deficiencies, D&O liability and errors and omissions claims. He also has experience in handling automobile and personal injury claims.
Shantikumar is a member of the insurance litigation group. She specializes in civil litigation, with a particular focus on professional liability. She has experience defending claims against various professionals, including lawyers, accountants, financial advisors, directors and officers, insurance brokers and engineers.
Clark Wilson LLP
Buck Hughes joined the firm as an associate in the infrastructure, construction and procurement group. His practice includes bond claims, builders’ lien issues, commercial lease disputes, contaminated sites, contract disputes, creditors’ remedies, general commercial litigation, injunction and property preservation orders.
Hughes previously worked as an associate at Lesperance Mendes Lawyers, where he practised construction, employment, corporate and strata law.
DLA Piper (Canada) LLP
The firm appointed Rebecca von Rüti as a co-chair in the class action litigation practice group.
von Rüti has extensive expertise in class action defence. She has represented numerous leading global entities in national and cross-border proceedings involving several practice areas, such as consumer protection, competition or restraint of trade, false and misleading advertising, data breach or privacy, secondary market misrepresentation, product liability and negligence.
“I am confident that the addition of Rebecca to the group’s leadership will enhance our presence in this important area of law , and I congratulate her on her new role,” said the firm’s managing partner, Robert Seidel.
The firm also welcomed Erin Hunter as an associate in the Vancouver office. Hunter will practise in the litigation, arbitration and investigations and forestry groups.
Hunter has experience in various practice areas, including forestry, commercial, and Indigenous law matters. She has appeared before the B.C Provincial Court and the B.C. Supreme Court and represented clients in several administrative tribunals, such as the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal and the Forest Appeals Commission.
Farris LLP
Steffi Boyce is now a solicitor associate in the firm’s Vancouver office.
Boyce specializes in corporate and securities law and M&A. She has worked on a variety of transactions, including share purchase transactions, equity financings, plans of arrangement, and going public transactions.
Lavery de Billy LLP
The firm welcomed two new lawyers:
- Charles-Hugo Gagné
- Stephanie-Ann Morgan
Gagné is a lawyer in the business law group and a member of the tax law group. In his new role, he will participate in planning, analyzing, and implementing tax structures and strategies as part of significant commercial transactions in Canada and abroad.
Morgan is a member of the business law group. He has extensive expertise in real estate, finance and transactional law. She has represented many clients, such as financial institutions, government entities, landlords and tenants.
The firm also announced the appointment of Lavery Nicolas Gagnon to the board of directors of the Corporation des entrepreneurs généraux du Québec (CEGQ) for a second term. CEGQ is a corporation defending general contractors and the construction industry’s interests across the province.
Lawson Lundell LLP
Jahaan Premji joined the firm in Calgary as an associate and member in the litigation and dispute resolution group office.
“I am repeatedly drawn to Lawson Lundell’s caring work environment, and I am thrilled to be part of a team that provides exceptional legal services,” Premji said.
MLT Aikins LLP
Tom Richards returned to the firm as an associate.
Richards carries on a general labour and employment practice. He has represented numerous unionized and non-unionized employers in the resource, retail and industrial industries. He also has experience in assisting organizations with regulatory issues.
Taylor Watts joined the firm as an associate in the Edmonton office.
Watts has worked on numerous corporate reorganizations and drafted complex legal contracts. He also maintains a wills and estates practice and has experience drafting wills and other estate documents.
In addition, the firm launched the private equity and venture capital practice group. The new group helps private equity and venture capital investors access opportunities exclusive to Western Canada. The new group comprises Pamela Hilderman, John Brigidear, James Ferguson, David Filmon, Mahdi Shams, Sean MacLachlan and Stathy Markatos.
Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
The firm welcomed 17 new partners, effective Mar. 1. The new partners are:
- Justin Dharamdial and Gary Marshall (Toronto) − emerging and high growth companies
- Arlene Mack (Toronto) − banking and financial services
- David Rosenblat (Toronto) − insolvency and restructuring
- Kai Sheffield (Toronto) – corporate
- Sophie Amyot and Matthew Oliver (Montréal) – corporate
- Jessica Harding and Frédéric Plamondon (Montréal) – litigation
- Mikulas Arendas (Montréal) − banking and financial services
- Jessica Kennedy and Emily Paplawski (Calgary) − litigation
- Michael Grantmyre (Calgary) − emerging and high growth companies
- Tim Mitchell (Ottawa) – research
- Kelly O’Ferrall (Ottawa) − employment and labour
- Jacques Du Plessis (Vancouver) – emerging and high growth companies
- Emily MacKinnon (Vancouver) − litigation
The firm also elevated two associates to counsel, effective Mar. 1. The new counsels are:
- Malcolm Aboud (Toronto) – litigation
- Manveer Bisla (Vancouver) − emerging and high growth companies
“I am delighted to welcome this cohort of exceptional talent to our partnership,” said Doug Bryce, the firm’s national managing partner. “Our firm and our clients can look forward to their leadership and contributions for many years to come.”
Wildeboer Dellelce LLP
James Hutchinson joined the firm’s tax practice group.
Hutchinson has extensive experience in international tax planning and transfer pricing. He has spoken on tax-related matters before the Canadian Tax Foundation, Chartered Professional Accountants, Tax Executives Institute, Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners and American Bar Association.
“We are very excited to have James join the tax group and solidify the tax group as a leader in Canadian and cross-border corporate and real estate transactions,” said Katy Pitch, the firm’s tax practice group chair.
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