MCFARLANE, LEPSOE JOIN LAVERY
John McFarlane and Paul Lepsoe have joined Lavery de Billy LLP’s Ottawa office along with their entire team at the McFarlane Lepsoe firm.
“McFarlane Lepsoe’s arrival is a strategic development that enables us to expand our service offering and strengthen our competencies and resources to better meet the needs of our clients based in Ottawa and in eastern Ontario,” said Lavery managing partner Elise Poisson.
McFarlane, who was called to the bar in 1977, focuses on business law, particularly corporate and commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, purchase and sale of business entities, software licensing and development, information technology outsourcing and contracting, and estate and business succession planning.
Lepsoe, who was called to the bar in 1988, focuses on commercial litigation, representing clients from the private sector and non-profit organizations.
NEW COO AT CASSELS BROCK
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP has appointed John Tsiofas as its chief operating officer.
Tsiofas, who previously served as interim CEO at legal consulting firm Kraft Kennedy Inc. in New York, will oversee all operational areas at Cassels Brock.
During 20 years in the legal industry, Tsiofas has provided a wide range of management and technology consulting services to a number of Am Law 100 law firms. He has also done work for major corporations in the United States, Canada, and Britain.
“I am very pleased to join Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and assist the firm with its ongoing drive to improve the quality and depth of the services it provides to its clients around the world,” Tsiofas said.
In other news, the firm announced last week that Ravi Shukla had joined its intellectual property and information technology group.CONSTANCE SUGIYAMA ON THE MOVE
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP has brought Constance Sugiyama across the street to become its new deputy chairwoman.
Sugiyama, who joins FMC from Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, will also be a partner with the firm’s corporate finance, securities, and mergers-and-acquisitions groups.
“Connie brings a wealth of experience, talent, and leadership to FMC,” said CEO Chris Pinnington.
“Her broad legal knowledge and expertise combined with her track record of accomplishment in senior leadership roles and ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility will be a great asset to our firm, our people, and our clients.”
Sugiyama brings with her 30 years of experience, having advised numerous national and international businesses with a focus on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance and governance.
She’s also chairwoman of the board of trustees at the Hospital for Sick Children and is a special adviser to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.
MARC DARMO JOINS DAVIES
Marc Darmo has joined Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP as a partner in the firm’s tax practice group.
Darmo joins Davies from McCarthy Tétrault LLP, where his practice focused on corporate tax planning with a particular emphasis on cross-border and international transactions.
“We are very pleased to welcome Marc to our firm,” said Richard Cherney, co-managing partner at Davies.
“His depth of knowledge is adding to that of our team of experts in Montreal, Toronto, and New York in a practice area where the firm has had a leading national and international presence since its foundation in 1895.
His vast experience with cross-border, international, and broad spectrum transactions will enhance our capacity to advise and guide our clients in connection with these highly complex matters.”
Darmo has authored several international tax articles and has been a guest speaker at a number of business and tax conferences.
