Roundup of law firm hires, promotions, departures: Mar. 28, 2022 update

Sixteen law firms across Canada made new announcements

Roundup of law firm hires, promotions, departures: Mar. 28, 2022 update

Welcome to this week’s roundup of movements among major law firms, in which we sum up significant hires, promotions, departures and other announcements.

Bennett Jones LLP

The firm admitted 12 lawyers to its partnership. The new partners are:

  • Lamont Bartlett – commercial litigation, construction law
  • Gannon Beaulne – commercial litigation, class actions, international arbitration
  • Talia Bregman – employment law
  • Keely Cameron – insolvency, regulatory, commercial litigation
  • William Edwards – M&A, corporate finance
  • Brynne Harding – commercial litigation, estate litigation, public law
  • Ceilidh Hemmati – corporate, commercial, M&A
  • Lisa Kakoske – capital markets, securities, corporate law
  • Kim Lawton – securities, corporate, M&A
  • Jesse Mighton – corporate restructuring and insolvency
  • Noriko Shimura – financial services, aviation
  • Michelle Yung – commercial real estate, capital projects

Сox & Palmer

The firm welcomed Connor MacLean as an associate in the corporate commercial group in the Halifax office.

MacLean began his taxation career with an accounting firm in Atlantic Canada. He advised clients on goods and services and harmonized sales tax obligations, and assisted taxpayers with their disputes before the Canada Revenue Agency.

Cozen O’Connor

Three corporate lawyers joined the firm’s capital markets and securities group in the Vancouver office:

  • Elizabeth Holden
  • Gosia Piasecka
  • Nicholas Krishan 

Holden joined as a member, while Piasecka and Krishan took on associate roles. They will work alongside Rory Godinho, the firm’s capital markets and securities group chair.

“Having worked closely with Elizabeth, Gosia, and Nicholas at our previous firm, I’m thrilled they’ve chosen to join us here at Cozen O’Connor,” Godinho said. “Over the past few years, they have all proven themselves to be excellent lawyers and key members of our capital markets and securities group.”

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

The firm announced the appointment of Ian Caines as a tax partner in the Toronto office.

Practising for nearly 15 years, Caines has advised clients on domestic and international taxation matters, including M&A, financing, reorganization, restructuring, and investment products.

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP

The firm named Deepak Gill as a partner in the Vancouver office.

Gill has extensive experience advising public and private companies on general corporate and ‎securities law matters, such as corporate governance, ‎M&A, strategic corporate development, complex agreements, capital market ‎regulatory compliance, continuous disclosure obligations, initial public offerings, and stock exchange ‎listings.

He has worked with clients across various industries, including natural resources, renewable energy, power, technology, transportation, media, retail, telecom, hospitality, and financial services.

The firm also welcomed Sean Baraich and Brandon Manhas as associates in the corporate group in the Vancouver ‎office.

Meanwhile, the firm appointed Lisa Martineau to the role of chief operating officer. She replaced Dan MacDougall, who retired on Feb. 28.

“I’m delighted to congratulate Lisa on this appointment,” said managing ‎partner Robert Seidel. “I am confident that she ‎will excel in her new role, and I look forward to working with her on building on our past successes and ‎creating new opportunities as we continue to deliver results and value to our clients.”  “

Gowling WLG LLP

Philip Kennedy returned to the firm as a partner in the advocacy group in the Hamilton office.

Kennedy has worked on complex corporate litigation and regulatory issues. He has represented clients across multiple industry sectors, including manufacturing, financial services, and franchising.

Meanwhile, Jasmine Samra joined the firm as a counsel in the intellectual property group in the Toronto office.

Certified information privacy professional Samra has advised clients on a broad range of privacy and cyber security matters. Her privacy advice often relates to corporate transactions, outsourcing arrangements, and transborder data flows.

The firm also announced that Brent Arnold joined the International Association of Defense Counsel. Founded in 1920, IADC is a preeminent legal organization for advocates representing corporate and insurance interests worldwide.

Arnold is a partner in the firm’s Toronto office, specializing in cyber security and commercial litigation. He has broad experience in breach coaching, cyber risk analysis, class actions defence, consumer protection, insolvency, shareholders’ rights, class actions, and employment contracts.

Harper Grey LLP

Charleen Sibanda is now an associate and a member of the firm’s business law group.

Sibanda has extensive expertise in corporate finance, M&A, real estate and wealth preservation, and estate matters.

Koskie Minsky LLP

The firm announced the induction of Kirk Baert as a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. ACTL is a preeminent organization of trial lawyers in North America, dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice.

Baert is a partner in the firm’s class action group. He has dealt with all aspects of class action litigation and appeared in various Canadian courts, such as the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Quebec Court of Appeal, the Newfoundland Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Lavery de Billy LLP

The firm announced the following moves:

  • Olivier Boileau – associate and member in the litigation and conflict resolution group
  • Siddhartha Borissov-Beausoleil and Béatrice Bull – associates and members in the business law group
  • Emile Goethals – paralegal in the business law group

Lenczner Slaght LLP

The firm welcomed Meghan Bridges and Nik De Stefano as associates.

Bridges’ practice includes civil litigation, professional liability, commercial disputes, class actions, and investigations.

De Stefano specializes in litigation practice, focusing on commercial disputes, professional liability and regulation, civil matters, public law, and class actions.

McMillan LLP

Brett Baker is now a counsel in the firm’s construction and infrastructure group in the Toronto office.

McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP

Ashley Caldwell joined the firm as an associate in the business and franchise law departments.

Caldwell’s practice focuses on franchising, licensing, and distribution. She assists both franchisors and franchisees with the purchase and sale of franchised businesses and resolving franchise disputes.

Minden Gross LLP

The firm added two new associates to its business law group:

  • Sakshi Pachisia
  • Jessica Ward

Pachisia has broad experience advising clients on general corporate matters and drafting and negotiating commercial agreements. She also has extensive expertise in data privacy and security, e-commerce, and anti-spam regulations.

Ward specializes in various commercial matters, such as corporate governance, corporate finance, and M&A.

MLT Aikins LLP

The firm named Brendan Brock as an associate in the Vancouver office.

Brendan has broad experience in handling commercial and corporate litigation, class actions, corporate finance and securities matters, and wills, trusts and estates disputes.

He has acted for numerous clients, including corporate shareholders and directors, real estate developers, construction contractors, transportation companies, financial services firms, banks, mining companies, and publicly listed securities issuers.

Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

The firm welcomed Nadir Patel as a senior strategic advisor in the business law group.

In his new role, Patel will work closely with the firm’s national and international leadership team and practice groups and provide strategic advice on regulatory affairs, global government relations, ESG-related matters, and doing business in international markets.

“Nadir’s wealth of experience with government, regulatory matters, diplomacy and international affairs in Canada and abroad will provide tremendous value to the people at our firm and will make him a unique source of strategic advice for our clients,” Charles Hurdon, firm’s managing partner.

The firm also announced the appointment of Luc Morin as managing partner in the Montréal office, effective Apr. 1.

 Morin is currently the head of the firm’s bankruptcy, financial restructuring and insolvency team. He regularly advises clients on complex restructuring and liquidation proceedings, notices of intention, reverse vesting orders, and bridge financing.

Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers

The firm welcomed three new associates:

  • Cindy Vergara
  • Golan Yaron
  • Daniela Di Rezze

“We are proud to welcome Cindy, Golan, and Daniela to our team of family lawyers,” said Russell Alexander, the firm’s founder and senior partner. “I’m proud to have these exceptional lawyers join our team and help us deliver on our commitment to providing top-tier services for our clients.”

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