The Robert V.A. Jones Award recognizes an exceptional contribution to the development or the promotion of the in-house counsel bar or community, including significant research or writing on related issues, advocacy efforts, etc. It is awarded to a Canadian In-house counsel whose career exemplifies the highest standards of service, conduct and professionalism for in-house counsel.

Donald L. Bjornson
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Manitoba Hydro

Donald Bjornson has been a member of the legal team for over 20 years and has served as Manitoba’s Hydro’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since 2021. With the utmost regard for professionalism and expertise, he leads a team of over 25 staff. He has a strong track record of quality and excellence as in-house counsel, handling complex projects such as the legal negotiations on Hydro’s wholesale energy transactions with major US-based utilities and Canadian customers.

It is through Bjornson’s leadership that the Legal 500, in collaboration with Legal Business, GC Magazine and The In-House Lawyer, recognizes Manitoba Hydro’s Legal Services Division as one of the top 100 in-house legal teams in Canada, and includes Manitoba Hydro on the GC Powerlist 100.

Elizabeth Sanderson
Justice Canada (retired)
University of Ottawa, Justice Canada, Justice Nunavut

Elizabeth Sanderson has consistently demonstrated throughout her entire career her commitment to the legal profession. Over three decades, she has held numerous positions at Justice Canada. For instance, during the 1990-1992 “Canada Round” of constitutional reform that culminated in the Charlottetown Accord and October 26, 1992 national referendum, she was Justice Canada’s Legal Coordinator. From 2002 to 2010, she was Justice Canada’s Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio, leading coordination of Indigenous legal issues involving the federal Crown across Canada. In fact, in 2002, she was awarded a Queen’s Jubilee Medal for her work on diversity and employment equity.

Sanderson has also spent considerable time sharing her knowledge through webinars for public sector lawyers and writing books on government counsel, most notably, Government: Duties and Ethical Challenges of Government Lawyers, which details the ethical challenges and duties of government lawyers.

Sonne Udemgba
Director, Legal (Securities Division)
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan

Sonne Udemgba has served as the Director of the Legal Securities Division at the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) of Saskatchewan since August 2020. Prior to that, he served as Deputy Director. The FCAA, he has participated in the development of local policies, general rulings/orders, and Securities Commission Regulations in Saskatchewan. He has provided guidance to external legal counsel, senior management of corporations and their advisors on matters related to complex issues in securities law and securities transactions. He has also acted as lead counsel for the FCAA staff on numerous hearings. His litigation work has influenced legal precedents in securities law and administrative law.

Outside of these leadership roles, Udemgba spends his time volunteering with Pro Bono Law Saskatchewan. He has also been recognized with multiple scholarships and fellowships, including the Research Scholarship from CSALE and the Graduate Teaching Fellowship from the University of Saskatchewan. Finally, his contributions to legal literature have been recognized by LexisNexis for their educational value to legal practitioners.

The Up & Comer Award recognizes excellence among emerging in-house counsels in the private or public sector. Areas of performance might include noteworthy achievements with respect to a significant transaction, management and leadership of a strategic initiative, resolution of material litigation, mentorship other lawyers, demonstration of integrity, pro-bono work, or professional development.

Hayley Ha
Manager, Supply Management and Legal Counsel
Vancouver Airport Authority

Hayley Ha has continued to prove herself as an exceptional in-house counsel since joining the legal team at Vancouver Airport Authority in 2022. Currently, she serves as Manager of Supply Management and Legal Counsel, and her work has been crucial in completion of many significant procurement processes. She understands her client well, and is adept at skillfully and eloquently reflecting its values, ESG and strategic objectives into procurement policies and reports, including the work on the new Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act.

Ha also serves as a mentor for the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers and has served as co-chair of its in-house committee. In all her work, she balances great intellect with practicality, curiosity and diplomacy.

Kenny Okunola
Legal Counsel, Corporate and Securities
Avenue Living Asset Management

Kenny Okunola has served as Legal Counsel, Corporate and Securities for Avenue Living Asset Management since 2023, but his leadership skills expand far outside of the office. He also serves as the current Vice-President of Global Lawyers of Canada and was a driving force behind the establishment of the ITL Network, a network of internationally trained lawyers whose mission is to assist other internationally trained lawyers and law graduates through the licensing process, promoting a more inclusive legal profession and a strong network for diversity and growth.

Driven to help others, Okunola was also responsible for creating a mentorship program in partnership with the Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council, organizing the first edition of Dentons Around the World Diversity Event, and serving as regional lead for the Dentons Black Professionals Network and Dentons Global Inclusion Advisory Council. In 2021, he received the Top 30 Under 30 Award from the Alberta Council for Global Cooperation.

Shea Sanders
Corporate Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer
Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc.

After working with the Legal Services Branch of the Government of Manitoba, Shea Sanders moved to Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Inc. as Corporate Counsel in 2022. She demonstrated her commitment to the profession when she successfully passed the CIPP/C examination and added Chief Privacy Officer to her title in 2023. As the key resource for privacy-related issues within the company, she has been instrumental in developing and implementing privacy policies, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations and advising on best practices for data protection. Her contributions have helped safeguard the company’s reputation and reinforced trust among its clients and stakeholders.

Sanders also contributes to her profession and community, volunteering with West Central Women’s Resource Centre, serving as Chair of the Young Lawyers’ Section of the Manitoba Bar Association and mentoring law students and new graduates, to name only a few of her commitments.

Carla Saunders
Legal Counsel
Purolator Inc.

Since the start of her tenure at Purolator in 2021, Carla Saunders has made a significant impact. Her leadership was crucial in the involvement of the Urban Quick Stop (UQS) pilot program. This program, one of the first of its kind, is focused on creating sustainable shipping solutions – a positive step in the right direction for the company. Her ability to deliver results in this program led to Saunders being awarded the Purolator Circle of Excellence award in June 2024.

Outside of her work at Purolator, Saunders spends her time volunteering as a mentor to others at University of New Brunswick. Her results-driven focus and professional skills are truly an asset to anyone who has the opportunity to have her as a mentor. Both at and outside of work, she is praised for her ability to build relationships and drive engagement.

Daniel van den Berg
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
BC Assessment Authority

Daniel van den Berg joined the British Columbia Assessment Authority (BCAA) in 2022, serving as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary since early 2024. In this role, he has worked closely with the IT Division on large procurement projects for our core infrastructure at BCAA and new IT initiatives. He ensures appropriate Board oversight of these large projects and has helped build a strong culture at the Board IT Committee level. He also plays a role in fostering cross-departmental collaboration, facilitating seamless communication and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.

In addition to his exceptional skills at work, van den Berg graduated from the Rotman-CCCA Business Leadership Program for In-House Counsel in 2023, earning the title of Certified In-House Counsel – Canada (CIC.C). This accomplishment showcases his role as not only a trusted legal advisor but also a strategic business partner.

The Transition to Business Award recognizes an in-house counsel who has transitioned out of the traditional legal role into a business / strategic or leadership role within an organization. This person embodies the sentiment of advancing the organizational goals through the lens of a business or organizational partner, not just a legal advisor. Roles within HR, Risk Management, Finance and others are considered.

Gennady Ferenbok
Corporate Development
Coca Cola Canada Bottling Limited

Gennady Ferenbok leadership skills and professionalism are evident in his role as EVP of Corporate Development at Coca Cola Canada Bottling Limited. After leading the legal team at Coca Cola through the pandemic, he made a natural transition to the corporate development office. His proactive mindset and strategic business acumen have consistently driven impactful changes within the organization, reflecting his deep commitment to Coca Cola’s success, sustainability and growth.

Outside of his work with Coca Cola, Ferenbok is an active member of the CCCA. He served on the Executive Committee for several years and continues to volunteer regularly as a mentor. Never shy to hold people accountable but doing so in a firm, fair and friendly manner not only makes him an effective leader but also well respected by his colleagues and those he engages with outside of the organization.

Mark Guillet, K.C.
President and Chief Executive Officer
SaskEnergy Incorporated

Mark Guillet has worked for SaskEnergy since 1990, holding various leadership roles, and in 2023, he was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer. Guillet has been recognized many times for his work for Saskatchewan. In 2015, he was appointed to the King’s Counsel by the Lieutenant Governor in Council Exceptional Merit. Likewise, he received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022 for outstanding service to the province.

Guillet is a recognized leader in governance practices, developing the first TSX-style Governance Scorecard in the Crown sector, recommending the establishment of the first ESG Committee of the Board in the Crown sector, and being the executive liaison for the first Governance and Social Responsibility Committee of the Board in the Crown sector. He is also currently a Member of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee of the Canadian Gas Association.

Jacqueline Tsai
Head, Client Relationships (Vice President)
Interac Corp.

Prior to her current position as Head, Client Relationships (Vice President) at Interac, Jacqueline Tsai served as its Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, where she grew a legal team from two to eight lawyers to support all of Interac’s payments products and train them to balance business goals and efficiency against risk. In addition, her leadership skills during a six-month pricing strategy resulted in revenue increase of $20 million. These are only some of the many reasons that Tsai’s transition to business seemed a natural move.

Outside of her work with the company, Tsai serves as a mentor to others and advocates for DEI initiatives. She also recently spoke on innovation for small and medium sized enterprises at the Payments Canada Summit, as well as on a podcast on leases in Quebec. Her exposure to executive, Board, and regulatory bodies provides her with a unique ability to hone in on how to make every conversation and presentation purposeful and how to build a business strategy that wins every time and continuously improves.

The Action in Diversity & Inclusion Award honours an in-house counsel or legal department who has shown leadership and commitment towards supporting inclusion and diversity in the legal profession. This award recognizes a law department or individual who has demonstrated a tangible and innovative approach to encourage and promote diverse and inclusive workspaces, either within their organization or more broadly across their industry.

James Bond, K.C.
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal & Governance Officer
The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company

James Bond has served as the Senior Vice President, Chief Legal & Governance Officer, at the Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company since 2021. In 2022 and 2023, he was named a Top 100 LGBT+ Executive as part of a worldwide list of Outstanding LGBT+ Executive Role Models, awarded by a global organization based in London. Since then, he has used his platform to encourage and spread diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging programs at Wawanesa Insurance and other companies around the world.

Bond is the founding executive sponsor of the Pride ERG, where he was able to serve as a mentor to others, and encourage positive changes and equal opportunities for all. His influence is obvious to those who know him and is clearly reflected in the workplace. In 2023, Wawanesa was named as one of Canada’s best diversity employers by Forbes magazine.

Hina Latif
Vice-President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
MBFS and Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. (MBC)

Growing up in England as the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Hina Latif understands the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion and how it can contribute to a person’s sense of belonging. Latif, who came to Canada in 2003, joined Mercedes-Benz Canada Financial Services (MBFS) in 2018. Since then, her responsibilities as Vice-President, General Counsel & Secretary have expanded to cover all of Mercedes-Benz Canada.

Latif had observed the growth of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within Canadian organizations, but it was the murder of George Floyd in the USA in 2020 that spurred her to found the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council at Mercedes-Benz, which facilitates a variety of diverse perspectives being heard in the company. As a result of this and numerous other efforts, in 2023, she was named an Automotive News Canada Notable Champion of Diversity.

Sue-Lynn Noel
Senior Vice-President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Purolator Inc.

Sue-Lynn Noel, who serves as the Senior Vice-President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary of Purolator Inc., has had an integral role in establishing a work environment that welcomes diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). For instance, thanks to her guidance as Chair of Purolator’s DEI Advisory Board, the Diverse Talent Matters Program was started in 2020. The success of this program eventually led to its overall expansion in 2022 with development pathways for the BIPOC community, women and people with disabilities.

Outside of Purolator, Noel has served as Vice Chair of the Women’s Equality Advisory Group for the Law Society of Ontario, created the mentorship program at Osgoode Black Law Students Association, and helped found the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers’ annual conference. It is through these achievements and others, that Noel continues to show her commitment to diversity and encouraging inclusivity in the workplace.

The Employee Wellness Initiative of the Year Award recognizes a legal department or in-house counsel who has fostered wellness for the workforce through a specific wellness initiative. The overwhelming trend towards increased workloads, pressure, stress and anxiety within the legal profession has strained departments, workforces and wellness. This award shines a light on organizational initiatives that are actively addressing these critical issues.

Luana DiCandia
Director and Senior Legal Counsel, Securities Regulatory & Compliance
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan

Luana DiCandia serves as the Director and Senior Legal Counsel, Securities Regulatory & Compliance, for the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (Teachers’). With her leadership driving the way, the Able@Teachers’ Employee Resource Group (ERG) was created in March 2020 to focus on both physical and mental health. Since then, DiCandia led the ERG to offer over 30 different events or forums for conversations, including therapy dogs for Blue Monday, activities for Canadian and UK Mental Health Weeks, the Teachers’ team in the Walk to Conquer Cancer, and many more initiatives to fight the barriers and stigma around surrounding mental health, anxiety, and burnout.

DiCandia is also an active member of the Legal and Corporate Affairs division’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and was a key figure in leading the Make Meetings Matter campaign, which helped educate and bring awareness in working with a global mindset.

Kelly McDermott
Senior Solicitor, Labour & Employment
Regional Municipality of Durham

In her current role as Senior Solicitor, Labour and Employment at the Regional Municipality of Durham, Kelly McDermott is known for her dedication to relationship building. As a single parent, a lawyer living with a disability and a caretaker to someone living with a disability, Kelly has learned firsthand the value of the support of her peers.

As 2023-24 President of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), McDermott used her personal experiences to fuel her commitment to employee wellness. She herself was a recipient of the wellness support the OBA offers, and because of this, she wanted to continue to expand the resources available. For example, in 2023, she spearheaded the Peer Support Network for Lawyers Living with Disabilities, which helps connect lawyers with resources and peer support. Her passion for wellness is seen through her work and recognized by everyone who knows her.

Oxford Properties Group Legal Department 

The “One Company, One Team, One Wellness Blue Zone – Path Vitality” initiative was created by the Oxford Properties Group Legal Department in 2023. This initiative was designed around four core principles: eating wisely, moving naturally, having the right outlook, and fostering community connection. Through this, a diverse collection of programs and activities are offered that help facilitate and promote employee wellness.

The Legal Department also initiated Summer and Winter “Someday” Day Challenges in 2023 and 2024 that encouraged team members to take additional days off to pursue personal interests, relax or explore new hobbies. They also host monthly peer-led presentations that cover a wide range of health and wellness topics, and they organize various social activities, including Friday Music Therapy, holiday events and team-building activities. The impact of these wellness initiatives is evidenced by employee survey results: 98% of the legal team members are proud to work at Oxford – a score that is 11% above best-in-class.

Innovation in legal department management is not contained to employing technology. It is understanding the organizational objectives, strategy and change management processes that will make innovation successful. More than using new tools or cost saving measures, the Innovation Impacting the Profession Award recognizes a legal department that has truly moved the needle in a way that sets an example for our profession.

Nominations must include examples of demonstrated activity and outcomes for the specific initiative.

Julian Perez
Chief Legal Officer
Dentalcorp

Julian Perez has served as the Chief Legal Officer for Dentalcorp since 2022. In that time, Perez, with the in-house legal and compliance team, have helped select and put into effect their new Contract Lifecycle Management software, Ironclad, which helps organize contract processes and increases productivity.

In addition, Perez and team have implemented the Halo ticketing system to keep track of requests coming into the legal department and drive efficiencies in completion time, and created a legal department satisfaction survey to continuously look for ways to enhance their commitment to innovation and improve their outcomes. It is under his guidance that Dentalcorp continues to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies at the platinum-level by Deloitte.

Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan Legal Branch

In 2023, the Legal Branch of the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) of Saskatchewan initiated the Consumer Disputes Online Dispute Resolution Platform. One integral part of this project was the Consumer Rights Pathway, which provides a platform for consumers and businesses to obtain information and form educated decisions. Another key part of this project was the Online Dispute Resolution Suite, which provides a platform and resources to facilitate negotiation and mediation services.

Through these initiatives and more, the FCCA demonstrates their ability to innovate and make a positive impact in the legal community.

Melanie de Wit
Chief Legal Officer
Unity Health Toronto

With Melanie Wit as Chief Legal Officer, the legal department at Unity Health Toronto continuously looks for ways to innovate the legal profession. For instance, they are the first Canadian hospital system to set artificial intelligence (AI) as a strategic priority. Working closely alongside ethicists, data scientists, privacy analysts and clinician scientists, the department championed responsible innovation to address challenges facing public healthcare. Their commitment is evidenced by the implementation into clinical practice of more than 50 AI tools. A case in point of this is the use of ChartWatch, a patient deterioration alert tool, which has led to an approximately 20% reduction in unexpected mortality and ICU admission. In 2022, Melanie and team also began working with a start-up company called Signal 1 to scale and share clinical AI tools.

These are just a few of the examples which demonstrate their passion to innovate and enhance the legal profession.

The Legal Team of the Year Award recognizes a boundary shifting legal team, small or large, that has achieved extraordinary outcomes in our uniquely Canadian In-house community. Beyond large transactions or litigation this award recognizes the unique challenges and successes faced by Canadian legal departments.

Nominations must include examples of activity and outcomes that demonstrate excellence in this category.

iA Financial Group

In 2023, guided by their CLO, Isabelle Durand, the iA Financial Group put into practice a new team structure that helped streamline operations and improve productivity. Their approach encourages flexibility and allows people to work wherever they feel the most comfortable being productive. For instance, they have 79 professionals working in three different time zones and nine different cities. Through these efforts and more, the IA Financial Group was awarded 7th place in the Globe’s 2023 Board Games. Focused on the future, the group has also recently developed their first 2030 plan aligned with iA’s 2030 vision.

In addition, the team’s approach to one of iA’s most challenging and high-profile matters – the successful defence of the Ituna litigation at all levels of court – was practical and dynamic. They were able to narrow in on the strategic issues, identify what mattered in the case and communicate with the detail required to achieve the needs and objectives of the business.

They have also played a leadership role in matters related to the well-being of the industry through their involvement with the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, their participation in interventions at the Supreme Court of Canada, and their efforts to engage regulatory reform.

Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Red Tape

The Legal Services Branch of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Ministry of Energy & Ministry of Red Tape is made up of 30 counsel who are committed to excellence in law. It was under their strategic guidance and counsel that the Province of Ontario successfully finalized agreements with Stellantis/LG, Volkswagen, Umicore, General Motors, and FCA Canada.

Thanks to these efforts, global automakers and parts suppliers have announced more than $20 billion in investments in the province related to the production of electric vehicles (EVs) and EV batteries. In addition, the Legal Services Branch was involved in securing PowerCo Canada Inc.’s $7 billion investment to build the company’s first overseas EV battery manufacturing plant in St. Thomas, Ontario.

These are just a few of the examples which demonstrate the LSB’s commitment to bettering Ontario and helping ensure it remains a leader in the EV industry.

Royal Bank of Canada

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Law Group is a team full of exceptional talent and this talent was evident during the acquisition and integration of HSBC’s Canadian business, RBC’s largest M&A transaction and the largest and most complex in Canadian banking history. Likewise, RBC Law Group continues to be a strategic advisor in the development of RBC’s overall patent strategy and in 2023, RBC was named by Evident AI Index as the top bank in quality of AI-related patents.

Showcasing a commitment to continuous improvement, RBC Law Group’s Learning & Innovation Council provided over 20 training sessions last year. Also, with its long tradition of pro bono work, members served more than 100 clients during the annual volunteer day organized by the Law Group. Finally, the team is involved in a volunteer telephone reassurance program that offers support and friendship to isolated seniors and other vulnerable people.

Vancouver Airport Authority 

The Vancouver Airport Authority Legal Team (YVR Legal) has consistently demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. For example, YVR Legal played a key part in negotiations that solidified the financial stability of businesses at Vancouver International Airport. Supported by this guidance and expertise, the Airport was named the Best Airport in North America 2024 by Skytrax.

Today, YVR Legal is led by the Chief Governance Officer and VP of Legal and Supply Management, Argiro Kotsalis. It comprises six lawyers, four support staff, two privacy professionals, and a risk management and insurance administrator. All of these individuals continue to uphold the high standards that set the team apart. For instance, in 2022, YVR became Canada’s first airport to be certified as a living wage employer – YVR Legal played a pivotal role in implementing the necessary contractual obligations. In addition, YVR Legal has been integral to the organization’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. Finally, YVR Legal supported the development and expansion of the YVR Digital Twin, a cutting-edge technology enhancing operational efficiency.