Commitment
McCarthy Tétrault has a rich history as a proponent of women in the legal profession. In 1921, we became one of the first Toronto firms to hire a woman lawyer, Edith Sheppard — a bold move in what was then a male-dominated profession. At that time, 99 per cent of law school graduates were men. Women had only won the right to vote in federal general elections a scant three years earlier.
Today, women make up more than 50 per cent of law school graduates. At our firm, about half of our associates and a fifth of our partners are women. Women partners are an integral part of the firm’s Leadership Team and hold seats on our Board of Partners. On the client side, things have changed as well. Today, women increasingly hold senior positions in Canada’s corporations. Clients have started to query law firms on gender diversity issues and to look for women on client teams.
Given the changes in our profession and in industry, McCarthy Tétrault sees a strong business case for the advancement of our women lawyers and seeks to foster a professional environment that attracts women and sustains and supports their career development.
To this end, McCarthy Tétrault has undertaken several innovative strategies targeting our women lawyers, including:
- Being a lead sponsor of the first-ever study on flexible work arrangements in Canadian law firms (conducted by Catalyst Canada Inc., the leading research firm on gender issues);
- Retaining Catalyst to study the environment for women at the firm;
- Creating an action plan based on key recommendations from the Catalyst study;
- Launching a Women’s Initiatives Network (WIN) to promote business development, mentoring and career support for women lawyers;
- Creating The Women’s Committee, a firm-wide committee to address issues of concern to women;
- Appointing four women partners to lead discussion of and planning of women’s issues;
- Developing support programs for women on maternity leave; and
- Hosting novel business development events for our women clients.
Community
At McCarthy Tétrault, we take pride in our women lawyers’ dedication — not only to the advancement of our profession, but also to the communities in which we practise. “Women Supporting Women” is the keystone of our Women’s Committee, which seeks to create a community of women in the firm through programs and other activities.
McCarthy Tétrault has committed to participate in a three-year pilot project initiative with the Law Society called "The Justicia Project”, which is designed to focus in developing best practices in the attraction, development and retention of women in private practice. The project will focus on the following core areas: maternity, parental leave and flexible work arrangements, networking and business development for women and mentoring and leadership skills development for women. You can find more information about the Justicia Project at www.lsuc.on.ca or by clicking here.
As well, the McCarthy Tétrault Foundation and our individual offices also support a variety of women’s and family charitable initiatives on a national and local level, through a combination of sponsorships, active volunteering and pro bono work.
Connection
Building stakeholder communities depends, in large part, upon the connections we make within our clients’ industries, our profession, the community and our firm. At McCarthy Tétrault, our women lawyers have developed a series of innovative events to connect women to clients, including an event at the Calgary Stampede, golf clinics, book readings and large-scale events at Holt Renfrew (Toronto) and the Musée des Beaux-Arts (de Montréal). These events provide opportunities for us to get to know a wide array of our women clients and provide a fresh look at how business is developed.
Career Path
McCarthy Tétrault is committed to attracting and cultivating the career development of the best legal minds in Canada. In an effort to ensure future generations of leaders among women lawyers, we sponsor the McCarthy Tétrault Women’s Law Association Award in Ontario. This annual award recognizes the achievement of a woman law student who achieves both academic distinction and makes a significant contribution to her law school, the legal community or the community-at-large through extra-curricular activities. As well, McCarthy Tétrault Leadership Awards in each Canadian law school recognize legal skills and leadership potential in both men and women students.
For women lawyers at the firm, a pilot project to introduce career mentoring is underway in Ontario. This innovative approach to mentoring through Mentoring Circles allows women an opportunity to discuss career issues. As well, our active Women’s Committee supports programs in each of our regions to deal with particular issues affecting the career advancement of women. We have a Flexible Work Arrangements policy and provide enhanced support to women before, during and after their maternity leaves.
Cultural Change
Our CEO, Marc-André Blanchard, our Board of Partners and our Leadership Team are committed to improving the environment for women at the firm and have identified this as one of the firm’s key priorities.
As McCarthy Tétrault Partner Barbara J. Boake remarked at a recent Women’s Initiative Breakfast: “Cultural change takes time, but to effect lasting change, it is worth the investment because the business case for the change is so clear.”
Regardless of the time investment it takes to effect cultural change, our legacy will be determined by those who come after us and the tools for change we leave behind.
McCarthy Tétrault takes pride in the strides we have made towards the advancement of our women lawyers and the leadership position we hold in this area amongst Canadian law firms.
Featured Lawyer
Having been a lawyer in London, England, as well as Hong Kong SAR, China, and now Vancouver, B.C., Joyce Lee would like to see McCarthy Tétrault as a firm where international legal talents serve international clientele in the global market place. She believes our lawyers’ diversity — in gender and culture, as well as in background and outlook — gives us the ability to meet the diversified business needs of our clients in the global market place.
Professional Affiliations
Ms. Lee is the Vice-Chair and a member of the Board of Directors for the Monte Jade Science & Technology Association. She also served as the Legislative Liaison of the Canadian Bar Association, Securities Law section.
She is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales, the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Law Society of British Columbia, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canada-China Business Council, the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, and the Association of Women in Finance.
Points of Interest
Ms. Lee was born and raised in Hong Kong and is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin. As her work history demonstrates, travel is her greatest passion — most recently, she made a trip to India. While not travelling the world, Ms. Lee likes to spend her free time golfing.
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Joyce Lee aimerait que McCarthy Tétrault soit un cabinet où s’épanouissent les talents juridiques de calibre international, au service d’une clientèle internationale, sur le marché mondial. Sa profession d’avocate l’a menée de Londres, en Angleterre, à la région administrative spéciale de Hong Kong, en Chine, puis à Vancouver où elle exerce maintenant. La diversité que l’on trouve chez les avocats de McCarthy Tétrault, en ce qui a trait à la mixité, à la culture, à l’origine ainsi qu’aux points de vue, donne au cabinet la capacité de répondre aux besoins d’affaires variés de ses clients.
Affiliations professionnelles
Me Lee est vice-présidente et membre du conseil d’administration de la Monte Jade Science & Technology Association. Elle a aussi été agente de liaison en matière législative de la Section du droit des valeurs mobilières de l’Association du Barreau canadien.
Elle est membre de la Law Society of England and Wales, de la Law Society of Hong Kong, du Barreau de la Colombie-Britannique, de l’Association du Barreau canadien, du Conseil commercial Canada-Chine, de l’Association commerciale Hong Kong-Canada et de l’Association des femmes en finance.
Autres intérêts
Me Lee est née et a grandi à Hong Kong. Outre l’anglais, elle parle couramment le cantonais et le mandarin. Comme en font preuve ses antécédents professionnels, le voyage est sa plus grande passion – son plus récent voyage l’a menée en Inde. Quand elle n’est pas en train de parcourir le monde, Me Lee aime passer ses temps libres à jouer au golf.
Featured Lawyer
Brenda C. Swick faces unique challenges as one of only two women in the International Trade Bar here in Canada. However, she enjoys the practice and is well-equipped to meet those challenges through her political and bureaucratic connections in Ottawa. The level of her profile and expertise are demonstrated by her appointment by the Government of Canada as a panellist to review duty determinations under Chapter 19 of the NAFTA. She is a truly valuable member of the firm’s International Trade and Investment Law Group and Litigation Group.
Professional Affiliations
Ms. Swick sits on the board of the Canadian Institute of Child Health, an organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the health, well-being and rights of all children and youth through monitoring, education and advocacy. She is also on the board of the Quail Society, a group that addresses the needs of children with autism.
Points of Interest
Ms. Swick likes to balance the time she spends working with the time she spends advocating on behalf of children through the CICH and the Quail Society, as well as relaxing with her two teenage daughters or gardening.
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Brenda C. Swick fait face à des défis particuliers : elle est l’une des deux seules femmes membres de la Customs and International Trade Bar Association au Canada. Elle aime sa pratique et peut relever ces défis avec brio grâce entre autres à ses relations dans les milieux politique et bureaucratique d’Ottawa. Son renom et son expertise font qu’elle a été nommée par le gouvernement canadien à titre de membre d’un groupe spécial chargé d’examiner la détermination en vertu du chapitre 19 de l’ALENA. Elle est véritablement un membre précieux du groupe du droit du commerce et de l’investissement international et du groupe de litige au cabinet.
Affiliations professionnelles
Me Swick siège au conseil d’administration de l’Institut canadien de la santé infantile (ICSI), un organisme ayant comme vocation de promouvoir et de protéger la santé, le bien-être et les droits de tous les enfants et les jeunes en exerçant une surveillance, en fournissant de la formation et en défendant des dossiers. Elle est aussi membre du conseil d’administration de la Quail Society, un groupe au service des enfants atteints d’autisme.
Autres intérêts
Me Swick est heureuse de pouvoir équilibrer le temps qu’elle passe à travailler et celui qu’elle consacre à aider les enfants par l’intermédiaire de l’ICSI et de la Quail Society. Elle aime aussi passer du temps en compagnie de ses deux adolescentes et faire du jardinage.
Featured Lawyer
Lisa Vogt is a partner in the Vancouver office and the National Practice Group Leader of the Real Property and Planning Group. She is one of three women partners leading the action plan on women’s issues at the firm. The women real estate lawyers in McCarthy Tétrault's Vancouver office host an annual event for their clients who are women, which Lisa sees as providing unique benefits. "Many of our female clients do not attend some of the firm's other client events such as hockey or golf outings," says Vogt. "By holding events that are oriented towards the interests of McCarthy Tétrault's female clients, more actually attend, which fosters relationship building."
Professional Affiliations
Member, Diversity Committee and the Women's Initiatives Network (WIN) in McCarthy Tétrault's Vancouver office.
Points of Interest
Ms. Vogt sits on the Board of Directors of the YWCA and is one of three partners leading women’s issues at the firm.
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Lisa Vogt est associée au bureau de Vancouver et leader du groupe national du droit immobilier et planification. Elle est l'une des trois femmes assurant la direction du plan d'action sur la condition féminine au sein du cabinet. Dans sa région, les avocates en droit immobilier du bureau de Vancouver de McCarthy Tétrault organisent un événement annuel pour leurs clientes qui, de l'avis de Me Vogt, procure des avantages particuliers. « Plusieurs de nos clientes ne participent pas aux autres événements organisés pour les clients du cabinet, notamment les parties de hockey ou de golf », explique Me Vogt. « En organisant des événements vraiment axés sur les intérêts des clientes de McCarthy Tétrault, davantage d'entre elles y assistent, ce qui permet de créer et de renforcer des liens. »
Affiliations professionnelles
Membre du Comité sur la diversité et du Comité des femmes du bureau de Vancouver de McCarthy Tétrault.
Autres intérêts
Me Vogt siège au conseil d'administration de la YWCA et elle est l'une des trois associées qui font valoir la condition des femmes au sein du cabinet.
Featured Lawyer
McCarthy Tétrault sponsored Anne-Marie Sheahan as a participant in 'The Judy Project', an intensive, week-long leadership training course designed specifically for senior executives, held at the Rotman School of Business. Ms. Sheahan believes that this training was useful and shows that McCarthy Tétrault is serious about fostering the advancement of its women lawyers.
Professional Affiliations
Member of the executive of the National Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association; member of the Board of Directors for the Société québécoise de récupération et de recyclage (RECYC-QUÉBEC), a Crown corporation overseeing and encouraging waste reduction, recycling and reuse activities in Québec.
Points of Interest
Ms. Sheahan has a strong interest in environmental issues and policy.
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McCarthy Tétrault a parrainé la participation de Me Anne-Marie Sheahan à « The Judy Project », un cours de formation intensif d’une semaine en leadership spécialement conçu pour les cadres supérieurs et organisé par la Rotman School of Business. Me Sheahan estime que cette formation lui a été utile et que le parrainage de son cabinet témoigne de la volonté de promouvoir le perfectionnement de ses avocates.
Affiliations professionnelles
Me Sheahan est membre de l'exécutif de la Section nationale du droit de l'environnement, de l'énergie et des ressources de l'Association du Barreau canadien. Elle est également membre du conseil d'administration de la Société québécoise de récupération et de recyclage (RECYC-QUÉBEC), société d'État assurant la supervision et la promotion d'activités de réduction, de recyclage et de réutilisation des matières résiduelles au Québec.
Autres intérêts
Me Sheahan est passionnée par tout ce qui touche l’environnement.
Featured Lawyer
Jane Langford believes that McCarthy Tétrault is a firm that has always rewarded self-starters and applauds the firm's commitment to the advancement of women. "McCarthy Tétrault can better service clients by having strong and skilled client teams that include members of both genders," she says.
Professional Affiliations
Founding member of McCarthy Tétrault's Women's Initiatives Network (WIN), member of the WIN Organizing Committee, Chair of a Litigation Mentoring Circle.
Points of Interest
Ms. Langford sits on the Board of Directors for Havergal College, a private school for girls. She was the recipient of the 2004 Associate Mentor Award at McCarthy Tétrault.
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Me Jane Langford considère que McCarthy Tétrault constitue un cabinet qui a toujours récompensé les personnes dotées d’un esprit d’initiative et elle félicite le cabinet de son engagement envers la progression des femmes. « McCarthy Tétrault peut mieux servir les clients en montant des équipes solides et expérimentées adaptées aux besoins des clients et qui comprennent tout autant les exigences des hommes que celles des femmes ».
Affiliations professionnelles
Me Langford est membre fondatrice du Women’s Initiatives Network de McCarthy Tétrault, membre du comité organisateur du WIN, présidente d’un cercle d’encadrement du groupe de litige.
Autres intérêts
Me Langford siège au conseil d’administration de Havergal College, une école privée pour filles. Elle a reçu le prix du mentor décerné aux sociétaires en 2004 chez McCarthy Tétrault.
Featured Lawyer
Sarit Batner is passionate about practising law at McCarthy Tétrault and about her role as a mentor in the firm. She puts that passion to work every day with an open-door policy and a genuine enthusiasm for discussing cases with colleagues.
Professional Affiliations
In addition to membership in various professional associations, Sarit heads the CLE program for McCarthy Tétrault's Litigation Group in Toronto and is involved with the national McCarthy Tétrault CLE program. She is also a leader in one of the Women's Initiatives Network (WIN) mentoring circles, and has other mentoring roles, both formal and informal, in the firm and in the community.
Points of Interest
Sarit is a devoted mother of two young children and an avid marathon runner. She enjoys reading and travelling.
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Sarit Batner est passionnée par sa pratique du droit et par son rôle de mentor chez McCarthy Tétrault. Cette passion se traduit par une politique de la porte ouverte et un enthousiasme sincère lorsqu’il s’agit de discuter de dossiers avec ses collègues.
Affiliations professionnelles
En plus d’être membre de diverses associations professionnelles, Me Batner dirige le programme de formation permanente du groupe de litige à Toronto et participe au programme national de formation permanente de McCarthy Tétrault. Elle est également un chef de file dans l’un des cercles de mentorat du réseau WIN et joue d’autres rôles de mentor, tant sous une forme structurée que non structurée, au sein du cabinet et dans la collectivité.
Autres intérêts
Me Batner est mère de deux jeunes enfants et une adepte du marathon. Elle aime en outre la lecture et les voyages.
Featured Lawyer
Vanessa Grant believes that clients today expect the composition of their law firm to reflect demographic reality and that McCarthy Tétrault is making strides towards realizing this goal with its focus on the training, promotion and retention of women lawyers. "Female clients appreciate that McCarthy Tétrault is demonstrating leadership on women's issues in the legal profession as this reflects what is happening in the business world," says Ms. Grant.
Professional Affiliations
Board member of the Child Development Institute, SummerWorks Theatre Festival, The Minstrel Foundation for Music and Arts Advancement and the Orpheus Choir; member of the LifeQuest Ethics Committee and the Operanation (Canadian Opera Company) Organizing Committee; and member-at-large of the firm's Women's Initiatives Network (WIN) and Vice-Chair of the WIN Speakers' Committee.
Points of Interest
Ms. Grant teaches Advanced Securities Law at Queen's University Faculty of Law and the Securities Law Fellowship course for the Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario. She regularly speaks on matters of legal interest, including corporate governance, private equity and life sciences. Ms. Grant is also the mother of a young son and is a mezzo soprano who has performed with a number of opera companies in Canada and elsewhere, including the Canadian Opera Company, Opera in Concert, Toronto Operetta Theatre, Opera York, SummerWorks Theatre Festival and Tryptych Productions.
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Me Vanessa Grant estime que les clients aujourd’hui s’attendent à ce que leur cabinet d’avocats soit le reflet de la réalité démographique et que McCarthy Tétrault déploie des efforts en vue de réaliser cet objectif en mettant l’accent sur la formation, la promotion et la fidélisation d’avocates. « Les clientes apprécient le fait que McCarthy Tétrault fasse preuve d’initiative sur des questions liées à la condition féminine au sein de la profession juridique, puisqu’il s’agit du reflet de ce qui se produit au sein du monde des affaires. »
Affiliations professionnelles
Me Grant siège au conseil d’administration de l’Institut pour l’étude du développement de l’enfant, du Summerworks Theatre Festival, de la Minstrel Foundation for Music and Arts Advancement et de la Orpheus Choir. Elle est également membre du LifeQuest Ethics Committee et du comité organisateur d’OperaNation (La Compagnie d’opéra canadienne). Me Grant enseigne le cours supérieur en valeurs mobilières à la Faculté de droit de l’Université Queen’s ainsi que le cours sur les valeurs mobilières appelé « Securities Law Fellowship Course » pour l’Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario. Elle prononce régulièrement des allocutions sur des questions d’intérêt juridique, y compris la régie d’entreprise, le capital à risque privé et les sciences de la vie. Au sein du cabinet, elle est membre extraordinaire du comité organisateur du Women’s Initiatives Network (WIN) et vice-présidente du comité des oratrices du WIN.
Autres intérêts
Me Grant est la mère d’un garçon âgé de quinze mois. Elle est une mezzo-soprano qui s’est produite en public au sein d’un certain nombre de compagnies d’opéra et ailleurs, y compris La Compagnie d’opéra canadienne, Opera in Concert, Toronto Operetta Theatre, Opera York, Summerworks Theatre Festival et Tryptych Productions.
Featured Lawyer
Tina Giesbrecht believes that professional women in all industries have an interest in what women in various sectors are doing to champion women's issues and initiatives. "Our female clients care about how the legal profession is helping to advance women," says Giesbrecht. "It's important for our clients to know that McCarthy Tétrault is supporting women's initiatives.”
Professional Affiliations
Co-chair of the Alberta Bar Association, Labour and Employment subsection; member of the Immigration and FOIPP subsections of the Canadian Bar Association, Law Society of Alberta, Law Society of Manitoba, Manitoba Bar Association, Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, and the Human Resource Association of Calgary Legislation and Communications Committee.
Points of Interest
Ms. Giesbrecht supports her community through volunteer work at local schools.
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Me Tina Giesbrecht considère que les femmes professionnelles dans toutes les industries ont un intérêt à connaître ce que font les femmes dans divers secteurs afin de promouvoir les questions et les projets reliés aux femmes. « Nos clientes s’intéressent à la façon dont la profession juridique aide à faire progresser les femmes », affirme Me Giesbrecht. « Que nos clients sachent que McCarthy Tétrault appuie des projets proposés par des femmes constitue une bonne démarche en relations publiques. »
Affiliations professionnelles
Me Giesbrecht est coprésidente de l’Alberta Bar Association, sous-section du Travail et de l’Emploi. Elle est membre des sous-sections de l’Immigration et de l’Accès à l’information et la protection des renseignements personnels de l’Association du Barreau canadien, de la Law Society of Alberta, de la Société du Barreau du Manitoba, de l’Association du Barreau du Manitoba, de la Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers, et du Legislation and Communications Committee de la Human Resource Association of Calgary.
Autres intérêts
Me Giesbrecht contribue au bien-être de sa communauté en faisant du bénévolat auprès d’écoles locales.
