Just a few more days to nominate candidates for prestigious award; deadline July 7
It’s not easy being a judge for Lexpert’s Rising Star Awards. With so many accomplished young lawyers nominated, it can be incredibly difficult to pick the “best” amongst them.
Collin Hirschfeld, McKercher LLP
“I look at the resumes and people’s experiences and wonder how I got to be where I am,” Collin Hirschfeld, a partner and member of the executive committee at McKercher LLP, admitted in a recent Canadian Lawyer profile. “The breadth and diversity of the work, time, and energy that these people have spent on so many different initiatives are unbelievable. I know the future of the legal profession is in good hands.”
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Steve McKersie, CEO of Gowling WLG, expressed a similar sentiment when he was interviewed by Canadian Lawyer Global Managing Editor Tim Wilbur, describing his experience as a Rising Stars judge.
Steve McKersie, Gowling WLP
“It was an absolute honour to help identify our bright young stars. I was always amazed when I saw the extraordinary talent, skill sets and professional experience of our young people, particularly their commitment to their communities.
He added that it is a reminder that “recognizing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and achievements of the next generation of lawyers is essential.”
In working to ensure that the legal profession “reflects the diversity of our communities,” McKersie said taking the time to celebrate the unique experiences and successes of our young lawyers will help inspire greater representation and inclusion across our industry in the years to come.”
But as much as Rising Star judges acknowledge the challenge in picking the most worthy for an award from amongst the talented lawyers nominated, it’s a challenge that judges like McKersie and Hirschfeld are happy to take on. That’s why, as the days close in on the nomination process (the deadline is July 7), young lawyers and their mentors are encouraged to get as many worthy names as possible into the pool.
Lexpert Rising Stars Awards returns to the stage this fall to celebrate lawyers 40 and under who have made outstanding contributions in their careers thus far, it’s time to nominate rising talent and give them their due.
Nominations are now open for awards that recognize exceptional, young lawyers working in law firms, in-house departments, government, and academia.
Members of the legal profession in Canada are invited to nominate qualified lawyers who have stood out in their chosen career. The nominations are then researched and vetted by Lexpert and Canadian Lawyer staff, and then they are passed along to a judging panel of highly respected members of the legal community.
Voting will commence in August 2023 and the judging panel’s decisions will be impartial, balanced, incisive and fair.
To be eligible for the Rising Stars Awards, nominees must have been born no earlier than 1983. The nomination deadline is July 7, 2023, at midnight EST. You can use this form to nominate someone.
Please note that previous recipients of the Rising Stars Awards are not eligible to be nominated and a potential candidate cannot nominate him or herself.
The winners will be revealed and celebrated at the highly anticipated in-person gala on November 23 at the Liberty Grand venue in Toronto.
There is no fee to submitting a nomination. However only the online nomination form will be accepted. Learn more about the nomination process here. Winners will be notified confidentially prior to the event.
Lexpert Rising Stars Awards is presented by Lexpert magazine and supported by Canadian Lawyer, Law Times and InHouse magazines. The event is brought to you by Key Media, the organizers of a variety of awards ceremonies across Canada for a number of professions, where hundreds gather annually, in person or virtually, to acknowledge the best in class across the nation.
We look forward to receiving your nominations.