Monday, March 3, 2014

NEW CHAIRMAN AT MILLER THOMSON
Kent Davidson is the national chairman of Miller Thomson LLP.

Davidson, a partner with the firm, practises labour and employment law as well as litigation. In a news release, he touted Miller Thomson as a leading national law firm.

“Miller Thomson has the most complete geographic coverage of any national firm in the country,” said Davidson.

“This unique footprint gives us a tremendous service advantage at a time when being service-minded and responsive has never been a higher priority for clients. Our lawyers are deeply committed to their communities.”

Davidson replaces Gerald Courage following his three-year term in the role. Among Courage’s accomplishments are building an alliance with French business law firm FIDAL and expanding Miller Thomson’s services in Saskatchewan, according to Miller Thomson.

“We are grateful for Gerald Courage’s contribution to the growth of the firm,” said Pierre Paquet, a partner at Miller Thomson’s Montreal office.

“At the same time, we welcome Kent Davidson’s service-minded, entrepreneurial approach. His pragmatic approach reflects the firm’s culture and he will do very well in his new national leadership role.”
 
PROF HONOURED FOR LEGAL WRITING
University of Toronto Faculty of Law Prof. Jim Phillips has received the Ministry of the Attorney General’s 2013 David Walter Mundell Medal for legal writing.

The Mundell medal honours those “who have made a distinguished contribution to law and letters,” according to a ministry news release.

“It celebrates great legal writing and recognizes that the artful use of language in the right style has the power to give life to ideas.”

Phillips, who’s also part of U of T’s department of history, has written extensively about legal history, particularly on criminal law in Canada, the ministry said.

Former attorney general Ian Scott created the Mundell medal in 1986 to honour members of the legal profession who have made exceptional contributions to legal writing.

CLASS ACTION TRIO JOINS MCKENZIE LAKE
Three former Siskinds LLP class action lawyers have joined McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP.

Lawyers Michael Peerless, Matt Baer, and Sabrina Lombardi “bring with them an unmatched track record of success,” McKenzie Lake said in a news release.

Peerless said he and his colleagues are “thrilled” to have joined the firm. “We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to join this dynamic, growing, and progressive law firm. The platform here at McKenzie Lake is an ideal place for us to continue to serve our class action clients, and to work with many skilled lawyers in a variety of fields,” he said.

McKenzie Lake managing partner Michael Lake described the trio as “best-in-class lawyers.”

“Consistent with our resolve to attract the very best legal talent in support of niche practice areas, we are extremely gratified to have the Peerless class action group join us,” said Lake.

POLL RESULTS
The results of the latest Law Times online poll are in.

About 64 per cent of participants say the federal government is right to look at eliminating the immigrant investor program.

The poll follows the 2014 federal budget that called the immigrant investor program “an exception” to the progress Canada has made in aligning its immigration system with its economic needs.

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