2 ONTARIO JUDGES APPOINTED
Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has appointed two new Superior Court judges in Ontario.
In Toronto, Kenneth Campbell, of the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Crown law office, will replace Justice Joan Lax, who became a supernumerary judge on Jan. 1.
Campbell, who previously worked at Justice Canada, has been director of the Crown law office’s civil section since 2005.
Bruce Fitzpatrick, a lawyer with Lockington Lawless Fitzpatrick LLP in Peterborough, Ont., takes a position in Thunder Bay, Ont., as a replacement for Justice Bonnie Warkentin, who has moved to Ottawa to take the place of Justice Colin D.A. McKinnon.
McKinnon became a supernumerary judge on Feb. 20.
FASKENS LAUDED FOR SIXTH TIME
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP has been named mining law firm of the year for 2011.
It’s the sixth time the firm has topped the poll by Who’s Who Legal.
Toronto-based partner Michael Bourassa also got in on the action after scooping the title of mining lawyer of the year for a second consecutive year.
“By winning this award, Fasken demonstrates the exceptional breadth, depth, and calibre of its expertise in mining-related work. We are delighted to recognize the firm once again as the leader in this field,” said Callum Campbell, Who’s Who Legal’s managing editor.
In the meantime, Faskens has also boosted its London, England, office with the addition of partners Jonathan Martin and Andrew Thomas.
Martin, who joins from the London office of King & Spalding, is a corporate specialist with a particular focus on energy and natural resources.
Thomas, who was previously a partner at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP for more than a decade, has focused his practice on banking and finance with particular expertise in project finance in emerging markets and acquisition and real estate finance. He will head Faskens’ banking practice in London.
GOWLINGS LAWYER DIES
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP partner Martin Mason died on June 18 after almost 30 years at the firm.
“Gowlings would like to extend our most sincere condolences to his family and, in particular, his wife Linda, his son Andrew, as well as his mother and two brothers in England,” the firm said in a statement.
Mason joined Gowlings in Ottawa in 1983 as an articling student and by 1998 was the firm’s head of advocacy in the nation’s capital. In 2002, he became managing partner of the office.
During his career, he appeared at all levels of court and tribunals under both provincial and federal jurisdiction, including the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board, the Divisional Court, and the Ontario Court of Appeal.
MUNICIPAL LAWYER JOINS FMC
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP has added Steven Phipps as a consultant in the firm’s municipal and real estate law group.
Phipps will be based out of the firm’s Edmonton office and will provide additional support to Calgary.
His practice focuses primarily on building relationships with contractors, consultants, and municipal lawyers, as well as expanding the relationships between municipalities and the private sector.
Phipps has more than 20 years of legal experience, including his most recent role as in-house counsel with the City of Edmonton.
