LERNERS LAUNCHES FAMILY PRACTICELerners LLP has launched a family law practice group at its Toronto office.
Joanne Stewart and Bryan Smith, who joined the firm as partners, will lead the firm’s family law practice in Toronto.
The pair “bring stellar reputations and a proven track-record” in their area of expertise, Lerners said in a statement. Besides Stewart and Smith, lawyers Sarah Conlin and Lindsey Love-Forester have also joined Lerners as associates. Another lawyer, Upasana Sharma, will soon join the team along with Jennifer Howard, a family lawyer at Lerners’ office in London, Ont.
“Lerners has been a leader in providing top-level family law services in southwestern Ontario through our London office for many years, so it was a natural evolution for the firm to provide the same services in Toronto,” said Brian Grant, managing partner of the Toronto office.
“Bryan, Joanne, and their team represent an opportunity to add unmatched excellence in the field and we are pleased to welcome them as well as Jennifer, who joins us from London.”
Stewart and Smith were both partners at Bastedo Stewart Smith. They both have decades of experience in their fields, Lerners said.
DELOITTE ALIGNS WITH SHOULI & PARTNERSDeloitte LLP has aligned with immigration law firm Shouli & Partners LLP to offer business immigration services, the two firms announced.
Shouli & Partners partner Rima Shouli said business immigration services are in high demand as companies move people across borders.
“We’re experiencing conditions unique to a global market,” said Shouli. “Competition is pushing companies and their employees beyond traditional geographic boundaries to reach new markets and drive growth. At the same time, employers are looking beyond their own borders to recruit the best people. Prioritizing global employee deployment programs is critical.”
Heather Evans, Deloitte’s tax managing partner, said multinational companies are looking for one law firm to assist them with their business immigration needs.
“We’re excited by this alliance and what it means for our clients,” said Evans. “S&P’s legal services complement our existing tax practice, which means we can now offer a one-stop shop to address the complex business immigration requirements associated with a global operation.
“What’s more, Deloitte’s global network means we can offer local support in each country where our clients do business.”
DAVID PETERSON GETS PAN AM GIGCassels Brock & Blackwell LLP chairman David Peterson is taking a lead role on the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games organizing committee.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne nominated Peterson to chair the committee, the law firm said. Wynne said Peterson’s “deep knowledge, vision, and infectious enthusiasm will help make these the most successful Pan Am Games ever.”
Peterson was behind Ontario’s successful bid to host the Games.
“Cassels Brock is proud of Mr. Peterson’s involvement with the Pan Am Games as they serve to highlight Ontario’s rich talent, culture, and diversity,” the firm said in a press release.
POLL RESULTSThe results of the latest
Law Times online poll are in.
The majority of respondents don’t think foreign-service officers should compare themselves to government lawyers in demanding higher pay as part of their job action.
About 60 per cent of respondents felt the comparison was wrong, while the rest agreed that diplomats have a case for seeking pay similar to government lawyers. Foreign-service officers have been engaging in a job action in recent months that has affected visa and immigration processing times at Canadian outposts.
NEW HEAD OF CANADIAN LAWYERS ABROADToronto lawyer Brittany Twiss is the new executive director of Canadian Lawyers Abroad.
Twiss, who has worked with the organization for the last five years, replaces outgoing executive director Catherine McKenna.
“I am excited to pass the torch to Ms. Twiss,” said McKenna. “She is the ideal person to take the organization to the next stage of its development.”
Twiss will be an effective leader as the organization approaches its 10th anniversary in 2014, said co-founder Yasmin Shaker.
“We couldn’t be happier with Ms. Twiss’ new role in the organization. She will be an effective leader and we all look forward to working with her.”
GARDINER MILLER ARNOLD WELCOMES NEW PARTNERChris Jaglowitz has become a partner after 10 years of practising condo law and litigation at Gardiner Miller Arnold LLP.
Jaglowitz, who has been with the firm since 2003, is also the man behind its Ontario Condo Law blog.
“Bob Gardiner, Gerry Miller, and Mark Arnold are pleased to announced that Chris Jaglowitz has joined GMA partnership,” the firm said in a press release.
Jaglowitz chaired the Ontario Bar Association’s civil litigation section in 2012-13 and is the chairman of the Condominium Management Standards Council.
