On June 3, 2025, the Canadian legal community gathered at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto to celebrate the 20th edition of the Canadian General Counsel Awards (CGCA)—an evening that honoured the country’s most accomplished and inspiring in-house counsel.
Founded by ZSA in partnership with the Financial Post, the CGCA is Canada’s benchmark-setting and leading recognition program for excellence in in-house legal leadership. Over the past two decades, this event has become a cornerstone for celebrating innovation, impact, and integrity in the legal profession.
A Milestone Year
This 20th anniversary edition was especially meaningful. From the red carpet arrivals to the standing ovations, the energy in the room reflected not only pride in individual accomplishments but also a shared commitment to excellence in the field of corporate law.
The evening featured a moving tribute to John Laidlaw, KC, recipient of this year’s BLG Stephen Sigurdson Lifetime Achievement Award. His decades-long legacy of leadership, mentorship, and professionalism served as a powerful reminder of the values that define the in-house counsel community.
Honouring the 2025 Award Recipients
Ten outstanding legal professionals were recognized for their exceptional contributions across a range of categories. From governance to innovation, their work continues to shape the future of legal practice in Canada.
2025 CGCA Recipients:
John Laidlaw, KC, BLG Stephen Sigurdson Lifetime Achievement Award
Dominic Paradis, Canadian General Counsel of the Year Award
Patrice Walch-Watson, McCarthy Tétrault Innovation Award
Shara Roy, Blakes Judy L. Wilson Diversity Award
Carlton Mathias, ESG Award
Doug Nathanson, Business Achievement Award
Kristin Taylor, Litigation Management Award
Dinesh Ramanathan, Mid-Market Excellence Award
Michèle Lefaivre, Osler Purdy Crawford Deal Making Award
Kosta Starostin, Sun Life Tomorrow’s Leader Award
Congratulations once again to all the recipients and nominees, your vision, leadership, and dedication have left a lasting mark.
Introducing the WGCC Hall of Distinction & Vanguard Award
This year also marked the inaugural presentation of the WGCC Hall of Distinction & Vanguard Award, sponsored by ZSA in partnership with Women General Counsel Canada (WGCC). This new honour celebrates women General Counsel who have paved the way for others through advocacy, leadership, and impact.
Seven women leaders were recognized for their exceptional career contributions. Their stories were a highlight of the evening and a powerful symbol of progress and inclusion within the profession.
Among the 2025 recipients:
The Honourable Justice Julia S. Shin Doi, Judge at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Bindu Cudjoe, Principal and Strategic Advisor at Bindustries Consulting Inc
Cheryl A. Foy, President at Strategic Governance Consulting Services Ltd
Elspeth Hagan, Senior Counsel at TD Bank Financial Group
Alexa Abiscott, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary at ApplyBoard
Lara Speirs, Chief Legal Officer & EVP Public Affairs at Randstad
Heather L. Mullen, VP, Law & Corporate Secretary (Canada), US Legal Lead Customer Development at Kenvue Canada
Thank You to Our Partners and Community
A heartfelt thank you to all our sponsors, partners, and guests who made this milestone edition possible. Your continued support allows us to recognize the achievements of in-house counsel and foster a stronger, more connected legal community across Canada.
Thank you to the Financial Post, Blakes, Borden Ladner Gervais, Cassels, Deloitte, Dentons, Gowling WLG, Lenczner Slaght, McCarthy Tétrault, NRF, Osler, Sun Life, Women General Counsel Canada, Altitude/C and Dean Davidson.