The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/1540359
26 www.canadianlawyermag.com TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL LAWYERS 2025 Ripple effect At the Jewish General Hospital Founda- tion, Druker is vice-chair of the governance committee and serves on the nominating committee. She is also a long-time supporter of Hope & Cope, a cancer support organization, where she serves as board member and gover- nance chair, and volunteers as a peer mentor. Her philanthropic involvement runs deep. She fundraises through Federation CJA's Lion of Judah (Diamond) designation and partici- pates in Women in Networks, which connects women professionals across sectors. She serves on the professional advisory committee of the Jewish Community Foun- dation and helps organize legal program- ming on philanthropic legacy. She is a past president of the Lord Reading Law Society and remains active as a board advisor and chair of the governance committee. Within the synagogue Shaare Zedek Congregation, Druker chairs the governance committee and serves on the board, execu- tive committee, and sisterhood board. What's next? Druker is the incoming vice-chair of the board of directors and chair of the gover- nance committee of the Fondation du Barreau du Québec. In 2027, she will take on new roles as chair of the governance committee and as a Foundation board member at the Jewish General Hospital. She also remains active in legal educa- tion, serving as a judge for the John Molson School of Business's annual MBA Interna- tional Case Competition, and sharing her expertise as a panelist on ethics and non- profit governance. "I believe it's good to have more than one mentor," she says. "One might guide you through having a family, another might support your public speaking or writing ambi- tions. As you grow, your mentors grow. And it's okay to outgrow a mentor. Keep in touch but recognize when you need to reach out to Signature impact Recognized for advancing mentorship, diversity, and professional ethics within the legal field, Druker co-authored the 2025 RSS mentorship program policy and is a member of the firm's training and mentor- ship committee. Whether guiding new lawyers or advocating for women in leader- ship, Druker brings an authentic approach to mentorship. "To me, influence means speaking from and sharing your lived experience," she explains. "At work, I supervise, train, and mentor formally and informally. I contribute to community institutions I care deeply about. It's about saying, 'I've been around the block a few more times than you. If you're willing, let me share what I've learned. Maybe it can help you.'" In addition to mentoring McGill law students through the Law Inspiration Network and offering informal guidance to aspiring lawyers at key stages of their careers, Druker co-founded RSS au féminin, which fosters support among women professionals in her firm, and serves as the firm's representative for two core Barreau du Québec initiatives: Projet Justicia, focused on advancing women in law, and Projet Panorama, which promotes inclusion across the profession. "When I had my first child [while working at] a boutique firm in 1999, I was their first pregnant lawyer and since they had no mater- nity policy, I had to help create it," she recalls. "When I had my second child as a partner at a different national firm, their policy was only for employees, so I had to negotiate my own. Although these things are common now, we still need to make it easier for lawyers seeking to balance work and family responsibilities so they can remain in the profession." Her expertise is both locally and interna- tionally recognized. She co-authors the Cana- dian chapter of Establishing a Business Entity: An International Guide and the Quebec chapter of Buying & Selling Real Estate: An International Guide, both annual publications of the International Lawyers Network. In 2020, Barreau du Québec named her an Advocatus emeritus, a title awarded to lawyers with an outstanding career record, whose contribution to the profession and social and community influence are worthy of recognition. "I've been concerned about pressures placed on various stakeholders in the criminal justice system, about how it seems to be failing a particular group of complainants. I've tried hard over the last several years to address what is, in my opinion, misinformation" Joseph A. Neuberger, Neuberger & Partners LLP SPECIAL REPORT