He has been general counsel at Carleton University and partner at Nelligan Law
The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) has announced that it has named Steve Levitt its new chief executive officer, effective Nov. 4.
Levitt will lead the CBA in its mission to advocate for a fair justice system, push for legal reform, and promote equality across the legal profession – all principles which, according to him, align with his own aspirations and core values.
“I am dedicated to ensuring the CBA continues to be a respected leader in advocacy, creating meaningful value for its members,” Levitt said in the CBA’s news release welcoming him to the team. “I am honoured to lead the CBA in fulfilling its mission and making a lasting impact on the legal profession and its stakeholders.”
Levitt is an experienced leader, solicitor, and litigator, said the CBA’s news release. His experience spans the areas of private practice, in-house, private organizations, and public sector organizations.
Levitt presently serves as general counsel at Carleton University in Ottawa. In this role, he safeguards the school’s legal interest, ensures that it continues to operate within the scope established by law, offers hands-on legal and strategic advice, and recommends the development of policies, processes, or targeted interventions to address legal and strategic risks.
As general counsel, he also acts on behalf of the university in litigation, tribunal proceedings, and dispute resolution processes. He also advises the school on labour relations, employment law, academic and student issues, and equity matters.
Before his employment with Carleton, for 14 years, Levitt was an associate, then a partner, at Nelligan O'Brien Payne LLP in Ottawa. He gained broad commercial experience as a solicitor and litigator with the firm. His clients included businesses and not-for-profit organizations.
Levitt belonged to the firm’s commercial litigation and employment law groups, said his page on LinkedIn. In the realm of employment law, he represented both employers and employees in the private and public sectors. He also worked on class action proceedings, professional regulatory litigation, and complex insolvency matters.
While at Nelligan Law, Levitt appeared before the Federal Court and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and before public inquiries and administrative tribunals like the Security Intelligence Review Committee, the Public Accounts Committee, and the Sponsorship Inquiry.
Apart from his involvement with the CBA, Levitt has been a member of the Canadian Association of University Solicitors and the County of Carleton Law Association.
Levitt was also a corporal with the Canadian Grenadier Guards in the Canadian Armed Forces for three years, said the CBA’s news release.
Levitt was called to the Ontario bar in 2002. He obtained his LLB in Common Law from the University of Ottawa. He can understand both English and French.
