Award Categories

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CAPITAL MARKETS DEAL OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Alimentation Couche-Tard’s concurrent US$1.5 billion and €1.35 billion notes offerings
Canadian Law Firms
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (for the placing agents)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Alimentation Couche-Tard)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (for Alimentation Couche-Tard)
Simpson Thacher & Barlett LLP (for the placing agents)

Organizations
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.
J.P. Morgan
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Wells Fargo


Browning West’s victory in Gildan Activewear proxy campaign
Canadian Law Firms
Goodmans LLP (lead counsel to Browning West, LP)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP (US counsel to Browning West)


Canada’s C$4 billion 10-year Green Bond and additional C$2 billion reopening
Canadian Law Firms
BCF LLP (Government of Canada’s Translation Counsel)
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (acted for the syndicate of underwriters)
Field Law (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – NWT and Nunavut)
Macdonald and Company (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – Yukon)
McMillan LLP (lead law firm – acted as sole outside legal advisor to the Government of Canada)
MLT Aikins (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – Saskatchewan and Manitoba)
Stewart McKelvey (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – Atlantic Provinces)

Organizations
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. (underwriter)
Casgrain & Company Limited (underwriter)
CIBC World Markets Inc. (underwriter)
Desjardins Securities Inc. (underwriter)
Laurentian Bank Securities Inc.
Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. (underwriter)
National Bank Financial Inc. (underwriter)
RBC Dominion Securities Inc. (underwriter)
Scotia Capital Inc. (underwriter)
The Toronto-Dominion Bank (underwriter)


TC Energy Corporations’ C$7.9 billion notes offering for Liquids Pipelines business spinoff
Canadian Law Firms
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to TC Energy)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
White & Case LLP

Organizations
RBC Capital Markets
TC Energy Corporation

INFRASTRUCTURE & PROJECTS DEAL OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Coastal GasLink Pipeline Limited Partnership’s C$7.15 billion refinancing
Canadian Law Firms
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Coastal GasLink Pipeline)
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (counsel to Joint Lead Agents)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (counsel to KKR and AIMCo)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Mayer Brown LLP (US counsel to Coastal GasLink Pipeline)

Organizations
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.
CIBC World Markets Inc.
Merrill Lynch Canada Inc.
RBC Dominion Securities Inc.


Fengate’s C$1.8 billion recapitalization transaction of eStruxture
Canadian Law Firms
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (eStruxture counsel)
Gowling WLG
Miller Thomson LLP (counsel to CDPQ)
Stikeman Elliott (counsel to Fengate)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Kirkland & Ellis LLP (for Fengate)

Organizations
Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
Campbell Lutyens
DH Capital
eStruxture Data Centers
Fengate Asset Management
KPMG
Leo Berwick


Surrey Langley Skytrain’s C$5.996 billion project
Canadian Law Firms
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (acted for SkyLink Guideway Partners)
McCarthy Tetrault LLP (for the lenders to SkyLink Guideway Partners)
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (acted for the Province of British Columbia)


Weeneebayko Area Health Authority’s C$1.8 billion redevelopment
Canadian Law Firms
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (Legal Advisors to Pomerleau Inc.)
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (legal counsel to Infrastructure Ontario and the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (Hospital))
Stikeman Elliott (legal advisor to the Lenders)

Organizations
Caixabank, S.A. (Lender)
Federation des Caisses Desjardins du Quebec (Lender)
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Canada) (Lender)
Pomerleau Inc. and its affiliates (Preferred Proponent, Dev Co, Project Co)
PwC (Financial Advisor to Pomerleau Inc.)
Royal Bank of Canada (Lender)

INSOLVENCY & RESTRUCTURING DEAL OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Ayr Wellness cross-border cannabis restructuring
Canadian Law Firms
Goodmans LLP (Canadian counsel to the Plan Sponsors and Ad Hoc Committee)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (lead counsel to Ayr Wellness)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Paul Hastings LLP (US counsel to the Ad Hoc committee of senior noteholders)
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (US counsel to Ayr Wellness)

Organizations
Ducera (financial advisor to the Ad Hoc committee)
Moelis (financial advisor to Ayr Wellness)


Tacora Resources Inc.’s restructuring under CCAA
Canadian Law Firms
Bennett Jones LLP (acted for the primary creditor group)
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP (FTI Consulting Canada Inc.)
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (CrossingBridge Advisors, LLC)
Goodmans LLP (counsel to Cargill, Incorporated and Cargill International Trading Pte Ltd.)
McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for the controlling shareholder on the Tacora CCAA process)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (lead counsel for Millstreet and OSP)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel to the debtor, Tacora)

Organizations
Cargill, Incorporated
FTI Consulting Canada Inc.
GLC Advisors and Co. LLC
Greenhill Co & Canada Ltd
Jefferies LLC
Tacora


Taiga Motors Corp Inc.’s insolvency process
Canadian Law Firms
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (counsel for Deloitte Restructuring)
Lavery de Billy LLP (counsel for the acquirer – Stewart Wilkinson)
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (acted for Taiga Motors)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel for Export Development Canada)

Organizations
Ernst & Young Inc.
Deloitte Restructuring


Xplore’s C$1.8 billion recapitalization
Canadian Law Firms
Bennett Jones LLP (for primary creditor group)
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners)
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Chaitons LLP (lead counsel to Amynta Surety Solutions)
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (for Xplore)
Goodmans LLP (lead counsel to Xplore Inc.)
McCarthy Tetrault LLP

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (ad hoc committee counsel to the term lenders)
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP LLP (lead US counsel to Xplore)
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (for Stonepeak)

Organizations
Perella Weinberg Partners (as lead financial advisor to Xplore)
FTI (as financial advisor to Xplore)
Greenhill (as financial advisor to the committee of ad hoc term lenders)

M&A DEAL OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Advent International, Philip Fayer, Novacap, and CDPQ’s US$6.3 billion joint acquisition of Nuvei Corporation
Canadian Law Firms
Bennett Jones (for BMO Capital Markets)
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (for Advent International)
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (for Novacap)
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (for Novacap)
Goodmans LLP (for TD Securities)
McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for CDPQ)
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (for Special Committee of Nuvei Corporation)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for Philip Fayer)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Nuvei)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Mayer Brown LLP
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Ropes & Gray LLP
Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Organizations
Advent International
Nuvei Corporation


Blackstone Real Estate’s C$5 billion acquisition of Tricon Residential
Canadian Law Firms
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (counsel to Blackstone)
Goodmans LLP (lead counsel to Tricon Residential Inc.)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (Canadian counsel to the Special Committee of Tricon Residential (“Tricon”))

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (US counsel to Tricon)
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (counsel to Blackstone)


Canadian Natural Resources Limited’s US$6.5 billion acquisition of Chevron’s Alberta assets
Canadian Law Firms
Bennett Jones LLP (lead counsel to Canadian Natural Resources)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (counsel to Chevron)


Chord Energy and Enerplus C$11 billion merger
Canadian Law Firms
Goodmans LLP (counsel to Chord Energy Corporation)
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Enerplus)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Latham & Watkins LLP
Vinson & Elkins LLP (co-lead counsel to Chord Energy)
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (co-lead counsel to Chord Energy)


Glencore’s C$9.93 billion acquisition of Teck Resources Limited
Canadian Law Firms
Bennett Jones LLP (for Nippon Steel)
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Teck Resources Limited)
Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) LLP
Felesky Flynn LLP (counsel to Teck Resources Limited)
McCarthy Tétrault LLP (counsel to Glencore plc)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel to Teck Resources Limited)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Covington & Burling LLP
Linklaters LLP
Norton Rose Fulbright
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (for Teck)
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (for the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)

Organizations
Teck Resources Limited
Ardea Partners LP (financial advisor to Teck)
Barclays Capital Canada Inc. (financial advisor to Teck)
CIBC World Markets Inc. (financial advisor to Teck)
TD Securities Inc. (financial advisor to Teck)
BMO Capital Markets (financial advisors to the special committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (financial advisors to the special committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)
Origin Merchant Partners (financial advisors to the special committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)


Royal Bank of Canada’s C$13.5 billion acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada
Canadian Law Firms
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Royal Bank of Canada)
RBC Law Group (lead counsel to Royal Bank of Canada)
Miller Thomson LLP (counsel to HSBC Bank Canada board of directors)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel to HSBC Global)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
A&O Sherman
Allen & Overy LLP (UK counsel to RBC)
Linklaters LLP (UK counsel to HSBC Global)
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (US counsel to RBC

Organizations
Royal Bank of Canada

MID-MARKET DEAL OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Canada Growth Fund’s C$200 million strategic investment in Entropy and carbon credit offtake agreement
Canadian Law Firms
Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP (counsel for Entropy and Advantage)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (legal advisor for Canada Growth Fund)
Torys LLP (counsel for Brookfield Renewable)

Organizations
BMO (financial advisor for CGF)


Nations Royalty Corp. and Nisga’a Nation’s C$100 million royalty agreement
Canadian Law Firms
Aldridge and Rosling LLP (co-lead firm for Nisga’a Nation)
DuMoulin Black LLP (co-lead firm for Nisga’a Nation)
Farris LLP (lead firm for Nations Royalty Corp.)

Organizations
Canaccord Genuity Corp.
Deloitte LLP
Fiore Management & Advisory Corp.
Nations Royalty Corp.
Nisga’a Nation


OpenGate Capital’s C$155 million acquisition of Cineplex Inc.’s Player One Amusement Group
Canadian Law Firms
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to OpenGate Capital)
Goodmans LLP (counsel to Cineplex Inc.)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
Baker McKenzie (US counsel to Cineplex)
Paul Hastings LLP (US counsel to OpenGate)

Organizations
OpenGate Capital


Trans Mountain Corporation, Lower Nicola Indian Band, and EPCOR’s C$200 million sale of Kingsvale Transmission Line
Canadian Law Firms
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Dentons Canada LLP (for EPCOR)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (legal advisor for Trans Mountain)

Organizations
EPCOR
Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corporation
Trans Mountain Corporation

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION TEAM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP; Field LLP; Glaholt Bowles LLP – Pacific Atlantic Pipeline Construction Ltd v. Coastal Gaslink Pipeline Ltd, 2024 ABCA 74

Borden Ladner Gervais; Stikeman Elliott; Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP; Woods LLP; Dentons Canada LLP – Republic of India v. CCDM Holdings, 2024 QCCA 1620

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP; Orr Taylor LLP; Stikeman Elliott LLP; WeirFoulds LLP; McCarthy Tétrault LLP – Lilleyman v. Bumble Bee Foods LLC, 2024 ONCA 606

Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP; Gardiner Roberts; Cambridge LLP; Scher Law; Supreme Advocacy LLP; Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP – Rina Del Giudice and Daniel Wood v. Paige Thompson, et al., 2024 CanLII 88330 (SCC)

Lenczner Slaght; O’Donnell, Robertson & Partners; Stikeman Elliott LLP; Thomson Blackburn Lane Lefebvre LLP; Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP; Clyde & Co LLP; Blaney McMurtry LLP; Theall Group LLP – Loblaw Companies Limited V. Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada, 2024 ONCA 145

Torys LLP; Law Office of Terry Corsianos; Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP; Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP; Ministry of the Attorney General- Crown Law Office; Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP – Aquino v. Bondfield Construction Co., 2024 SCC 31

BANKING & FINANCIAL SERVICES LAW DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR

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The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in Canadian Law Department of the Year

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (“BCI”)
CI Financial
Dawson Partners
Fairstone Bank
Fengate Asset Management
goeasy Ltd
Royal Bank of Canada
TMX Group
TransUnion
University Pension Plan

CANADIAN LAW DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR

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Winners of the two sector-specific law department awards will automatically progress to become finalists for this category

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Banyan Software
BDO Canada
Dow Canada
Geotab Inc.
Mercedes-Benz Canada and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada Corporation (together “MBCan”)
WSP

LAW DEPARTMENT INNOVATION

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

CPP Investments
Ontario Lottery & Gaming
Sagard Holdings
SE Health
Siemens Canada
Staples Canada
TELUS
The University of British Columbia, Allard School and Law and Emerging Media Lab
Waste Connections of Canada

THE DYE & DURHAM AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION – IN-HOUSE

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The recipient of this award will be announced at the Canadian Law Awards gala

THE LAWSON LUNDELL LLP AWARD FOR LAW DEPARTMENT LEADER OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Cheryl Graden – TMX Group
Corey MacKinnon – Cooke Inc.
Gaurav Manhas – OpenRoad Group
Heather Mullen – Kenvue Canada Inc.
Hina Latif – Mercedes-Benz Canada and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada Corporation (together, “MBCan”)
Lorne O’Reilly – Dow Canada
Matthew Kuchinsky – Dawson Partners
Patricia Caza – The Regional Municipality of Peel
Sarah Jacklin – Stryker Canada

THE SINGLETON URQUHART REYNOLDS VOGEL LLP AWARD FOR CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION LAW DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR

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The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in Canadian Law Department of the Year

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Boralex Inc.
Canada Infrastructure Bank
Canadian National Railway Company
CDPQ Infra
Graham Group Ltd.
TC Energy Corporation
Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority

BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Bergeron Clifford Injury Lawyers
Hicks Morley Hamilton Stewart Storie LLP
Neinstein
ROBIC
Roper Greyell LLP
Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP
Smart & Biggar

LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP
Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP
Lenczner Slaght
Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
Stockwoods LLP
Thomson Rogers LLP
Wagners Law Firm

LITIGATOR OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Bevin Shores – Gowling WLG
Duncan Embury – Neinstein
Lincoln Caylor – Bennett Jones LLP
Mason Poplaw – McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Nader Hasan – Stockwoods LLP
Peter J. Pliszka – Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Sandra A. Forbes – Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg

MANAGING PARTNER OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Brendon Pooran – PooranLaw
Danielle Robitaille – Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP
Jacqueline Dinsmore – Caravel Law
Luca Citton – Boughton Law
Matthew Zischka – Smart & Biggar
Mitch Frazer – Mintz
Natasa Karambatsos – KRB Avocats | Lawyers

REGIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – ATLANTIC CANADA

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Curtis Dawe
McInnes Cooper

REGIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – ONTARIO

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Blaney McMurtry LLP
Lerners LLP
Loopstra Nixon LLP
Torkin Manes LLP
WeirFoulds

REGIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – PRAIRIES

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

McDougall Gauley LLP
McKercher LLP

REGIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – QUEBEC

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Delegatus
KRB Avocats | Lawyers
Langlois Lawyers
Lavery

REGIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – WESTERN CANADA

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Burnet, Duckworth and Palmer LLP
Clark Wilson LLP
Farris LLP
Lawson Lundell LLP
McLennan Ross LLP

THE DYE & DURHAM AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION – PRIVATE PRACTICE

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The recipient of this award will be announced at the Canadian Law Awards gala

THE LEAP LEGAL SOFTWARE AWARD FOR BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN A LAW FIRM

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Caravel Law
KMSC LAW
PMP Law Professional Corporation
Procido LLP
Torys LLP
Virani Law

THE LEAP LEGAL SOFTWARE AWARD FOR FAMILY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Benmor Family Law Group
Crossroads Law
MacLean Law
McCarthy Hansen & Company
Panko Collaborative Law and Mediation
Resolve Legal Group

DIVERSITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Aird & Berlis LLP – The New Aird & Berlis Indigenous Practice Group and Indigenous Education Program
Dentons – Dentons’ Reconciliation Roadmap
Enbridge – Canadian Legal Mentorship Program
Fasken – Empower Network
Level Justice – Black Youth Justice Program
Miller Thomson LLP – Strengthening Inclusive Leadership to Strengthen our Workplace of Belonging
PooranLaw Professional Corporation – PooranLaw: Achieving Equity for People with Disabilities

FEMALE TRAILBLAZER OF THE YEAR (ACADEMIA & IN-HOUSE)

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Andrea Cotroneo – Loblaw Companies Limited
Ashley Butts – BDO Canada
Jane Murdoch – Finning International Inc.
Kathryn (Katie) Daniels – CPP Investments
Lara Speirs – Women General Counsel Canada
Oyeyinka Oyelowo – Ontario Provincial Police Association
Pam Hrick – Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)

FEMALE TRAILBLAZER OF THE YEAR (PRIVATE PRACTICE)

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Karen Sargeant – Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Melissa Cattini – MLT Aikins LLP
Nancy Hamzo – Baker McKenzie
Natalie Worsfold – Counter Tax Litigators LLP
Rachel Howie – Dentons
Sarit Batner – McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Sharon Vogel – Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP
Zeynab Ziaie Moayyed – Visa Law Group PC

PRO BONO INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR

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EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

DMZ, Toronto Metropolitan University – DMZ Counsel
Gowling WLG – Operation Abraham
McCarthy Tétrault LLP – McCarthy Tétrault aids Egale Canada and Skipping Stone in protecting transgender youth’s access to care
McInnes Cooper – Immigration Initiative
Norton Rose Fulbright – Pro bono initiative to support Black-led small businesses and Black entrepreneurs in our local communities
PooranLaw Professional Corporation – I Decide Law Program
Torys LLP – Protecting the Charter rights of thalidomide survivors in Lianne Powell et al. v. Attorney General of Canada