TORONTO (February 16, 2006) – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes), one of Canada’s leading full-service business law firms, is pleased to announce the addition of 16 new Partners.
“Every one of these lawyers has worked very hard and demonstrated an exemplary commitment to meeting the needs of their clients,” said Rob Granatstein, National Managing Partner. “I welcome each of them into the Blakes partnership and congratulate them on this important next step in their career.”
There are four new Partners in the Montréal office. Yannick Beaudoin practises in the Financial Services, Structured Finance and Real Estate Groups. Natalie Bussière dedicates her practice to pension plans and employee benefits, as well as labour and employment law. Marc-Antoine La Rochelle practises financial services, real estate and business law. Francis Rouleau practises in all aspects of litigation before judicial and administrative courts, in arbitration proceedings and in all areas of commercial law. This includes contractual and negligence matters, and most recently, class actions.
In Toronto, the following are now Partners. John Hutmacher practises in the Firm’s national Real Estate Group. He works primarily on acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, financing and leasing transactions involving major Canadian commercial real properties. Navin Joneja practises in the Competition and International Trade Groups. His practice includes advising clients engaged in mergers, joint ventures and other types of strategic alliances concerning the notification and clearance provisions of the Competition Act and the Investment Canada Act, as well as international trade matters under the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization. Jacqueline Shinfield is a member of the Financial Services Group. Her practice focuses on all aspects of regulatory compliance in the financial services industry at both the federal and provincial level. Iris Tam practises real estate law. She has developed a broadly based practice covering all aspects of commercial real estate, including financings, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, as well as the enforcement of security and commercial mortgage-backed securities. John Wilkin practises in the Business and Securities Groups, focusing primarily on domestic and cross-border corporate finance and merger and acquisition transactions for public companies. Jennifer Woo is a member of our Securities Group. Her practice focuses on advising issuers, including investment funds, in connection with public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory matters.
In Calgary, there are four new Partners. Dan McLeod is a member of our Securities and Financial Services Groups, focusing primarily on financing and acquisition transactions. He also advises companies with respect to securities regulatory compliance and corporate governance matters. Ben Rogers’ practice focuses on energy matters, particularly in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and divestures, and commercial and joint venture arrangements within the oil and gas and alternative energy industries. Wanda Rumball is a member of our Taxation Group. She practises mainly in the corporate, income trust, partnership, international and resource taxation areas. Brian Thiessen is head of both the Labour & Employment Group and the Privacy Group in Calgary. His practice focuses on the managerial side of employment and labour issues, including labour relations matters, employment standards disputes, human rights complaints, and representing employers in collective agreement negotiations (including those within federal labour guidelines).
In Vancouver, there are two new Partners. Michael Howcroft practises in the Labour & Employment Group. In addition, Michael regularly assists clients on a number of commercial litigation matters. Ian MacIntosh practises in the Business Group and has significant experience in the securities, mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure (P3) and corporate governance areas.
Founded in 1856, Blakes has over 500 lawyers and offices in Canada, the United States, Europe and China. In October 2005, and for the third consecutive year,
Blakes was the only law firm named one of ”Canada’s Top 100 Employers” in Maclean’s newsmagazine. The Firm’s signature “Blakes means business” is not just
a catch phrase, but a discipline that defines how Blakes helps clients achieve their business objectives. More information on Blakes is available by visiting the
Firm’s Web site at www.blakes.com.
