LAW GRAD’S ROYAL SUCCESSION APPEAL DENIEDA recent law graduate who challenged royal succession rules barring Catholics from ascending to the throne has lost his appeal.
Bryan Teskey took his matter to the appeal court after Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland found he didn’t have standing to challenge the royal succession rules.
In a decision last week, the appeal court agreed with Hackland’s finding.
“We agree with Hackland R.S.J. that Mr. Teskey’s application does not raise justiciable issues and that Mr. Teskey lacked standing to bring the application,” the court said in
Teskey v. Canada (Attorney General).
“The rules of succession are a part of the fabric of the constitution of Canada and incorporated into it and therefore cannot be trumped or amended by the Charter, and Mr. Teskey does not have any personal interest in the issue raised (other than being a member of the Roman Catholic faith) and does not meet the test for public interest standing.”
Last year, Teskey told
Law Times the rules against Catholics were discriminatory. It also sets a “dangerous precedent,” he said. “It says politicians can choose who gets rights. It’s very odd that the government of Canada says Catholics and only Catholics cannot become heads of state.”
For more, see "
Law grad plans appeal after royal succession challenge dismissed."
BLG LANDS LOUISE ARBOURBorden Ladner Gervais LLP has landed one of Canada’s best-known lawyers.
Former Supreme Court of Canada justice Louise Arbour has joined BLG as counsel, the firm announced last week.
“Joining BLG provides an opportunity for new challenges in my career. I have long admired the firm’s litigation work and its contribution to the profession particularly through work done on a
pro bono basis,” said Arbour, who noted she’s looking forward to working with the international trade litigation and arbitration group at the firm.
Arbour, recently named one of Canada’s top 25 most influential lawyers by
Canadian Lawyer, also served as United Nations high commissioner for human rights as well as president and chief executive officer of the International Crisis Group.
GUBERMAN GARSON JOINS DELOITTE ALLYThe accounting world’s activity in the legal field continues to grow with the announcement last week that Guberman Garson Immigration Lawyers is joining an immigration law firm allied with Deloitte LLP.
The new firm, Guberman Garson Segal LLP, will offer services in Canadian, U.S., and international immigration law. “This transaction expands Guberman Garson’s reach globally, as our alliance with Deloitte in Canada brings us into Deloitte’s network of global immigration firms,” said David Garson, managing partner of Guberman Garson Segal LLP.
“Clients prefer the convenience of having a service provider that can offer Canadian, U.S., and international immigration services around the world. As the global immigration law firm allied with Deloitte, we are now fully equipped to meet those needs in a cost-effective manner.”
POLL RESULTSThe results of the latest
Law Times online poll are in.
According to the poll, 59 per cent of respondents agree with the Canadian Bar Association Legal Futures report’s recommendations to liberalize the ownership of law firms.
The majority of poll respondents agreed the legal profession needs to move quickly on innovation, while the remaining participants felt the risks of doing so are too great.
In a report released last month at the CBA’s annual conference, the Legal Futures team recommended a liberalized regulatory model that would allow for publicly traded law firms.
The report also said additional capital and flexibility would foster new ways of meeting client needs left unsatisfied by the existing regime.
