COVER STORY
Lexpert's annual
awards program
pays tribute to the
Rising Stars of the
legal community,
honouring Winners
from law firms and law
departments
across Canada
BY JEAN CUMMING
EVERY YEAR,
returning members of the Lexpert Rising Stars Advisory Board (which se-
lects the Winners from the Finalists) say their role was harder than the previous year. Past
Winners already knew how competitive it was to win, and that meant a lot to them.
Jennifer R. Woznesensky, a partner at Harper Grey LLP in Vancouver told Lexpert, "It
was a true honour to be recognized as a Lexpert Rising Star in 2014 with a group of such
accomplished individuals. e award helped boost my confidence in my abilities and solidi-
fied my drive to do excellent work for my clients." Ranjan Agarwal, a partner at Bennett
Jones LLP in Toronto and a 2015 Winner, said, "So many leading lawyers have won this
award, and to be included in their company is a great privilege."
To add to the excitement, Winners are feted at the annual Awards gala. is year, Calin
Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada is scheduled to address the
audience gathered at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto on November 16, 2017.
Rovinescu has served in that role since April 1, 2009. He was the Executive Vice President,
Corporate Development & Strategy of Air Canada from 2000 to 2004, and also held the
position of Chief Restructuring Officer during the airline's 2003-2004 restructuring. From
2004 to 2009, Rovinescu was a Co-founder and Principal of Genuity Capital Markets, an
independent investment bank. Prior to 2000, he was the Managing Partner of Stikeman
Elliott in Montréal, where he practised corporate law for over 20 years and was a member of
the firm's Partnership Board and Executive Committee.
A look at the impressive biographies of this year's Winners will bring the point home that
choosing is difficult amongst excellent Finalists. ese biographies are drawn from law firm
and corporate websites, as well as the Winners' Rising Stars nomination forms. Introducing
this year's Lexpert Rising Stars:
LEXPERT MAGAZINE
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 33
LEADING LAWYERS UNDER 40
RISING STARS:
