Canadian Lawyer InHouse

7 CANADIANLAWYERMAG.COM/INHOUSE SEPTEMBER 2017 News Roundup A roundup of legal department news and trends First female judge advocate general appointed to Canadian Armed Forces C ommodore Geneviève Bernatchez has been appointed the 15th judge advocate general for the Canadian Armed Forces and offi cially took over the role in a "change of appointment" ceremony in Ottawa June 27. She is the fi rst woman to fulfi l this role. Canadian Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan appointed Bernatchez, who succeeds Major-General Blaise Cathcart. Cathcart will retire later this year. "As the 15th judge advocate general, my vi- sion of legal service delivery is one that will be very much driven and focused on my in- stitutional clients' needs," says Bernatchez, whose role involves advising military deci- sion-makers, such as the minister of National Defence, on legal actions touching on mili- tary law. "My role is to ensure that we provide [the Canadian Armed Forces] options in or- der to allow them to be able to conduct their operations and activity within the construct of international and Canadian law." Bernatchez has been with the military for 30 years. She joined the Canadian Naval Reserve in 1987, working part-time as she continued to attend law school at Université De Montréal. She was called to the bar in 1993. At that time, she chose to occupy vari- ous command and staff positions full time. In 1997, Bernatchez transferred to the Regular Force where she began her work in the JAG offi ce as a military lawyer, combin- ing her legal education with her love for the Canadian Armed Forces. Being the fi rst woman to occupy this role, Bernatchez says that this sends a clear signal to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Depart- ment of National Defence but also to women and girls across Canada and worldwide. "We are now at a time in our history where the contributions of women, their vi- sion, their talents, are welcomed and that if they dare dream big, if they dare to give it their all, there is an opportunity for them to be recognized and occupy the most impor- tant positions in our Canadian institutions," says Bernatchez. IH Baker McKenzie implements gender and identity guidelines B aker McKenzie has implemented its North America Gender Transition and Identity Guidelines, introducing a policy that addresses the needs of transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary gender identity employees. The guidelines refl ect best practices shared by organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign and the Transgender Law Center. "We are proud of our steadfast efforts to advance an inclusive workplace that promotes diversity and inclusion," said Anna Brown, Baker McKenzie's North America director of diversity and inclu- sion. "Gender transition and identity are important workplace equality topics, and we are delighted to implement guidelines that will increase awareness and support inclusion at our fi rm." The guidelines go beyond gender transition to include gender identity, as well as explain how managers and employees can support gender transition in the workplace. They also provide direction to resources such as health insurance information and practical matters such as restroom accessibility and appropriate use of pronouns. "This is about proactively sending a message of support to the transgender community, and ensuring that everyone knows Baker McKenzie is a safe and welcoming place for transgender individuals to be their authentic selves," says Jennifer Fox Crisp, the fi rm's di- rector of global talent management in North America. "Many of our clients have already implemented similar policies, benefi ts and prac- tices for transgender inclusion, and we are very pleased to join them. "Through a conversation I have had with our North American director of diversity and inclusion [Brown] about the fact that the issue of transgender rights is becoming more openly spoken about as a workplace matter, we decided to move forward with a very clear message of support," says Fox Crisp. While Baker McKenzie has an overall diversity and inclusion policy, Fox Crisp says it became clear to her there was an "opportu- nity to become more specifi c" in terms of support for transgender individuals in the fi rm. While Fox Crisp said the fi rm is making clients aware of the pol- icy in terms of any diversity survey response, more frequently, she says, questions from clients are around openly gay or lesbian lawyers working on matters, with less focus on transgender individuals. "It wasn't that they were not acknowledged, but we thought it was important we provide clarity for individuals who are transgender, are transitioning or considering a transition," she says. IH Deputy Minister of National Defence John Forster; Minister of National Defence Harjit Singh Sajjan; Judge Advocate General Geneviève Bernatchez; Major-General Blaise Cathcart, former judge advocate general; and General Jonathan Vance, chief of defence staff, stand together during the change of appointment ceremony for the JAG.

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