124 | | LEXPERT • June 2015 | www.lexpert.ca/usguide-corporate
« CORPORATE LAWYERS TO WATCH
»
Bruce Hibbard is a partner in Bennett Jones LLP's private-equity and capital markets
practice groups. Hibbard practices corporate and securities law, with a particular empha-
sis on investment funds, public and private capital markets off erings and private mergers
and acquisitions. He acts for public and private corporations, hedge funds, private-
equity funds, venture-capital funds, mutual funds and securities dealers. His practice
includes advising with respect to business and fund formation, corporate reorganiza-
tions, private- and public-equity fi nancings, take-over bids, plans of arrangement, initial
public off erings, registration issues, share and asset acquisitions, divestitures and dispo-
sitions. Hibbard has lectured or been a panelist on such topics as private placements,
public off erings, hedge funds and alternative investments, limited partnerships and
buying and selling a business.
»
John Georgakopoulos resolves complex environmental legal issues for a wide range
of clients. His strategic advice helps protect corporations, directors and offi cers against
corporate and personal environmental liabilities from corporate, commercial and real
estate transactions, drawing on his technical knowledge gained as a former senior
environmental scientist with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate
Change. Georgakopoulos provides expert advice to industrial manufacturers, property
developers and REITs about brownfi elds and contaminated land. He guides clients
through the complex regulatory environment, assists with environmental regulatory
approvals, and helps clients maintain compliance with environmental laws. Georgako-
poulos negotiates with regulators to help clients avoid or minimize regulatory action,
including regulatory orders, prosecutions and fi nes, and assists clients with regulatory
inspections and investigations. Georgakopoulos represents clients in both regulatory
and civil environmental proceedings. Year called to the Bar: 2008 (ON), 2013 (AB).
»
Melodie Hughes is a partner and Team Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers Immigra-
tion Law LLP's Canadian corporate immigration department, where she provides
assistance and advice to corporate clients and individuals with Canadian immigration
issues, including obtaining employment authorizations, temporary visas and perma-
nent residence status. Hughes obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University
of Ottawa, and her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario. She
commenced her career in international human rights, refugee and immigration law,
working for a sole practitioner in the Ottawa area. Prior to joining Pricewaterhouse-
Coopers Immigration Law LLP, Hughes worked with the Appeals Chamber at the
United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in
e Hague, Netherlands. Hughes has written several articles relating to immigration
law, is a frequent speaker at conferences, client and industry association events, and is a
member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association and the
Ontario Bar Association.
»
Jason Hynes is a partner, lawyer, patent agent and trade-mark agent at Bereskin &
Parr LLP's Waterloo Region offi ce, and the head of the fi rm's Nanotechnology practice
group. Hynes specializes in preparing and fi ling patent applications both in Canada and
around the world for mechanical, electromechanical and so ware innovations. He also
assists clients in trade-mark matters, intellectual property licensing and enforcement.
Prior to joining the fi rm, Hynes gained valuable industry experience in litigation and
patent preparation while working for a worldwide mobile communications company.
Hynes is the Chair of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada's (IPIC) Informa-
tion Technology Committee and Vice-chair of IPIC's Trade Policy Committee, where
he advocates on behalf of the intellectual property profession in Canada. Hynes is an
Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Law at Western University where he teaches courses
on intellectual property law.
Bruce A.
Hibbard
Bennett
Jones LLP
Tel: (403) 298-8141
Fax: (403) 265-7219
John
Georgakopoulos
Willms & Shier
Environmental
Lawyers LLP
Tel: (416) 862-4826
Fax: (416) 863-1938
Melodie J.
Hughes
Pricewaterhouse
Coopers
Immigration
Law LLP
Tel: (416) 598-8849
Fax: (416) 598-0331
Jason Hynes
Bereskin &
Parr LLP
Tel: (519) 783-3214
Fax: (519) 783-3211
hibbardb@bennettjones.com
jgeorgakopoulos@willmsshier.com
melodie.hughes@ca.pwc.com
jhynes@bereskinparr.com
