Roundup of law firm hires, promotions, departures: December 11, 2023 update

Four law firms made new announcements

Roundup of law firm hires, promotions, departures: December 11, 2023 update

Welcome to this week’s roundup of movements among major law firms, in which we sum up significant hires, promotions, departures, and other announcements.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP

Cassels has announced Samanthea Samuels's appointment to Chief Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Officer. In her new role, Samuels will develop, implement, and oversee comprehensive EDI initiatives, drive the firm's EDI strategy, and serve as a key point of contact and expert resource for firm leadership.

Before joining Cassels in January, Samuels was the manager of EDI at a full-service Bay Street firm and led the firm's EDI initiatives and programming. She has also practised general corporate and securities law and has led equity and inclusion efforts in schools, workplaces, and the broader community.

Gowling WLG

Sara Josselyn has joined the firm as a partner in the corporate law group in Toronto. Josselyn specializes in mergers and acquisitions and private equity deals, focusing on domestic, international and cross-border transactions across various sectors. She is also a transaction risk adviser to global insurance companies.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sara to the firm," said Benjamin Na, managing partner of Gowling WLG's Toronto office. "Her extensive experience guiding clients successfully through complex transactions will further strengthen our M&A and private equity capabilities."

McCarthy Tétrault LLP

McCarthy Tétrault has welcomed Al-Nawaz Nanji as a partner in the firm's national tax group based in Toronto. Nanji has over two decades of experience as a tax advisor and litigator. He has worked with clients in mining, retail, banking and finance, and the power sector. He has extensive experience dealing with tax authorities at the audit and appeals stages. Nanji specializes in income tax, GST/HST, and administrative and procedural matters, including protecting privilege.

"Al-Nawaz's exceptional experience as a tax advisor and litigator and his insights into the tax authorities and courts will augment an already outstanding group of practitioners with powerful tax disputes expertise, giving our clients full coverage to manage their complex tax affairs better," said Raj Juneja, partner and co-head of the firm's national tax group.

MLT Aikins LLP

The firm has announced the appointment of its partner, Reis Pagtakhan, to the Manitoba Premier's Business and Jobs Council. Pagtakhan is a Canadian corporate immigration lawyer with over 28 years of experience advising businesses and individuals on Canadian and U.S. immigration matters.

Read more: What does an immigration lawyer do to help businesses?

Pagtakhan specializes in obtaining temporary entry and permanent residency for senior executives, managers, professionals and other company employees from all over the world, providing training to businesses and HR professionals on immigration law and processes, and working collaboratively with business and HR professionals to create easy-to-use systems to comply with federal and provincial immigration laws.

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