Monday, April 3, 2017

LOOPSTRA NIXON NAMES NEW MANAGING PARTNER
Allan Ritchie has been appointed Loopstra Nixon LLP’s managing partner and head of the executive committee.

Ritchie assumes the role from Ian Scarlett, who has served in the position since 2009.

During Scarlett’s tenure, the firm underwent significant expansion, growing from 16 lawyers to its current 41-lawyer team.

Scarlett will return to full-time private practice with a continued focus on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law and will serve as a member of the firm’s governing executive committee.

“Ian has been a steady hand at the wheel during a period of rapid growth and expansion for the firm. The positive impact of his leadership will be felt for years to come,” said founding partner Chuck Loopstra in a press release.

Ritchie originally joined Loopstra Nixon in 2003, where he worked until 2007. He returned as a partner in 2010 and has played significant roles in the restructuring of the firm’s student and lateral hiring programs, as well as serving as the firm’s primary representative with LawExchange International, the global network of 32 law firms of which the firm has been the Canadian representative member since 2012.

In addition to the managing partner role, Ritchie will continue to lead the firm’s cross-border business law practice.

CATZMAN AWARD CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
The Catzman family, The Advocates’ Society and the chief justice of Ontario’s Advisory Committee on Professionalism are calling for nominations for an award in memory of the late Justice Marvin A. Catzman, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and civility in the practice of law.

The award will be presented by the chief justice at the Opening of the Courts in September.

Nominators should provide a brief statement outlining the reasons for their nomination, the nominee’s curriculum vitae and two letters of support.

Nominations should be sent to: Rachel Stewart at [email protected]. The deadline is May 26.

FEORE TO SPEAK AT DINNER
The Advocates’ Society presents its 2017 End Of Term Dinner with special guest keynote speaker Colm Feore, best known for his role in 24. The member-only event will be held June 15 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building.

LAW TIMES POLL
Last week, a Law Times columnist wrote that criminal law is out of step and argued there should be an immediate moratorium on HIV non-disclosure prosecutions, unless there is alleged intentional transmission.

We asked readers what they thought. Seventy-two per cent said yes, the unjust criminalization of people living with HIV needs to change. The law has become more draconian even as HIV has become more manageable and as transmission risks decrease.

Twenty-eight per cent said no, the law should remain as it is, and the Ministry of the Attorney General should not change its approach.

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