HARVEY HABER TO RETIRE FROM FIRM
One of the key players at Goldman Sloan Nash & Haber LLP is retiring this month.
The firm reports that Harvey Haber will be retiring on Oct. 31. “We wish Harvey every happiness in the future,” the firm said in a newsletter item announcing Haber’s retirement.
While he has more than 40 years of experience with a specialization in commercial leasing, Haber remains in the legal field as a panel member at COE ADR Management, a dispute resolution company based in Toronto.
NEW DIVERSITY DIRECTOR AT BLG
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP has named a litigator to serve as its first national director of diversity and inclusion.
Laleh Moshiri, who started at the firm as a litigator in the health law group and more recently served as the senior director of professional services at its Toronto office, will fill the new role. “I am thrilled about this new opportunity because BLG already has a culture that embraces diversity,” said Moshiri.
“I look forward to building on this strength as we work on new initiatives and continue to build a diverse and inclusive workplace.”
The firm says the new role reflects its commitment to diversity. “This new position underscores the importance of diversity and inclusion at BLG,” said Phil Donnelly, chief talent officer at BLG.
“Diversity and inclusion is a core pillar in our overall talent strategy, which encompasses the entire organization — both our legal and business services professionals.”
ONTARIO MOVES ON CAR INSURANCE, BUSINESS LAW
The Ontario government has announced a couple of measures on auto insurance and pensions as well as the province’s business laws.
On Oct. 8, the government announced it had appointed David Marshall as an adviser on auto insurance and pensions as of Feb. 1, 2016. Marshall, president and chief executive officer of the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board, will advise the government on ways to further cut auto insurance costs and implement the new Ontario retirement pension plan.
In other news, the province is creating a new advisory council on reforming Ontario’s business laws. It follows recommendations from the business law agenda stakeholder panel earlier this year that called for continuous review and modernization of Ontario’s corporate and commercial laws, a task the new advisory council will take on.
The new advisory council will include up to 12 members. It comes as the province says it’s making changes to three laws: the Business Corporations Act, the Business Names Act, and the Personal Property Security Act. According to the province, the changes will make it easier to do business; simply processes by, for example, allowing one signature instead of two when approving financial statements; and provide clarity in business transactions by ensuring only independent auditors can conduct business audits.
POLL RESULTS
The results of the latest Law Times online poll are in.
According to the poll, respondents narrowly favour the new Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement. About 41 per cent of participants said the agreement is good for Canada and agreed the country must be a part of such deals and expand free trade.
Following closely behind were the 40 per cent of respondents who felt the deal isn’t good for Canada and will imperil important sectors while delivering few benefits.
A further 19 per cent of respondents felt it was too early to tell whether the deal would be good for Canada or not.
The poll follows the announcement this month of the deal involving 12 countries covering a $28.5-trillion market. The deal has attracted particular scrutiny for the potential impact on the supply-management and auto sectors in Canada.
