TORONTO FIRM MERGES WITH CROSS-BORDER BOUTIQUE Nesathurai & Luk LLP has merged with Toronto law firm Devry Smith Frank LLP.
Nesathurai & Luk is a cross-border boutique law firm that focuses on business law, tax litigation, and Canadian and U.S. matters.
“In this ever more complex age of transnational businesses, it is important to provide small- to medium-size enterprises and individuals transacting business both domestically and internationally with reliable tax, immigration, business, and litigation services.
By merging with Devry Smith Frank LLP, Nesathurai & Luk LLP will be able to offer a greater breadth of legal services to both firms’ ever growing client base,” said Hari Nesathurai, a founder and principal of Nesathurai & Luk.
Following the merger, the firm will continue under Devry Frank Smith name.
MCGRATH BECOMES LAWPRO CHAIRWOMANThe LawPRO board of directors has announced the appointment of Susan McGrath as its new chairwoman.
McGrath will replace former chairman Ian Croft, who will continue as the board’s vice-chairman.
McGrath became a Law Society of Upper Canada bencher in 2007 and has served on several law society committees, including access to justice and government relations.
CONFERENCE NEXT MONTHThe Association of French Speaking Jurists of Ontario will host its annual conference in Collingwood, Ont., next month.
The event, to take place June 21-23, will feature training and networking opportunities. Topics of the conference will include harassment and violence in the workplace as well as administrative law.
For more information, see
ajefo.ca.
CHANGES AT LAWPROLawPRO has combined its claims prevention and stakeholder relations’ programs into one department.
LawPRO vice president Dan Pinnington will run the department. It will also include Ray Leclair, LawPRO’s vice president of public affairs.
Pinnington, who has served as director of practicePRO for the past 11 years, will oversee LawPRO’s risk-management efforts and its stakeholder relations portfolio in his new role.
In addition, Leclair will be responsible for LawPRO’s government relations and other outreach activities.
NEW ADR ETHICS COURSEThe ADR Institute of Ontario Inc. has created a new training course to help alternative dispute resolution professionals resolve ethical dilemmas during the course of their work.
“As mediation becomes more mainstream, it is important that we raise the standards of the profession,” says Joyce Young, president of the ADR Institute of Ontario.
“The course is intended to make mediators and arbitrators think about what they would do if faced with an ethical dilemma. Mediation is done out of the public eye, so it’s very important that we set the right standards to ensure the process is ethical.”
Elaine Newman, a mediator and arbitrator in Toronto, said the course will also provide participants with a roadmap of potential ethical dilemmas.
“The objective of ethics training is to provide the practical tools necessary to assist the reflective mediator to increase his or her awareness of the issues in a case,” said Newman.
“The code of ethics governing members of ADRIO will be strengthened when paired with focused, interactive training of mediators through this course.”
The ethical issues and dilemmas in mediation and ADR course is available online. For more information, see
adrontario.ca.
OAKVILLE LAWYER TARGETED IN HACKING SCAM An Oakville, Ont., lawyer has been targeted in a computer hacking scam.
According to practicePRO, someone who identified himself as Mason Saunders contacted a law firm on the morning of May 11 and asked to speak directly to the lawyer.
The caller, who appeared to be calling from a Florida area code, then told the lawyer he had been asked to create a web site for the law firm. He noted that due to privacy issues, the web site could only be accessed by creating identification numbers for the lawyer.
According to practicePRO, this was a ploy to have the lawyer access an external web site that would download malware. The malware would then give the scammer access to the law firm’s information.
LAWYERS FEED THE HUNGRY EVENT Lawyers Feed the Hungry will hold its annual Bugsy & Ken Charity Golf Tournament next month.
The event on June 13 will raise money for the Toronto Lawyers Feed the Hungry program and Camp Oochigeas, a camp for kids with cancer.
For more information, see
lawyersfeedthehungry.ca.
LAW STUDENTS AMONG TRUDEAU SCHOLARSThree law students are on the list of recipients of the Trudeau Foundation Scholarship.
The three are Kerri Froc of Queen’s University, Lisa Kerr of New York University, and Michael Pal of the University of Toronto.
Every year the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation presents the doctoral award to 15 students. It supports students focused on researching and sharing innovative ideas aimed at solving issues of importance to Canadians.
“This group of students demonstrates a remarkable engagement and an immense curiosity for the current state of the world,” said foundation president P.G. Forest. “The Trudeau scholarship will enable them to act upon their lively interest.”
