Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), an established and prominent law firm, has recently undergone significant appointments across a variety of legal specialties, highlighting its commitment to growth, diversification, and leveraging top-tier talent to effectively navigate complex legal landscapes. This strategic reshuffling not only underscores BLG’s innovative approach but also its dedication to meeting the evolving demands of a dynamic global marketplace. The firm’s latest personnel enhancements span multiple sectors, including corporate, real estate, disputes, arbitration, and labor practices, illustrating a comprehensive strategy aimed at reinforcing BLG’s market position and expertise base.
Strengthening Privacy and Cybersecurity Expertise
Spearheading the cadre of new appointments, Hélène Deschamps Marquis joins BLG as the national co-leader of the privacy and cybersecurity practice within the corporate and capital markets group. Deschamps Marquis brings over 25 years of extensive experience from Deloitte, where she served as the global security leader, managing complex legal and business risks related to cybersecurity, information technology, privacy, and artificial intelligence. Her mandate at BLG involves addressing breach and incident response, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks, and overseeing global data and privacy structures, vital elements for staying ahead in today’s tech-driven world.
To further fortify this domain, Deschamps Marquis’s transition to BLG is bolstered by a counsel team from Deloitte Legal, comprising Matt Saunders and Claire Feltrin. Based in Montreal, Saunders specializes in cybersecurity and data privacy, adeptly managing internal privacy protocols, crisis communications, incident responses, and integrating artificial intelligence considerations within organizational resiliency. Meanwhile, Feltrin, based in Vancouver, focuses on digital innovation, the responsible utilization of personal information, information technology architecture, online safety, and efficient crisis management. With such robust additions, BLG is well-equipped to address the intricacies of privacy and cybersecurity, essential to protecting clients in an increasingly connected global environment.
Expanding Real Estate and Corporate Health Teams
Expanding BLG’s expertise in commercial real estate, Bianca Kratt joins the team in Calgary, bringing invaluable experience and leadership. Set to become the Canadian Bar Association’s (CBA) vice president for 2024-2025 and president for 2025-2026, Kratt transitions from Parlee McLaws LLP, where she helmed the commercial real estate and banking group. Her breadth of knowledge encompasses acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, secured transactions, project development, and condominium projects. Kratt is proficient in advising both lenders and borrowers on secured transactions, reinforcing BLG’s client offerings in navigating real estate financing and development complexities.
Michael Campbell, enhancing BLG’s corporate and capital markets group, contributes his deep expertise in corporate health. Formerly the general counsel at Hamilton Health Sciences, Campbell boasts extensive experience advising hospitals and health service providers on governance, risk management, health law, privacy, and a wide array of commercial matters. His portfolio includes managing mergers and acquisitions and navigating hospital facility issues, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of both regulatory and business aspects of the healthcare sector. These strategic hires in corporate health and commercial real estate signal BLG’s commitment to providing adept legal counsel across an array of specialized fields, ensuring robust client support.
Bolstering Disputes and Arbitration Capabilities
Adding significant strength to BLG’s disputes group in Calgary, Cecilia Hoover joins as a partner specializing in insurance defense and coverage disputes. Hoover, with a distinguished 20-year career, possesses expertise in working with global and domestic insurers on coverage disputes across various insurance policies. Additionally, she defends design professionals, contractors, and developers in major construction disputes and represents healthcare providers in medical negligence claims. Her vast litigation experience, which includes harassment and abuse allegations and employment liability, marks a substantial enhancement to BLG’s dispute resolution capabilities.
Haig Oghigian, bringing over 30 years of international arbitration experience, joins BLG’s arbitration group as senior counsel. Oghigian’s invaluable experience encompasses commercial disputes related to joint ventures, distribution, licensing agreements, and M&A-related matters across Europe, Asia, North and South America. His illustrious career includes serving as general counsel, special advisor, and vice-consul in various government and industry sectors, making him a pivotal addition to BLG’s arbitration team. These strategic hires significantly bolster BLG’s ability to manage complex dispute and arbitration cases, crucial for maintaining the firm’s reputation for excellence in litigation services.
Enhancing Labor and Employment Law Expertise
In the labor and employment domain, Agatha Suszek augments BLG’s team in Toronto as an associate focusing on wrongful dismissal actions, grievance arbitrations, and human rights applications for public and private sector employers. Suszek’s inclusion brings further depth and comprehensive legal support to employers grappling with intricate employment issues, including navigating the convoluted terrain of labor laws and regulatory compliance. Her addition reflects BLG’s commitment to providing exceptional legal services in labor law, ensuring that employers have the necessary guidance to manage employment disputes effectively.
Strengthening Litigation and Construction Law
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), a leading law firm, has recently implemented notable appointments across various legal sectors, signifying its dedication to growth, diversification, and utilizing top-tier talent to adeptly handle intricate legal challenges. This strategic reorganization highlights BLG’s innovative method and its commitment to addressing the shifting needs of a dynamic global market. The firm’s latest personnel changes encompass a wide range of sectors, such as corporate law, real estate, disputes, arbitration, and labor practices, showcasing a thorough strategy designed to bolster BLG’s standing and expertise. These adaptations demonstrate the firm’s intent to stay ahead in a competitive environment by ensuring that it has the necessary skills and knowledge to provide top-notch legal services. By expanding its team across these key practice areas, BLG not only strengthens its market position but also reinforces its ability to offer comprehensive legal solutions to its clients.
