Diversity, inclusion and social responsibility has always been a priority for McCarthy Tétrault, and we’re proud of our leadership in these areas. Inclusion Now elevates and accelerates our vision and supports our goal of having a culture that reflects these values.
We know that the single most important factor for the long-term success of diversity and inclusion efforts is having leaders take personal responsibility for outcomes. To ensure the success of Inclusion Now, McCarthy Tétrault has created a governance model that is led by our CEO and supported by our Firm leaders.
Chaired by our CEO, our Inclusion Now Council leads the implementation of the plan, and tracks and reports on our results. Members of our Inclusion Now Council include:
Chief Executive Officer | Dave Leonard |
Chief Human Resources Officer | Rita Apa |
National Pro Bono Committee Chair | Gordon Baird |
National People and Practice Leader | Barb Boake |
Pride Action Group Chair | Bryn Gray |
Managing Partner Representative | Olivia Colic |
Chief Administrative Officer | Rick Kathuria |
Chief Inclusion Officer | Charlene Theodore |
Abilities Action Group Chair | Tzen-Yi Goh |
Gender Action Group Chair | Jill Yates |
Chief Professional Resources Officer | Robin MacAulay |
Chief Client and Innovation Officer | Judith McKay |
National Innovation Leader | Matthew Peters |
Race Action Group Chair | Junior Sirivar |
Managing Partner Representative | Karl Tabbakh |
Our four Inclusion Now Action Groups—Pride, Gender, Race and Abilities—bring Inclusion Now alive across the Firm by implementing initiatives relating to recruitment, retention, education, community service, and pro bono. Our Action Groups are led by a National Chair, supported by Regional Chairs and made up of our people across the Firm.
The Action Group Chairs are as follows:
Pride Action Group Chair | Steeves Bujold |
Gender Action Group Chair | Jill Yates |
Race Action Group Chair | Junior Sirivar |
Abilities Action Group Chair | Tzen Yi-Goh |
Our Inclusion Now Office, led by our full-time, dedicated Chief Inclusion Officer, provides expertise, support, and coordination for Inclusion Now activities.
A Brief History of McCarthy Tétrault’s Diversity Leadership
- We are proud to have been selected as a Top Diversity Employer seven years running.
- We are a founding employer partner of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, a research and advocacy organization that tracks Canadian diversity demographics and works with businesses to translate diversity into inclusion.
- We are a longstanding partner of the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network in both Toronto and Vancouver, working with other Canadian law firms to promote diversity and encourage a culture of inclusion in our firms and the broader legal profession.
- We remain the only Canadian law firm on the Human Dignity Trust (HDT) legal panel, providing pro bono expertise to HDT-supported cases challenging the criminalization of homosexuality, wherever those laws exist globally.
McCarthy Tétrault: The First Canadian Law Firm To…
- Establish a charitable giving foundation.
- Appoint a Chief Inclusion Officer.
- Sign the Catalyst Accord, ensuring that women comprise at least 25% of our Board.
- Adopt a formal pro bono policy.
- Partner with the Martin Family Initiative (MFI) to develop the McCarthy Tétrault & MFI Mentorship Program for Indigenous Students.
- Pledge $5 million dollars over 5 years to United Way Centraide.
- Create an Inclusion Office, led by a full time, dedicated Chief Inclusion Officer, which brings diversity, inclusion and social responsibility initiatives together under one office.
