Monday, June 23, 2014

MCCARTHYS LAWYERS RUN TO TORONTO FROM QUEBEC
McCarthy Tétrault LLP says 29 of its lawyers ran to Toronto from Montreal as part of a team-building and fundraising exercise over Father’s Day weekend.

The lawyers, along with eight coaches and 15 volunteers, kicked off their 650-kilometre journey at the law firm’s Montreal office on June 13 and ran over the course of the next 75 hours before arriving in Toronto on June 16.

The run raised $58,000 in support of Pour 3 Points, a Montreal-based organization that assists students in underprivileged neighbourhoods.

“We are incredibly proud of our colleagues for undertaking such a colossal challenge in teamwork,” said Marc-André Blanchard, chairman and chief executive officer of McCarthys.

“Our runners — who were mostly inexperienced prior to their training — took up the challenge fired by a desire to accomplish a collective goal together and to support an important community initiative. They are an inspiration to our colleagues, our clients, and our communities.”

Each lawyer underwent “intensive” training in preparation for the run that included a 260-kilometre test relay.

NEW JUDGES NAMED
Besides appointing Justice George Strathy as chief justice of Ontario on June 13, the federal government has filled a number of other judicial positions across the country.

Baker & McKenzie LLP’s Alan Diner joins the Federal Court bench. He replaces justice J.A. Snider following her resignation last year.

Lawyer Henry Brown, who recently retired from Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, also joins the Federal Court.
Brown replaces Justice S.J. Harrington after he became a supernumerary judge in April.

Also headed to the Federal Court bench is Keith Boswell of Stewart McKelvey. On June 30, he’ll replace Justice J.A. O’Keefe after he became a supernumerary judge.

Other appointments included:
• Federal Court of Appeal Justice Robert Mainville to the Quebec Court of Appeal to replace Justice A.R. Hilton on July 1.

• Public Prosecution Service of Canada lawyer Larry Ackerl to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton, replacing Justice R.S. Brown following his appointment to the Alberta Court of Appeal.

• Felesky Flynn’s Blair Dixon to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench in Calgary. He replaces justice R.G. Stevens following his death in May.

• Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Cindy Bourgeois to the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, replacing Justice L.L. Oland on June 22 when she became a supernumerary judge.

• Nova Scotia Provincial Court Justice Jamie Campbell to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, replacing Bourgeois.

• Quebec Superior Court Justice Mark Schrager to the Quebec Court of Appeal, replacing new Supreme Court of Canada Justice Clément Gascon.

• Quebec Superior Court Justice Jean-Francois Emond to the Quebec Court of Appeal, replacing Justice J.J. Lévesque following his move to supernumerary status in February.

• Quebec Crown prosecutor Michel Fortin to the Quebec Superior Court, replacing Emond.

• Lawyer Donald Layh to the Saskatchewan Court of Queen’s Bench, replacing Justice J.L.G. Pritchard after she moved to supernumerary status.

POLL RESULTS
The results of the latest Law Times online poll are in.

Ahead of the June 12 provincial election, more respondents said they’d be voting for the Liberals than any other party.

About 37 per cent of respondents said they’d vote Liberal while 32 supported the Progressive Conservatives and 14 per cent selected the NDP.