LEXPERT MAGAZINE
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JUNE 2017 43
Megan Shortreed is an excellent litigator
who has had a transformative effect on her
firm and the profession of law. Megan's
leadership on the Law Society of Upper
Canada's Justicia Initiative and her work
on the Advocates' Society diversity task
force has led to concrete advancements
in the law for women and members of ra-
cialized communities. She served on the
Retention of Women steering group, and
chaired working groups for: medium firms;
compensation for parental leaves; flexible
work arrangements; and leadership. She
also led the implementation of those initia-
tives at Paliare Roland. She has also worked
tirelessly as a mentor to women lawyers.
Megan has served as director of Homes
First Society and chair of the Homes First
Foundation. She was the inaugural recipi-
ent of the Toronto Lawyers Association
Honsberger Award for ongoing contribu-
tions to the community.
Lisa Skakun
MOGO FINANCE TECHNOLOGY INC.
VANCOUVER
As Chief Legal and Administrative Of-
ficer, Lisa Skakun leads matters related to
legal and compliance, people and culture,
government relations and corporate gov-
ernance. e only female senior execu-
tive when she was recruited in 2015, Lisa
launched innovative products and part-
nerships to extend the brand, including a
$50-million marketing deal with Postme-
dia. She's frequently featured in articles
about the complex regulatory world of
Jennifer Shilson
MILLER CANFIELD LLP WINDSOR
Jennifer Shilson is one of the most recog-
nized and highly sought aer lawyers in
Windsor and Essex County, as well as a
role model in the office of Miller Canfield.
Jennifer has served on the Miller Canfield
management team for at least six years, and
as managing partner of the Canadian office
for the past three years. In 2013, Jennifer
helped the Canadian office transition from
a controlled subsidiary to a financially in-
dependent firm, which has since grown
steadily in both lawyers and revenue. In
addition to practising law and managing
the firm, Jennifer finds times to act as a
practice principal for articling students and
speaks at the University of Windsor Law
School on work/life balance and the chal-
lenges women face practising law. Jennifer
is a 20-year supporter and long-standing
director of local cancer charity Transition
to Betterness.
Megan Shortreed
PALIARE ROLAND ROSENBERG
ROTHSTEIN LLP TORONTO
fintech. Lisa has assembled an all-female
legal and HR group with a goal to increase
board diversity and spread a message that
"the future of fintech is female." She is de-
veloping a code of conduct that includes
anti-harassment policies and implement-
ing focus groups on key employee issues.
Lisa has been recognized by the Canadian
Board Diversity Council's Diversity 50
(2015) and won the National Post's WC-
GCA "Tomorrow's Leader" and the As-
sociation of Women in Finance's "Rising
Star" awards.
Kristin Taylor
CASSELS BROCK & BLACKWELL LLP
TORONTO
Kristin Taylor is the firm's deputy man-
aging partner, and founder, past chair
and current member of the inclusion and
diversity committee. Kristin is a mem-
ber of the women's practice development
committee and chairs the employment
law group. As a member of the firm's gov-
ernance committee, she completely over-
hauled the governance structure in 2016,
making it more inclusive and representa-
tive. Along with her daughter, she attend-
ed the Women's March on Washington
in January. She instituted pub nights for
the firm's women lawyers to informally
discuss important topics such as sponsor-
ship and gendered communication. She
also instituted women's mentoring lunch
groups, where senior women host female
associates to discuss career advancement.
She implemented unconscious-bias train-
ing for partners and firm leaders. Kristin
has been ranked by e Best Lawyers in
Canada for each of the past five years.
| ZENITH AWARDS |
