Panagiotis Pamel appointed to the Federal Court of Appeal

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Arif Virani, announced the appointment of Panagiotis Pamel as a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal.

Justice Pamel, previously serving as a judge of the Federal Court, will fill the vacancy left by Justice Y. de Montigny, who was appointed chief justice of the Federal Court of Appeal on November 8, 2023.

“I wish Justice Pamel every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Canadians well as a member of the Federal Court of Appeal,” Minister Virani said in a statement.

Justice Panagiotis Pamel was appointed to the Federal Court in 2019. His legal education includes a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from Concordia University in 1983, followed by degrees in both civil and common law from McGill University in 1987. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1988.

Before his judicial appointment, Justice Pamel practised law for over 30 years, specializing in maritime law. He worked at McMaster Meighen, a predecessor firm of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), with a brief period in industry. During his legal career, Justice Pamel was involved in several significant cases before the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Justice Pamel contributed to legal scholarship and industry discussions, particularly in maritime law and Arctic issues. He was a founding member of BLG’s team north and previously chaired the Arctic Issues Committee of the Canadian Maritime Law Association. He co-authored the second edition of Canadian Maritime Law and has contributed to numerous articles on maritime law and Arctic navigation.

This appointment follows the judicial application process established in 2016, which focuses on transparency, merit, and reflecting the diversity of Canada’s population.

Justice Pamel’s appointment is effective immediately, and he will begin his new duties at the Federal Court of Appeal.