Dearden has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in landmark libel cases
Gowling WLG announced that partner Richard Dearden will be receiving The Advocates’ Society’s annual John P. Nelligan Award, which recognizes exceptional advocacy and legal contributions among Ottawa-based lawyers.
Dearden, senior litigation partner at the firm and leader of its Mexico country desk, focuses his practice on defamation law, freedom of the press, access to information, international trade law and customs and investor-state arbitrations.
Dearden has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in landmark libel cases Quan v. Cusson and Grant v. Torstar Corp. He has also served as external counsel on behalf of the Government of Mexico for the negotiations and implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Since his call to the Ontario bar in 1979, Dearden has been hailed as a leading practitioner by various publications, including Lexpert.
Dearden has also held prominent roles in a number of organizations. He has been a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, chairman of the International Bar Association’s Media Law Committee and board member at the Ottawa Citizen Literacy Foundation and The Hnatyshyn Foundation.
In the news release from the firm, Dearden said that he felt honoured to receive an award named after John Nelligan, whom he called “a legend and an icon.” Nelligan was The Advocates’ Society’s first Ottawa president and co-founder of Nelligan O'Brien Payne LLP.
The award ceremony will be held on May 14 at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa.
