Canadian Lawyer

FEATURE 32 www.lawtimesnews.com BRIEFS INSIDER REFERTOHER EXPANDS Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP, whose ReferToHer initiative promotes work referrals to experienced female lawyers, is collaborating with McCarthy Tétrault LLP to develop lists for corporate law. Back in June 2019, Lenczner Slaght first listed senior female lawyers to whom one can extend a referral in the following areas of law: class actions, commercial litigation, employment litigation, insolvency litigation, insurance litigation, IP litigation, profession- al liability, public law, securities litigation and trust and estates litigation. The two firms have now released new lists for the following areas of corporate law: private M&A, public M&A, private equity and securities and capital markets. . NORTON ROSE TO MAKE BUSINESS APPS Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP launched a tool to help clients build custom apps for their businesses — even if the clients don't know how to code. The platform, which is called NRF Trans- form NCode, can simplify business issues such as trademark searches and regula- tory compliance. Al Hounsell, the firm's senior innovation manager, said a simple app could be designed within hours. The firm also offers clients updates and free apps created using the platform. LAW PROFESSOR JOINS UN COMMISSION Ardi Imseis, assistant professor in the Faculty of Law, Queen's University, has been appointed a member of the Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen, United Nations Human Rights Council. Imseis will be monitoring the growing list of alleged violations of international law in the Yemeni Civil War, which the UN calls the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world," according to a news release from Queen's Law. BUSINESS LAW ADVISORY REVAMPED A group of Ontario lawyers will continue its unique voluntary work helping the now-Con- servative provincial government on targeted business law concerns, says new chairman Patrick Shea. The Business Law Modernization and Burden Reduction Council held a consultation about particular sections of the Business Corporations Act, Personal Property Security Act and Arthur Wishart Act. BROWN JOINS CLASS PROCEED- INGS FUND The Class Proceedings Fund named McCarthy Tétrault LLP lawyer John Brown as its newest committee member. The committee, which decides whether class action plaintiffs should be granted financial support and indemnification for costs from the class proceedings fund, welcomed Brown in a news release. Brown was, until recently, a senior partner member of McCarthy Tétrault's national class action group. He is still active in the firm as its legal and strategic advisor for Indigenous initiatives. BENEY TO HEAD BERESKIN & PARR Stephen Beney has been named the new managing partner of Bereskin & Parr LLP after Micheline Gravelle decided to step down. Gravelle remains a partner of the firm. According to her firm profile, she leads the life sciences practice group and co-leads the cannabis practice group. Aside from his new position as managing partner, Beney also heads the Mississauga office and leads the medical devices practice group. LERNERS TAPS SPAFFORD, RING AS LEADERS Lerners LLP firm chairman Graham Porter announced the promotion of Anne Spafford to Toronto managing partner, while Tammy Ring is the Toronto office representative on the executive committee. Spafford, a partner since 2003, has served as deputy leader in the firm's health law group. Ring has led the Toronto plaintiff personal injury group since 2014. BURKE BECOMES FRENCH LANGUAGE COMMISSIONER Lawyer Kelly Burke was named French language services commissioner of Ontario. Burke will investigate public complaints about French services and act as deputy ombudsman, reporting to the office of Ombudsman Ontario. CHUMAK & CO, DICKINSON WRIGHT MERGE Dickinson Wright LLP has added intellectual property lawyer Yuri Chumak as partner, following the merger of his practice, Chumak & Co. LLP, with Dickinson Wright's Toronto office. POLL: PROGRESSIVE LSO FEES Most respondents to a recent Law Times poll said the Law Society of Ontario should charge certain lawyers (e.g. corporate) more and other groups (e.g. licensing candidates) less. Of 68 voters, 45.6 per cent preferred a more progressive fees scale, 37.6 per cent said the LSO has already done a good job lowering fees for certain groups and 14.8 per cent wanted an "other" approach. Only three readers said they supported raising fees to support better resources.

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