We are pleased to announce that Hensel Barristers and Fogler, Rubinoff LLP will be practising in association commencing July 1, 2021 and merging by January 2022. Hensel Barristers has an established reputation of working with Indigenous peoples across Canada to advance and protect their Indigenous rights, cultures, territories and laws.
Katherine Hensel, the founder and principal lawyer at Hensel Barristers, is a seasoned litigator and consistently recommended lawyer in the 2021 Canadian Legal LEXPERT™ Directory in Indigenous Law. A citizen of the Secwepemc Nation, Katherine has built a diverse practice providing advice and acting in disputes concerning the assertion of Indigenous and treaty rights, the duty to consult, commercial matters, public inquiries (including British Columbia’s Missing and Murdered Women’s Inquiry, as counsel for the Native Women’s Association of Canada), child welfare matters, and select criminal cases. Katherine is the recipient of a number of awards for her innovative and passionate advocacy for human rights and the advancement of social justice, including the Minaake Award for Human Rights and Advocacy from the Native Women’s Resource Centre and the Arleen Goss Young Advocates Award from the Advocates Society.
Joining Foglers with Katherine will be associates Ruth Ambros and Lauren Winkler. Together, they will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience acting for Indigenous peoples.
“The merger of Hensel Barristers with Foglers brings added depth and expertise to our Indigenous Law practice,” says Gary Kissack, Chair, Indigenous Law Group. “Katherine and her team will become integral members of our firm’s Indigenous Law Group and key contributors to our team’s continued growth and success acting on behalf of Indigenous peoples across Canada.”
David Levangie and Bonnie Fish were successful before the Veterans Review and Appeal Board on behalf of Captain Kimberly Fawcett.
After a 15 year legal odyssey, the Veteran’s Appeal Board released its decision granting full compensation to our client, Captain Kimberly Fawcett, for her injuries.
According to David Levangie, Capt. Fawcett’s lawyer through years of appeals and grievances:
“This has been such a long, hard-fought ordeal. She should never have had to have this fight because this was an institution that her poor family basically devoted their lives to. I think she felt a bit betrayed by the institution, and I think she fought as long and hard as she did because, not only did she need the financial compensation, but she felt there really was an injustice here,”
It’s no secret to anyone that 2020 was a very difficult year. We have all had to face new – and in many cases – very important challenges, both in our professional and personal lives. In a year that was like no other, we are however thankful for the loyalty of our clients, the support of our fellow professional community and the dedication of our people.
As the enormity of the pandemic became apparent, we looked to provide our clients with clarity in the face of confusion. To break through the clutter, members of our team produced over 100 COVID-19 resources providing timely analysis of the business and legal challenges faced by our clients and broader community. We learned to pivot our practice remotely and this flexibility allowed us to find new ways to connect with and serve our clients in more efficient ways. In a year marked by distance, we fostered a sense of community and recognized the importance of coming together in ways that honour the diversity of ideas and experiences, and to learn from each other.
The start of 2021 has already been unpredictable, with continued concerns around the spread of COVID-19 variants, delays in the roll out of the vaccine, and like many we all wondering whether we are at the beginning of the end of the pandemic or the end of the beginning. Despite this uncertainty, the new year signals an opportunity to reaffirm our commitments and look ahead. In recent months we’ve built upon our collective strengths and welcomed new lawyers to our Insolvency, Corporate Finance, Real Estate, Tax & Wills and Estates, Securities and Litigation teams to help scale up and support our clients. We continue to invest in our technology and our people; and we are optimistic that the sense of community which has prevailed throughout the pandemic will continue.
COVID-19 has cancelled many things, but it can’t cancel kindness. Throughout it all we’ve been inspired by the stories of innovation, selflessness, and resilience we’ve heard from our clients, colleagues, and in our wider community with frontline and essential workers. I speak for everyone at Foglers when I say that we are entering the new year with a renewed sense of hope as we all work together to chart a path forward.
Michael Slan
Managing Partner Fogler, Rubinoff LLP
On the podcast Law Firm ILN-telligence, host Lindsay Griffiths interviews Michael Slan to discuss discuss the importance of communication in this time of pandemic, why deep cuts may not be the best cuts, and what leadership looks like in the face of market downturns and global lockdowns.
Tune into the ILN-telligence podcast episode here:
We are proud to be among the firms who exemplify excellence in the five core values of The Network: quality, integrity, transparency, professionalism, and community.
We congratulate our Partner Nina Perfetto, on being selected as the recipient of this year’s CIBPA Business / Professional Excellence Award.
Dedicated to her clients and her community, Nina is a tireless advocate and deserving leader. We applaud her success!
This award honours an individual who demonstrates outstanding achievement in his or her profession, entrepreneurialism, innovation, philanthropy, community involvement or contribution to the arts. Nina was presented the award at the 67th Annual CIBPA President’s Ball.
The firm is a proud member of the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network (LFDIN), a group of Canadian law firms who have agreed to work together to promote diversity and encourage a culture of inclusion in our firms and the broader legal profession, and is a signatory to the LFDIN Statement of Principles.
Diversity and inclusion are core values of LFDIN members. Each signatory believes that valuing and enhancing diversity and inclusion will assist in attracting and retaining the best talent to better serve clients and assist in expanding the constantly evolving global marketplace. LFDIN members undertake to practice and advance diversity and inclusion by:
Sharing ideas for the promotion of diversity and inclusion in connection with recruitment, retention and advancement within law firms
Working with Legal Leaders for Diversity and other general counsel, law departments, business leaders and professional associations in their efforts to advance diversity and inclusion
Supporting outreach programs in law schools and the broader community
Promoting thought leadership and constructive dialogue on issues of diversity and inclusion
Evaluating our efforts
Justin Jakubiak named a Litigator to Watch in the 2017 Lexpert US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Guide.
The Legal US/Canada Cross-Border Guide is an annual ranking of Canadian lawyers in over 60 practice areas, based on peer review surveys plus personal interviews with senior members of the profession. Details of the Lexpert survey process and ranking criteria for the guide can be viewed online here at The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory or at Lexpert.ca
Justin Jakubiak has been recognized as a Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation. Justin is one of 285 litigators recognized by the LSO with this designation.
