LEXPERT MAGAZINE
|
JUNE 2017 31
| ZENITH AWARDS |
respect to a variety of complex matters.
She combines legal expertise with strate-
gic thinking, business acumen and strong
problem-solving skills. Joëlle is named in
e Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, e
Best Lawyers in Canada and Benchmark
Canada. In 2015, she was recognized as
one of Canada's 100 Most Powerful by the
Women's Executive Network.
Cherie L. Brant
DICKINSON WRIGHT LLP TORONTO
Cherie Brant joined the firm just over
three years ago. Her practice has more than
doubled in size and she typically has 10
lawyers working with her as lead counsel.
In her Toronto office, she ranks among the
top three most productive lawyers, having
completed her first year as the only female
equity partner. Cherie also contributes
to the marketing strategy, associates hir-
ing committee, mentor program and the
diversity committee. She is one of a hand-
ful of Indigenous lawyers in Canada who
has led complex commercial transactions
on behalf of Indigenous groups. She also
acts for renewable energy proponents from
Canada, the US and Europe, providing
insight into Indigenous legal issues and
business partnerships. Cherie was named
in Lexpert's Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers
Under 40 in 2012, and in Lexpert's Lead-
ing Lawyer Category, Energy Law, in 2014.
Marcia L. Brennan
MCCAIN FOODS LTD. HALIFAX
As General Counsel, Marcia Brennan sup-
ports global management of the McCain
Foods brand, the world's largest private
manufacturer of frozen foods. Marcia
has been instrumental in several M&A
projects, product launches, and numerous
regulatory and compliance matters. With
her team, she is responsible for a diverse
geographical territory, building strong re-
lationships with external counsel in many
strategic jurisdictions. She's a strong team
builder who mentors junior lawyers, law
students and peers, helping create many
key policy and training initiatives for Mc-
Cain. Marcia has served on numerous
boards and several Nova Scotia Barristers'
Society committees. She's a member of a
small team working on an inaugural At-
lantic Canadian event for women general
counsel in Canada. She's a director of Path-
way to Progress, a Canadian charity fund-
ing children's education in Nicaragua.
NATASHA BROWN
LEGAL HELP CENTRE WINNIPEG
Natasha Brown is the Legal Director and
Executive Director of the Legal Help Cen-
tre, a non-profit organization in Winnipeg
whose small staff, volunteers and 50 law
students are all women. e beneficiaries
of Natasha's advocacy and leadership are
also women. Natasha and her group ensure
the law works for everyone. She's an effec-
tive leader, mentor and advocate, devoted
to advancement of equity, education and
access to justice. Her mission, and LHC's,
is to work in partnership with the commu-
nity to increase access to legal and social-
service systems for disadvantaged commu-
nity members. Natasha has been a sessional
lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University
of Manitoba, and has acted as supervising
lawyer of Robson Hall's third-year LHC
internship program. She's also a member of
the Canadian Bar Association's Standing
Committee on Access to Justice.
Shivani Chopra
MCINNES COOPER FREDERICTON
Aer completing her law program and be-
ing called to the Bar in India, Shivani Cho-
pra moved to Canada in 2003. Upon com-
pletion of her Master of Laws at Dalhousie
University, Shivani obtained her equiva-
lency of Canadian law degree, articled and
was called to the New Brunswick Bar in
2008. She became a partner in 2016. Her
practice focuses on insurance defence liti-
gation and employment law. She's a diver-
sity champion in the legal profession of At-
lantic Canada, speaking about diversity in
different forums and offering guidance and
support to struggling candidates whenever
possible. Shivani is one of the very few vis-
ible-minority, immigrant women partners
at a large law firm in Atlantic Canada and
her community service work has made her
the recipient of a volunteer recognition
award from McInnes Cooper.
Jacqueline De Gagné
BAYER INC. MISSISSAUGA
Jacqueline De Gagné has become a role
model to women, working in patent law and
science when this was still uncommon for
women. Jacqueline combined her expertise
and leadership skills to become responsible
for Bayer's law and patents, compliance,
privacy, risk management and corporate
governance functions. Her role involves
leading teams of specialists across Canada
on complex litigation, commercial legal
matters, and governance issues. Among
