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Welcome Message from Jody Aldcorn, British Columbia Region Alumni Lead

Welcome to our 2024 summer edition of your Alumni Newsletter! Alumni are an integral part of our firm's history and ongoing story. Your successes, experiences, and contributions have shaped our community, and underscore the strength, connection, and quality of the McCarthy Tétrault alumni network.

This past year, we have focused on fostering opportunities for Alumni to connect in order to ensure the relationships you formed here continue to provide support and opportunities. We believe in the power of togetherness and are committed to fostering a vibrant and beneficial alumni program for all members. Events such as our Articling Reunion events are only the start  - in the coming months, you can look forward to a variety of initiatives to strengthen our connections across all our offices.

We encourage you to continue reconnecting with your peers, with your mentors, and with us. Hearing your stories and learning about the unique paths you've pursued allows us to celebrate your successes while maintaining our strong community bonds. I encourage you to get involved—attend events, contribute to our newsletters, or reach out to a former colleague. Your engagement is key to a thriving alumni network.

Warmest regards,

Jody Aldcorn
Partner, Business Law, McCarthy Tétrault LLP

What’s New with You? 

From winning awards, to starting new roles, check out what some of your former colleagues have been up to since our last newsletter:

Awards 

• Sarah Qadeer (Business Law, Montreal: 1997-1999) received the Canadian General Counsel of the Year Award for her work as Chief Legal Officer at Deloitte Canada & Chile 

Promotions and New Positions 

• Ana Badour (Business Law, Toronto: 2001-2024) Senior Director, Legal, Personal Banking - Lending & Wealth, EQ Bank
• Gabrielle Baracat (Litigation, Montreal: 2017-2024) Senior Legal Counsel, National Bank Financial
• Anne-Raphaëlle Bolya (Labour and Employment, Montreal: 2022-2024) Legal Counsel, Employment Law and Global Mobility, National Bank of Canada 
• Sabrina Bruno (Business Law, Toronto: 2016-2020) Senior Corporate Counsel, theScore 
• Jennifer Choi (Litigation, Vancouver: 2021-2023) Legal Counsel, Onni Group of Companies
• Christian De Broux (Associate, Montreal: 1987-1988) Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, Laurentian Bank of Canada
• Nicole Deniset (Labour and Employment, Toronto: 2021-2024) Legal Counsel, TELUS 
• Laura DeVries (Labour and Employment, Vancouver: 2014-2023) Legal Counsel, Integrated Judicial Services, Provincial Court of British Columbia 
• Pierre-Gabriel Grégoire (Litigation, Montreal: 2021-2024) Legal Counsel - Office of the General Counsel, KPMG Canada
• Ainslie Hurd (Business Law, Vancouver: 2016-2024) Legal Manager, Commercial, Newmont Corporation 
• Joëlle Lecours-Bouchard (Articling Student, Toronto: 2014 – 2015) Group General Counsel, Acroud Media
• Janie Lin (Business Law Associate, Toronto: 2004-2010) Assistant Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer & Chief Privacy Officer, Travelers Canada 
• Sebastian Nishimoto (Business Law Associate, Vancouver: 2014-2017) Deputy Counsel & Privacy Officer, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment Limited 
• Erin O'Callaghan (Business Law, Vancouver: 2017-2022) Corporate Counsel, Methanex Corporation 
• Marie Rondeau (Litigation, Montreal: 2021-2024) Legal Counsel, Litigation and Compliance, RONA 
• Ashwin Sathyamoorthy (Business Law, London: 2013 – 2023) Independent Freelance Consultant (Legal industry banking & finance transactions and regulatory compliance advice)
• Hailey Schenker (Business Law, Toronto: 2020-2024) Senior Legal Counsel, Kensington Capital Partners Limited
• Aaron Shapiro (Articling Student, Toronto: 2013-2014) Founder and CEO, Maple River Software 
• Bonnie Tse (Business Law, Toronto: 2004-2007) Director and Associate General Counsel, Citibank Canada 

Board Appointments 

• Miranda Lam, KC (Litigation, Vancouver: 2006-2021) has been appointed as Chair of the Board of Governors for the University of British Columbia
• David Randell (Business Law, Toronto: 2011 – 2014) started a new position as Vice Chair Board of Directors at Canada Games Centre Halifax

Judicial Appointments

• Catherine Dagenais (Litigation, Montreal: 1999-2001) appointed to the Superior Court of Quebec 

Retirements

• Andrew Armstrong (Business Law, Toronto: 1998-2023)
• John Dawson (Real Property, Toronto: 2012-2024)
• Judith McKay (Chief Client & Innovation Officer, Toronto: 2013 – 2024)
• John Osler (Business Law, Calgary: 1997-2024)
• Barry Ryan: (Business Law, Toronto: 1983-2023)

Alumni Gatherings: Reconnecting & Reminiscing

Recent Events:

Our team has recently hosted the following regional events. A big thank you to those who were able to attend!

Toronto

• Articling Year Reunion – 2011/2012 and 2012/2013
• Articling Year Reunion – 2014/2015 and 2015/2016

Vancouver

• Articling Year Reunion– 2007/2008 and 2008/2009
• Articling Year Reunion – 2009/2010, 2010/2011

Upcoming Events:

These events are great ways to reconnect with former colleagues and friends from McCarthy Tétrault! We are working on our next slate of events including the events listed below. Please ensure you are subscribed to our Alumni Mailing List to receive your invite! For more information, or to request an invitation to one of the following events, please email alumninews@mccarthy.ca.

Montréal

Alumni Reunion Cocktail Reception
Date: Wednesday September 18, 2024
Time: 6:00pm
Location: McCarthy Tétrault Montreal Office

Québec City

Alumni Reunion Cocktail Reception
Date: Fall 2024
Details to follow

Calgary

Alumni Reunion Cocktail Reception
Date: Fall 2024
Details to follow

Regional Spotlight: British Columbia 

Rahim Esmail

Rahim Esmail (Business Law, Vancouver: 2013 – 2015), Associate General Counsel at TELUS, has demonstrated a strong commitment to legal excellence and community service throughout his career. Following his tenure at McCarthy Tétrault, Rahim joined TELUS as Counsel in 2015. Rahim quickly advanced his legal career at TELUS, becoming Senior Counsel in 2018 and earning recognition on the list of Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40 in 2021. In his capacity supporting the procurement team at TELUS, Rahim skillfully navigated strategic partnerships and complex procurement transactions that have powered TELUS’ digital transformation. His expertise also involved assisting TELUS' sales team with key bid proposals and transactions across enterprise and government sectors. Beyond file work, Rahim is a thought leader at TELUS. Currently, he co-chairs the AI Think Tank and he previously chaired the Data and Privacy COE within TELUS Legal & Regulatory Affairs.

Recently, Rahim was promoted to Associate General Counsel at TELUS, where he leads a legal team focused on supporting the rapid growth of TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods, a subsidiary of TELUS that focuses on leveraging technology and data to enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and productivity of the agriculture and consumer goods sectors globally.

Outside of his legal work, Rahim serves on the board of Arthritis Research Canada and the TELUS Interior and Northern B.C. Community Board (part of the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation). As a Director at Arthritis Research Canada, he has helped the charity achieve its mission of positively transforming the lives of people impacted by arthritis by supporting the appointment of leadership, the acquisition of permanent facilities for the organization, and fundraising. As Chair of the ARTritis Soirée organizing committee, Rahim successfully led the organization of events that significantly benefited the charity, with the events in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 collectively raising over $1 million. Through his role as board secretary for the TELUS Interior and Northern B.C. Community Board, Rahim has supported the granting of over $1 million to registered charities that offer health, education or technology programs that help youth thrive.

Sena Byun

Sena Byun (Business Law, Vancouver: 2006 – 2009) recently embarked on an exciting new chapter in her career as the Director of Corporate Governance at lululemon athletica, a role in which she provides strategic support and legal advice on corporate governance, executive compensation, continuous disclosure and sustainability issues. Sena also oversees subsidiary management and supports board and committee meetings and communications to directors and senior management.

Sena began her career at McCarthy Tétrault in 2004 as an articling student before heading to Japan to obtain her Masters of Law from Kyushu University. She returned to McCarthy in 2006, where she honed her skills in the Business Law group for 3 years.

Prior to her current position at lululemon, Sena spent nearly 15 years at TELUS. There, she specialized in corporate governance and disclosure matters, playing a pivotal role in supporting the board of directors. In 2013, her hard work and dedication at TELUS was recognized by Lexpert as a Rising Star - Leading Lawyer under 40.

Sena's tenure at TELUS was marked by her exceptional contributions. She supported the Corporate Governance department for over 12 years, regularly advising senior executives and the board of directors and leading key policy initiatives, ranging from shareholder engagement to board diversity. Sena also helped TELUS at pivotal commercial and strategic turning points, a key example being the work and leadership Sena displayed in responding to a proxy battle with a US hedge fund and addressing empty voting. She was instrumental in facilitating large complex business transactions and was a key member of the pension investment team, where she advised on investment transactions and pension governance matters. Additionally, her role as a strategic business advisor to numerous departments including Business Solutions, Treasury, Finance, HR, and Corporate Development highlights her versatile and comprehensive approach to corporate law.

In addition, Sena is a passionate and tireless advocate for diversity and inclusion. Her qualities shone through during her time as co-chair of the diversity and inclusion committee for Corporate Affairs Finance, Legal, and Procurement business units at TELUS. She is also passionate about advocating for the Pan-Asian community and was a past board member of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers - B.C. (FACL BC) and is now a member of the FACL BC In-house Committee. As part of this committee, she recently organized a retail in-house panel featuring lawyers from lululemon and other retail companies. Sena was also featured in FACL BC’s documentary “But I Look Like a Lawyer” and has facilitated screenings and discussions on discrimination, stereotyping and bias experienced by members of the Pan-Asian legal community. This year, Sena became one of the founding members of the Korean Canadian Legal Association BC Chapter (KCLA) and is currently serving as the Executive Chair. She leads a group of local Korean Canadian legal professionals dedicated to supporting the professional development of its membership and mentorship as well as advocating for the interests and well-being of the larger Korean Canadian community. Sena generously dedicates her time to the Richmond Hospital Foundation, serving as a member of the Board of Directors since 2019. As she was born and raised in Richmond, BC, she maintains a strong affinity to the larger Richmond community and has provided guidance and expertise to enhance the healthcare services in the community.

Jennifer Breeze

Jennifer Breeze (Business Law, Vancouver: 2001-2004) embarked on her legal career in 2000. A year later, in 2001, she joined McCarthy Tétrault, where she honed her skills in the Business Law group until 2004. Her career trajectory took a significant turn when she assumed the role of Legal Counsel at QLT Inc., a pharmaceutical company in British Columbia, marking her start in-house in the corporate sector. She progressed to the role of Senior Director, Corporate Counsel and Corporate Secretary during her time at QLT. 

After six years of in-house legal work at QLT Inc., Jennifer took the entrepreneurial leap in 2010, setting up her own legal practice. Her solo venture allowed her to further expand her legal acumen and business knowledge. The culmination of these experiences prepared her for her subsequent and current roles at TransLink, where she is now serving as the General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, continuing to apply her extensive knowledge in business law and corporate governance to the public transportation sector. In addition to Legal Services, Jennifer also leads the Privacy, Information Access, Insurance and Claims and the Corporate Secretary departments at TransLink.

Jennifer participates on several boards. She is currently a Board member and Chair of Transportation Property and Casualty Company Inc., a wholly-owned captive insurance company of TransLink, and is a director and Board Chair of TransLink Security Management Ltd. (the entity which employs the Metro Vancouver Transit Police). She also serves as a director on the Board of Directors of Commissionaires BC.

Paul Cassidy

Paul Cassidy (Business Law Partner, Vancouver: 2014 – 2022) is a Director at Camp Cassidy, a non-profit organization and outdoor recreation and wellness centre, nestled along the serene Cassidy Lake in New Brunswick. In a shift of focus, Paul retired from his position as the leader of our Environmental group at McCarthy Tétrault in 2022 to dedicate his efforts to Camp Cassidy.

Camp Cassidy stands as an exclusive retreat for men and women of the Canadian military and first responder communities, both active and retired, as well as their families. This initiative offers these heroes and their loved ones a haven for mental health enhancement, relaxation, and stress alleviation. The Camp's strategic vision is to establish a premier family-centric wellness and recreational facility, complete with residential accommodations tailored for families and a central hub featuring meeting and seminar rooms, complimented by a suite of supportive services. In a recent personal contribution to the camp's meditative resources, Paul skillfully crafted a 70-foot by 70-foot labyrinth, designed to facilitate moving meditation for visitors!

Camp Cassidy's ambitious rollout is structured in four progressive phases. At present, the camp is successfully advancing through Phase 2. For more information about the vision of the camp, click here.

To support this cause, please visit the Camp Cassidy website.

5th Annual GC Summit: METTLE: Leading in a Time of Ordinary Chaos

This past February, our firm hosted our 5th Annual General Counsel (GC) Summit. This year’s event focused on how the role of the GC has evolved due to shifting demands, ultimately leading to assumed roles being in perpetual flex. The goal of these summits are to provide GCs and Chief Legal Officers an opportunity to discuss shared interest and collaborate on ideas. The event was very well received and well attended.

A big thank you to Alumni, Jane Langford, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, TD Bank, Marc-André Blanchard, Executive Vice-President and Head of CDPQ Global and Global Head of Sustainability and Judith McKay for participating in the event!

A summary of the key takeaways can be found here.

Didn’t receive an invite to this year’s summit? For more information or to find out how you can get involved, please email alumninews@mccarthy.ca.

CPD Credits

Need CPD credits? Find all our e-learning offerings on our website. You can also view a summary of your CPD credits earned at our internal programs and meetings (on your dashboard, click on “View Details” next to your year of call, under “My Jurisdictions”).

Upcoming CPD’s:

McCarthy Tétrault Advance™: Energy Cross-Country Check-up

Date: September 17, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (ET)
Location: Webinar
Description: Join leaders from McCarthy Tétrault’s Power & Energy and Project Finance Groups as we discuss the key challenges and opportunities in Canada’s power market and how they affect your business. This session will include presentations on the latest trends and developments from coast to coast.

McCarthy Tétrault Advance™: Coast-to-Coast L&E Series: Your Top Questions Answered

Date: September 5, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (ET)
Location: Webinar
Description: Join us for a webinar presentation as the National Labour and Employment team answers the most commonly asked questions that we have heard from you recently.

Below are the links and CPD instructions for our current archives by region:

British Columbia
Ontario
Québec (English)
Québec (French)

To subscribe to receive notifications of blogs, newsletters and events relevant to you, please sign up via our website. For questions or assistance with the CPD program, please email alumninews@mccarthy.ca.

In Memoriam

• Donald Gibson (Business Law Partner, Toronto: 1977 - 2006)
• Robert Kopstein (Tax Partner, Vancouver and Calgary: 2020-2023) 
• Harry Macdonell (Managing Partner, Toronto: 1975-1995)
• The Honourable Mr. Justice David Platts (Litigation Partner, Montréal: 1996 - 2018)

Stay Connected 

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, we want to hear from you. Stay connected with colleagues, friends, and mentors from McCarthy Tétrault and receive invitations to firm and industry events.

Stay connected to our network by subscribing to alumni event invitations and news.

Find out about our community programs.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Share information for future newsletters or let us know if we’ve missed anything or need to make any amendments by emailing alumninews@mccarthy.ca.