NEW PARTNERS AT DENTONSDentons Canada LLP’s Toronto office welcomed two new partners last week.
David Carbonaro and Andrew Elbaz have joined the firm as partners in the corporate finance and securities group. Both lawyers have backgrounds in mining and corporate finance and have advised clients both locally and internationally.
“David and Andrew are important additions to the firm and they will help us to strengthen and grow our corporate finance and securities practice in Toronto and across the country,” said Mike Kaplan, managing partner of the firm’s Toronto office.
CONVICTED EX-COP CAN PRACTISE LAWA former police officer previously convicted of assault while on duty has received the green light to practise law from the Law Society of Upper Canada.
A hearing panel recently found that Ryan Venables was “of good character” following counselling for anger management and racism.
The incident in question dates back to 2006. According to the hearing panel’s decision last month, the then-York Regional Police officer stopped to assist a colleague who had arrested a person, identified as V.B., for drinking and driving.
According to the hearing panel decision, Venables was heard saying, “You drunk fucking Russian,” before punching V.B. on the side of the face. “I hate Russians,” he said as he returned to his cruiser.
But considering Venables’ shame and remorse, the lapse of time since the incident, and several reference letters attesting to his good character, the hearing panel found the former police officer was fit to practise law.
LAWYERS AMONG MOST POWERFUL WOMENAt least 10 lawyers are on last week’s list of Canada’s 100 most powerful women.
The Women’s Executive Network produces the list each year to highlight the professional achievements of women across the country. The legal names on the top 100 list include:
• Janice Odegaard, senior vice president and general counsel, Suncor Energy Inc.
• Kathleen Ryan, partner, Davis LLP
• Leslie O’Donoghue, executive vice president, corporate development and strategy, and chief risk officer at Agrium Inc.
• Lisa Borsook, executive partner, WeirFoulds LLP
• Lisa Vogt, partner and chief diversity and engagement officer, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
• Lori Wanamaker, B.C. deputy minister, Ministry of Justice, and deputy solicitor general
• Lynn McGrade, partner and Toronto regional investment management group leader, business development committee, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
• Monique Mercier, senior vice president, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, Telus Communications Co.
• Nancy Hopkins, partner, McDougall Gauley LLP, and director, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
• Shannon Rogers, president and general counsel, Global Relay Communications Inc.
POLL RESULTSThe results of the latest Law Times
online poll are in.
The majority of respondents say the Law Society of Upper Canada’s creation of a four-month placement option under the law practice program won’t necessarily make them more likely to take on students as opposed to the traditional articling route.
About 73 per cent of respondents said the alternative of a fourth-month placement isn’t more appealing than the traditional articling term.
The law society recently announced details on the law practice program, including the four-month placement, once it starts in September 2014.
