In-house counsel were among the winners at last week's gala
Winners of the Lexpert Rising Stars 2023 Awards paid tribute to mentors and support networks as they celebrated at the gala event held in Toronto last week. More than 450 people were in attendance at the annual event which honours leading lawyers under 40 from law firms, in-house departments, and other practices.
Among the 81 winners, Laura Salvatori, general counsel at Anson Funds, says she has found helpful mentors throughout her career – sometimes in unexpected places.
“Meeting people that I’ve worked with or across from on transactions, and learning from those people, has been valuable to me,” she says.
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Salvatori notes that Lexpert Rising Stars is an opportunity for young in-house lawyers to celebrate their success.
“There’s certainly a lot of private practice winners, so it’s great to see in-house counsel recognized by the legal community, as well as the law firms that they work with,” she says. “It’s good to see lawyers from both sides coming together.”
Having a strong support system in place is vitally important to career progression, according to Rising Star Sabrina Bandali, a partner at Bennett Jones LLP.
“I’m a lawyer and a mom and a family member involved in my community in all sorts of ways, which really wouldn’t be possible without a lot of support,” says Bandali. Mentorship has also been a critical part of Bandali’s success, she says.
“Having other lawyers to point out the diversity of ways in which people can be successful in the profession is a big part of why it’s different for my generation,” she says. “We have learnt that there’s more than one way to be successful, and that has opened lots of doors.”
Another Rising Star winner, Radha Khosla, a partner at Dentons Canada LLP expresses gratitude to her colleagues for their ongoing mentorship in her professional development, and to her clients for their confidence in her. She also thanks her parents for their unwavering support in all her professional endeavours.
“I’ve been lucky to have outstanding mentors, both in the legal profession, and outside of it,” says Khosla. “I have also been lucky to work with incredibly talented colleagues who showed me what we can do as lawyers – not just within the practice of law, but through mentoring and empowering our colleagues and making a difference in the community.”
Peer mentorship has been important to Zohar Levy, a partner at Orr Taylor LLP and David Levangie, a partner at Fogler Rubinoff LLP – both Rising Stars award winners – as the pair went to law school together and recently reconnected when they worked on the same case, on opposing sides.
“It’s great peer mentorship to be able to work on a file together and give each other feedback afterwards,” says Levy. “It was a remarkable and unique professional achievement.”
Levangie adds: “Even if you litigate against each other, you can still remain the best of friends.”
Levy notes that the 2023 Rising Stars Awards gala also gave her the opportunity to reconnect with old friends from high school and elementary school, and from other firms.
Award winner Naomi Lutes, a partner at Humphrey Weinstein LLP, has been with the firm for her entire career. She attributes her success in part to the mentorship and collegiality she has been shown throughout her time with the firm.
“Surround yourself with people you can learn from and who you admire,” she advises. “If you don’t have those people, seek them out. Absorb all the information and knowledge you can.”
Rising Star Kadiatou Sow, a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, advises young lawyers to be ready for opportunities as they present themselves, and to surround yourself with people who lift you up.
“I’m very grateful for the people who have been a part of my journey and helped me craft my skills to become the partner I am today,” says Sow. “We really need great mentors and sponsors – especially female, minority lawyers.
“Always be passionate about the work you do and be motivated to be the best in your field. Aim for excellence and develop a network as early as you can,” she adds.
Lexpert thanks event partner Fasken; innovation partner Dye & Durham; and silver sponsors LEAP, Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP, and Norton Rose Fulbright. Organized by Key Media, Lexpert Rising Stars’ supporting publications were Canadian Lawyer, Law Times, and Canadian Lawyer InHouse.
We would also like to thank the judges for their time devoted to selecting and awarding excellence.