Lexpert magazine features articles and columns on developments in legal practice management, deals and lawsuits of interest in Canada, the law and business issues of interest to legal professionals and businesses that purchase legal services.
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clients. He played a key role in creating and manufacturing BMO's recently launched Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Low Volatility Index Linked Prin- cipal Protected Note (ESG Note). e ESG Note was BMO Capital Markets' first ever ESG-themed product and the first principal-protected note linked to an ESG- themed index in Canadian history. Uhren and a colleague recently organized a power of attorney clinic in partnership with Pro Bono Ontario, which is providing powers of attorney for 19 patients from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. JOHN A.D. VELLONE Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Toronto John Vellone practises corporate/com- mercial and regulatory law with a focus on energy law and matters relating to the Ontario electricity sector. He specializes in the corporate/commercial and regulatory components of electricity markets and in- frastructure revitalization. He advises the senior management teams of more than 25 local distribution utilities across Ontario on such matters, including representing them in hearings before the Ontario Ener- gy Board (OEB). He also advises clients on negotiations and disputes with Ontario's major transmitter. Vellone is a Member of the Board of ZooShare Biogas Co-oper- ative Inc., which is developing a 500kW biogas electricity generation facility at the Toronto Zoo. He is a Board Member of the Alpine Club of Canada (Toronto Section) and a volunteer for the Ontario Access Co- alition. He also finds time to mentor BLG students and associates. YOLA S. VENTRESCA Lerners LLP London, Ont. Yola Ventresca has a broad litigation prac- tice at Lerners LLP in London, Ontario, focused on three areas. She acts on medical defence cases, where she assists regulated health professionals in resolving a variety of issues with their regulators and in de- fending against civil actions. She acts in complex areas here, including sexual abuse, compromised infant cases and privacy breaches. She is one of two partners at Le- rners appointed to a small group to advise on medical assistance in dying. She also acts on administrative/labour law matters and on plaintiff class actions. She is the Chair of the St. Joseph's Hospice Hand- bags for Hospice Committee. She leads Lerners' Shoebox Project for Shelters effort and is a Board Member of the McCormick Care Group, which is dedicated to demen- tia care. She is also a Member of the Chil- dren's Health Foundation Magical Winter Ball Committee. MARK WISEMAN Sobeys Inc. Stellarton, Nova Scotia Mark Wiseman is Director, Legal Ser- vices at Sobeys Inc. He participated in the company's acquisition of Canada Safeway (the largest retail acquisition in Canada at the time) and was a key leader in the necessary and highly complex real estate due diligence work. He also played a key role in Sobeys' 2015 acquisition of COOP Atlantic. In addition, Wiseman has handled a wide range of complex files, which include pharmacy, fuel and all areas of the business. Wiseman has a particular focus on Environmental Law. He is very involved in his community, including in an effort to sponsor and re- settle three Syrian refugee families in Pic- tou County. From 2012 until its strategic amalgamation into a provincial entity in 2016, Wiseman was a Board Member and Vice-President of the Pictou County Early Intervention program. JACK YONG Lawson Lundell LLP Vancouver Jack Yong is a partner and leader of the China Initiative with Lawson Lundell's Vancouver office, practising corporate and commercial law and providing clients with strategic counsel in diverse areas of business law. He has assisted Chinese clients in ac- quiring or investing in major commercial real estate properties. Balancing particu- lar needs and concerns of Chinese clients against Canadian market realities and the demands of institutional counterparties, he is able to use his cultural aptitude in both markets to help move deals forward. Yong's community activities include being a Board Member of the Vancouver Asian Film Festival and being a Member on the Board of Advisors of Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC), which is dedicated to providing high school and university education to impoverished young women from rural regions of Western China through financial sponsorship, personal support and mentorship. | RISING STARS | LEXPERT MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 63