SPECIAL REPORT
10 pages on the 2015 Canadian General Counsel Awards,
Legal eagles were out in full force for the 11th Annual CGCA, which took place Monday, June 1 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto.
Over 500 guests attended the sold-out black tie affair, founded by National Post and ZSA Legal Recruitment.
Marie Henein, partner with Henein Hutchison, was the emcee for the CGCA, which is Canada’s only national program designed exclusively to recognize excellence in the inhouse counsel community. This special honour brings together the senior members of the Canadian private bar and the leading in-house counsel to celebrate the accomplishments of the Canadian legal profession over the past year.
The Lifetime Achievement award went to James Turner, former vicechair, Ontario Securities Commission and former senior partner with Torys LLP. The Canadian General Counsel of the Year award went to Jim Willoughby, chief legal officer, corporate director and secretary with Allergan Inc.
Business Achievement went to Shannon Rogers, president and general counsel, Global Relay. Dealmaking was presented to Sofia Tsakos, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Yamana Gold Inc. Litigation Management went to Adrian Lang, associate general counsel, Bank of Montreal. Mid-Market Excellence was presented to Gail Harding, senior vice-president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Canadian Western Bank.
Tomorrow’s Leader went to Fernando Garcia, general counsel, Nissan Canada and Infiniti Canada. Telus received the Social Responsibility Award.
Other bright lights making the rounds included Christopher Sweeney, ZSA Legal Recruitment; Gordon Fisher, president, National Post and president, Pacific Newspaper Group; David Allgood, RBC; Terry O’Sullivan, partner, Lax O’Sullivan Scott Lisus; Warren Bongard, ZSA Legal Recruitment; Peter Zvanitajs, Norton Rose Fulbright; Barbara Muir, senior VP and deputy general counsel, Bank of Montreal; Karen Carteri, partner and co-chair of the B.C. dispute resolution group, McMillan; Steven Rukavina, head of WeirFoulds corporate practice group; Stephanie Vaccari, partner, IP practice group, Baker & McKenzie; Andrew Foley, partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Kate Broer, partner in the litigation group, Dentons; Sean Weir, national managing partner and CEO, Borden Ladner Gervais; and Karen Werger, partner, financial advisory, Deloitte.
Sponsors included Baker & McKenzie; BMO Bank of Montreal; Borden Ladner Gervais; Commonwealth Legal; Deloitte; Dentons; Dickinson Wright; Grand Touring Automobiles; McMillan; Paul Weiss; The Lawyers Weekly and WeirFoulds.