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28 www.lawtimesnews.com LAW TIMES BRIEFS INSIDER NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT LAWYER KAREN JENSEN WILL BE CANADA'S FIRST PAY EQUITY COMMISSIONER Karen Jensen, a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP in Ottawa, was appointed by the federal government as pay equity commissioner. Jensen is the first-ever holder of the position, according to a statement from the law firm, where she is Canadian employment and labour chairwoman. Her role, which was scheduled to begin on Oct. 16, is to provide direction for the administration and enforcement of the Pay Equity Act, the firm's statement said. Legislation is expected to come into force in 2020 to reduce the gender wage gap in federally regulated workplaces. "Karen is making history, stepping into a new, meaningful role where she will be able to participate in the advancement of gender equity in this country," said Charles Hurdon, Norton Rose Fulbright's managing partner in Canada. "There is no doubt that she will make a consequential contribution, and we wish her all the best in her mandate." Jensen practises in both English and French and has worked on cases involving human rights, constitutional, administrative and labour and employment law matters before all levels of courts since joining Norton Rose Fulbright in 2010, the announcement said. Jensen was previously the assistant dean of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, where she taught dispute resolution. Before that, she adjudicated and mediated disputes as a full-time member of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Jensen was recently elected fellow of the U.S. College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. THREE JUDGES APPOINTED TO ONTARIO COURT OF JUSTICE The Ministry of the Attorney General announced the appointment of three new justices to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective Oct 9. Chief Justice Lise Maisonneuve assigned Justice Valerie Leigh Brown to Owen Sound, Ont.; Justice Mark Moorcroft to Lindsay, Ont.; and Justice Scott Gregory Pratt to Windsor, Ont., according to a statement from the MAG. BLANEY MCMURTRY, DLA PIPER CANADA RE-ELECT MANAGING PARTNERS The partners of Blaney McMurtry LLP re-elected Maria Scarfo as managing partner for a third three- year term. Scarfo, who has been managing partner since 2013, is one of the two women partners on the firm's four-person executive committee. She joined the firm in 1989 as an associate. DLA Piper (Canada) LLP also re-elected Robert Seidel to an additional three-year term as managing partner, effective Nov. 1. Seidel has been managing partner since 2007, when the firm was still known as Davis LLP. According to a statement, Seidel oversaw the firm's most significant period of growth and transition, including leading the Canadian side of the 2015 combination with DLA Piper. JUSTIN KUTYAN TO LEAD KPMG LAW IN CANADA KPMG in Canada has appointed Justin Kutyan as senior partner of KPMG Law LLP. In this national role, Kutyan will lead the management of the law firm, it said in a statement. He succeeds Mark Meredith, founding partner of KPMG Law and acting senior partner of its management committee, who retired on Sept. 30. MCCARTHY TÉTRAULT, PALLETT VALO ANNOUNCE NEW SENIOR COUNSEL McCarthy Tétrault LLP announced that it has added Lucie Tedesco as senior counsel in its national financial services group. Tedesco joined from the government sector, where she was most recently with the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, serving as deputy commissioner from 2008 to 2013 and as commissioner from 2013 to 2019. Pallett Valo LLP on Sept. 3 welcomed back Maria Tassou, now as senior counsel and the firm's privacy officer. In 1996, Tassou articled at Pallett Valo and later joined as a lawyer. In 2007, she left to join the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, under the Ministry of the Attorney General, as a board member/adjudicator. She became chairwoman of the board in 2014, and she also participated in several other administrative tribunals. GOWLING WLG AND FASKEN PART OF EQUITY INITIATIVES Gowling WLG signed the UN Women's Empowerment Principles, a list of seven principles that guide businesses in advancing gender equality and promoting women's economic empowerment. According to a statement by Gowling WLG, it is the first international law firm to do so. Separately, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP announced it is certified under a diversity standard called Mansfield Rule 2.0. The certification confirms that at least 30 per cent women, LGBTQ+ and minority lawyers were considered for 70 per cent or more of significant leadership roles at the firm, Fasken said.