TORONTO LAWYER TO LEAD GOVERNANCE COALITION
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP partner Stephen Erlichman has been named the new executive director of the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance.
The Toronto-based lawyer has more than 30 years of experience practising corporate and securities law in Canada and the United States and heads up Faskens’ investment products and wealth management group as well as its private equity group.
“We are very excited to have Steve lead the coalition into its next phase of development,” said Dan Chornous, chairman of the coalition and chief investment officer of RBC Global Asset Management.
“He is one of Canada’s foremost authorities on governance issues and our members will benefit greatly from his deep knowledge and skill set.”
For his part, Erlichman said he was honoured to take the position. “The coalition has played a key role in working with institutional investors and public companies throughout the country and I look forward to assisting the coalition in continuing to be the driving force in fostering improved corporate governance in Canada.”
Erlichman has served as counsel to senior management, boards of directors, and major shareholders of private and public companies. He also authored a major report for the Canadian Securities Administrators that set out his recommendations to establish a fund governance regime for Canada.
JAG CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
The Canadian Forces marked the 100th anniversary of the appointment of the first judge advocate general earlier this month.
On Oct. 1, 1911, Col. Henry Smith became Canada’s first judge advocate general. A century later, more than 200 regular and reserve force military lawyers provide legal services at Canadian bases and headquarters across the country as well as around the world.
“This is a very special moment in the history of our office,” said Brig.-Gen. Blaise Cathcart, the current judge advocate general.
“For 100 years, Canadian legal officers have provided independent, operationally focused legal advice and services across the spectrum of military law and have supported the administration of military justice.
I applaud the skill, dedication, and professionalism of all military lawyers, past and present.”
FEDS NAME TWO ONTARIO JUDGES
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has appointed Randall Bocock as a judge of the Tax Court of Canada.
Bocock, a lawyer with Evans Philp LLP in Hamilton, Ont., was called to the bar in 1987 and since 2000 has headed up the firm’s business law department.
His main areas of practice were corporate-commercial, administrative, and trusts and estates law.
Bocock has also been chairman of the County & District Law Presidents’ Association and is a director of LawPRO.
Nicholson also named Brian O’Marra the newest judge of the Ontario Superior Court. O’Marra, who was a Crown attorney in Milton, Ont., will preside in Brampton.
He was admitted to the Ontario bar in 1977 and after five years in private practice, became an assistant Crown attorney in Brampton in 1982. He has been a Crown attorney in Halton region since 1993.
GOWLINGS OPENS BEIJING OFFICE
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP has officially opened its Beijing office.
“With the opening of our Beijing office, Gowlings continues to focus on international work and to support the evolving needs of our clients seeking to capitalize on the economic opportunities associated with the world’s fastest-growing market,” said Scott Jolliffe, Gowlings’ chairman and CEO.
“With our established and experienced networks in China, Gowlings is taking an important step forward in providing on the ground liaison, co-ordination, and support in a country known for its high-growth enterprises and entrepreneurship.”
Gowlings’ links to China began in 1985 when it became the first international law firm to file a patent application in the country. Since then, Gowlings has built a global China team composed of more than 100 professionals, including several who are fluent in Mandarin or Cantonese.
“Having an office in Beijing is reflective of the fast-changing nature of our global economy,” said Clark Roberts, chief representative in Beijing.
“As one of the largest law firms in Canada, we have a responsibility to our clients to remain at the forefront of global economic trends and we believe our Beijing office strengthens our ability to reach out to the market in a city that is increasingly shaping our global economic future.”
