Rising Stars 2017
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Rising Stars 2017 Lexpert’s annual awards program pays tribute to the Rising Stars of the legal community, honouring Winners from law firms and law departments across Canada. Nov 17, 2017 by Jean Cumming – Lexpert Magazine November/December 2017 Issue EVERY YEAR, RETURNING MEMBERS of the Lexpert Rising Stars Advisory Board (which selects the Winners from the Finalists) say their role was harder than the previous year. Past Winners already knew how competitive it was to win, and that meant a lot to them. Jennifer R. Woznesensky, a partner at Harper Grey LLP in Vancouver told Lexpert, "It was a true honour to be recognized as a Lexpert Rising Star in 2014 with a group of such accomplished individuals. The award helped boost my confidence in my abililties and solidified my drive to do excellent work for my clients." Ranjan Agarwal, a partner at Bennett Jones LLP in Toronto and a 2015 Winner, said, "So many leading lawyers have won this award, and to be included in their company is a great privilege." To add to the excitement, Winners are feted at the annual Awards gala. This year, Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada, is scheduled to address the audience gathered at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto on November 16, 2017. Rovinescu has served in that role since April 1, 2009. He was the Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Strategy of Air Canada from 2000 to 2004, and also held the position of Chief Restructuring Officer during the airline's 2003- 2004 restructuring. From 2004 to 2009, Rovinescu was a Co-founder and Principal of Genuity Capital Markets, an independent investment bank. Prior to 2000, he was the Managing Partner of Stikeman Elliott in Montréal, where he practised corporate law for over 20 years and was a member of the firm's Partnership Board and Executive Committee. A look at the impressive biographies of this year's Winners will bring the point home that choosing is difficult amongst excellent Finalists. These biographies are drawn from law firms and corporate websites, as well as the Winners' Rising Stars nomination forms. Introducing this year's Lexpert Rising Stars (and for bios and photos of this year's and previous year's winners, please click here): Michael Acedo Open Text Corporation Toronto Michael Acedo is General Counsel – Corporate at Open Text Corp. Within weeks of joining Open Text, Acedo helped lead the successful execution of its inaugural $800- million offering of high-yield notes. His primary responsibilities at Open Text are legal in nature, plus he works closely with his colleagues in finance, treasury, tax, investor relations and human resources to ensure that relevant business considerations are - 2 - carefully taken into account in all legal decisions. In honour of a close friend who passed away from ALS, Acedo and others organize an annual golf tournament, which has raised both awareness and funds (over $75,000 to date) for the ALS Society of Canada. Acedo also sits on the organizing committee for Lucky Ball, an annual charity gala that benefits the Fort York Food Bank and has generated close to $160,000 since its inception five years ago. Carrie Aiken Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP Calgary Carrie Aiken practises income tax law at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, where she focuses on advising and planning on the tax aspects of domestic and international transactions, including M&A, corporate reorganizations, divestitures and investments by private-equity and pension funds. She advises international companies and state- owned enterprises looking to invest, commence or acquire business operations in Canada. She also advises public corporations, trusts and investment funds in connection with a wide range of public share and debt offerings. Throughout 2014 and 2015, Aiken co-chaired the firm’s Calgary student committee and was responsible for all student recruitment and matters relating to students throughout their articles. She is past President and former Director of the Canadian Petroleum Tax Society and an active and contributing member of the Canadian Tax Foundation. Aiken is involved in broader community initiatives through pro bono work with the Calgary YMCA. She passionately supports Ovarian Cancer Canada and has recently been appointed to its Board as a Director. Afshan Ali CIBC Toronto Afshan Ali is Senior Counsel (Litigation) at CIBC. Her nominator wrote: “Afshan has worked in a lead capacity on some of CIBC’s most important litigation and regulatory matters. Perhaps most significantly, she led the representation of CIBC internally in the regulatory proceedings that resulted in CIBC’s $73-million no-contest settlement with the Ontario Securities Commission of allegations that clients had been charged excess fees. To date, this settlement is the largest in the industry when compared to those reached by other bank-owned and independent dealers who have settled the issue, an indication of its significance, complexity and importance to CIBC.” She is the current President of the Board of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, having served on the Board for six years in various capacities. Under the guidance of the Board, the Clinic participates regularly in groundbreaking litigation. Sherri M. Altshuler Aird & Berlis LLP Toronto Sherri Altshuler is a partner at Aird & Berlis LLP, in which she is a member of its Capital Markets; Corporate/Commercial and Mining Groups as well as a member of the firm’s Capital Pool Company, Startups and Cannabis Groups. Her legal practice is focused on - 3 - M&A, corporate reorganizations, public and private financings and ongoing corporate and commercial matters. She has developed specialized expertise in capital markets transactions, including advising real estate investment trusts with respect to board governance, securities and financing matters. She has been on the Board of Directors of The Arthritis Society (Ontario) since 2012, and she is on the organization’s Nominating Committee and All-In for Arthritis Poker Gala Committee. Altshuler was a Board Member of the Ontario Spondylitis Association and the Canadian Spondylitis Association. She chairs an annual event with PwC Canada for Holocaust Education Week. She is also involved in Women in Capital Markets and Women Lawyers of Interlaw. Jennifer A. Archer Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Vancouver Jennifer Archer is a partner in BLG’s Corporate Commercial Group. She is the firm’s client team lead for BC Hydro, working for them on a variety of matters, including complex supply and outsourcing arrangements, electricity purchase agreements, load displacement agreements and various procurements, including those related to the Site C Clean Energy Project. Site C, with a cost estimate in excess of $8 billion, is a third dam and hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in northeast BC. She has volunteered her time to assist with the organization of the YWCA Women of Great Distinction Awards, and in 2017 participated as a judge for the Association of Women in Finance PEAK Awards. Archer is actively involved in the Next Leaders Council of the Business Council of British Columbia, the Vancouver Board of Trade and the Vancouver Chapter of Associates for Corporate Growth. She was an Adjunct Professor at the University of BC Faculty of Law (2010 to 2014) where she co-taught a class on corporate matters. Chris Armstrong Goodmans LLP Toronto Chris Armstrong is a Goodmans LLP partner, practising in the areas of restructuring, commercial insolvency, M&A and corporate law. His practice has included acting for debtors, court-appointed officers, bondholders, purchasers and other participants in a number of complex cross-border and Canadian restructurings, including Nortel Networks, Crystallex International Corp., Tervita Corp., Horsehead Holding Corp., Smurfit-Stone, Northstar Aerospace and Eddie Bauer, as well as acting on behalf of purchasers and vendors in a number of receivership sales. For the past eight and a half years, Armstrong has played an integral role in the Nortel proceedings. Armstrong is an Adjunct Professor at Western Law School, teaching the Advanced Restructuring course. He received in 2016 the USC Teaching Honour Roll Award of Excellence. In 2014, he received the Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner’s Citation for Lifesaving and the St. John Ambulance Lifesaving Award for assisting and resuscitating a cottage neighbour during a near-drowning incident. Alexandre-Philippe Avard Dentons Canada LLP Montréal - 4 - Alexandre-Philippe Avard joined Dentons in 2012. His practice is focused on commercial litigation and Aboriginal law. He has been involved, either as lead or supporting counsel, in complex and high-profile cases, including Chippewas of the Thames First Nation v. Enbridge Pipelines, 2017 SCC 41. He was a key member of the team representing Enbridge before the SCC in proceedings where Chippewas of the Thames First Nation challenged the legality of the National Energy Board’s approval of a pipeline project. The upcoming judgment will likely be a landmark decision on the Crown’s duty to consult Aboriginal peoples. Fully committed to being paperless, Avard created databases of documents and precedents relevant to his practice. He consistently works with litigation software and uses electronic devices in court appearances and client meetings. In addition, Avard is part of Dentons’ National E- Discovery Committee, identifying best practices and technologies, and providing training to litigation lawyers and paralegals. Annie Bernard Fasken Martineau DuMoulin s.e.n.c.r.l., s.r.l. Montréal Annie Bernard’s construction law practice is multifaceted and includes contract drafting, project management, contract disputes, construction liens, public private partnerships, building authority licensing, construction defects, procurement advice, delay claims, product liability, claim bonds, international infrastructure projects with an emphasis on Africa and international arbitration. Bernard has been a Director of Théâtre Le Clou for eight years. She has also been instrumental in creating “Le Cube,” an international research and creation centre for theatre devoted to youth.