Biography
Warren established his own legal search firm in 1996 before he co-founded ZSA Legal Recruitment in 1997. As President, Co-Founder, Warren manages lawyer recruitment and headhunting operations and focuses his practice on partner-level hires and special in-house assignments. He also has expertise in legal team moves and law firm mergers.
Prior to co-founding ZSA, Warren practiced law for several years in the corporate finance department of Blaney McMurtry LLP. During his time there, Warren established a professional sports agency firm, specializing in the representation of NHL players.
Warren was called to the Ontario Bar in 1993 and obtained his law degree from the University of Western Ontario and his bachelor of arts from York University. Warren spent 6 years sitting on the Board of Directors at The York School, an independent school in Toronto (“TYS”). Warren was also Chair of the Board of TYS for 2 of those 6 years. Warren is also a past board member and president of the University of Western Ontario Law Alumni Association (“UWOLAA”) and the Entrepreneurs Organization, Toronto Chapter (“EO”). Currently, Warren sits on the board of the University of Western Ontario Alumni Association.
Warren’s considerable experience and track record make him a sought after speaker on the subject of legal recruitment, retention and law firm management.
President | Co-Founder
(416) 477-2501
wbongard@zsa.ca
Success stories
I was placed as Managing Counsel and dealt with Warren Bongard. I engaged ZSA and was asked to apply through them. My experience with Warren was excellent and he was very responsive and approachable. He took the time to get to know me; he kept me updated on the recruitment process; and, I really liked his honest and personal approach. The value that he brought to the hiring process was providing me with insights that helped me prepare for interviews. It was so helpful to have the support of the team and to be able to contact them with my questions. I have used other recruiters in the past but I liked the personal attention and support I received from ZSA and everyone was very responsive and caring. I felt comfortable dealing with Warren and the firm and I did not have that experience with other recruiters. Thank you ZSA for helping me find the perfect job.
Managing Counsel
Financial Services CompanyI dealt with Warren Bongard at ZSA and my experience with him was excellent. I really valued the constant touch points, lots of follow up, and quick turnaround. I would use the services of ZSA again in the future.
Seema Sawhney
Director, HR and Talent Acquisition | Sofina Foods Inc.We were looking to hire a Legal Counsel (Construction Claims) and dealt with Warren Bongard. No efforts were made prior to procuring the services of ZSA and we needed their market knowledge and contacts to locate suitable candidates. Warren and his team were very attentive and found us two very appropriate candidates. They did not flood my inbox with sub-par candidates and integrated feedback in future searches. The team’s salary and talent market knowledge was especially helpful for us to locate candidates matching our needs. We have used other recruiters in the past but ZSA was more attentive and we will use their services again in the future.
Vicky Tuquero
General Counsel | Windsor-Detroit Bridge AuthorityI had started to look at jobs online without a lot of seriousness and Warren was recommended to me by a family member who connected us. My experience with him was excellent and the value that Warren brought to the hiring process was finding the right position for me and negotiating on my behalf. I had never used a recruiter before and Warren was a huge help. He listened to me when I told him what I was looking for and found the right position at what I am confident will be the right firm!
Alex Whitehead
Junior Litigation Associate | BYLD LLPWarren reached out to me about a VP, Business & Legal Affairs position. My experience with him was excellent and he provided good communication – even reaching out on a weekend, which helped facilitate a conversation with the company. Warren also made the process of info-gathering easier for me and helped cut through some of the formality, allowing more casual one on one conversations with the company.
Nghia Nguyen
VP, Business and Legal Affairs | WildBrainI engaged ZSA because of my previous experience with them. Dealing with Warren Bongard was excellent. He was responsive and is very knowledgeable of the legal industry and its talent. Warren is one of the best and so is ZSA. I found value in the level of candidate matches to role and expectations. I have used ZSA in the past and will use them again in the future.
Nathalie Clark
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | Computershare CanadaI reached out to ZSA as we needed to hire a partner for our firm. I dealt with Warren Bongard who is always great to work with and was helpful at discussing the compensation to offer and suggested terms with the candidate. What was particularly helpful was the feedback Warren gave on timing; the compensation to offer; and his availability to speak when needed. I’ve used other recruiters in the past however, ZSA was a good part of the process and it is always nice to work with Warren directly.
Daniel Lublin
Partner | Whitten & LublinI engaged Warren Bongard of ZSA as colleagues spoke highly of him from previous engagements. Working with Warren was excellent. He is professional, flexible, and has been effective for us. What I found to be of value in the hiring process was the high quality candidates, greater volume of candidates, and it was all well coordinated. Warren’s experience and his appreciation for our high-bar needs was key. I would use ZSA again in the future.
Blair Lill
Chief Operating Officer | Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLPI engaged ZSA because I had heard fantastic things about them from a mentor of mine. Prior to contacting them I had done some of my own job searching and reached out to a couple other recruiters. My experience dealing with Warren Bongard was excellent and truly could not have been a more enjoyable process. Warren is the ultimate professional. He was engaged, supportive and proactive. His approach was thoughtful and collegial and instilled confidence in me that I was working with someone who was more than superficially interested in my success. What I found particularly helpful was their well-established connections with a wide variety of law firms, from national Bay Street firms to regional boutiques, coupled with the knowledge of the work environment and “fit” for each. Before contacting ZSA I had a couple conversations with Robert Half and Mirillion Group, but both were subpar in leads and their approach. ZSA is truly a preeminent firm that provides exceptional service. This should be your first call if you are seeking to explore your career options.
Rebecca Curcio
Associate | DentonsWe were hiring for an associate lawyer position and reached out to ZSA because of our past experience, their reputation, and they don’t send me unqualified candidates. Working with Warren was excellent in that I was only referred candidates who met the criteria I was looking for. There were no efforts to “sell’ me on people who didn’t meet the profile and we found the perfect person to fill the role. We tried to find the right person ourselves, and via our network, without success and ZSA was able to find the right person for us almost immediately. We have used other recruiters in the past but ZSA is much better and we will use then again in the future.
Robert L. Colson
Partner | Teplitsky, Colson LLPWe reached out to Warren Bongard and Orit Sinai, as we were looking to hire a General Counsel for our company. ZSA came highly recommended and overall, our experience working with both Warren and Orit was excellent – they were clearly very experienced and made the process very predictable and smooth. They approach the project with a great attitude and knowledge of the field. They were intuitive and quickly developed a good feel for our company and what we were looking for. The process moved fast but did not feel rushed. Warren and Orit fully understood the nuances of what we were looking for. Our request was to start with a wide variety of choices and then – after interviews started – narrow down the scope. I thought ZSA did a great job of giving us a broad spectrum of candidates so that we could get a three-dimensional feel for the “right” candidate. Also – everything was extremely “user-friendly.” The interview summaries and CVs were very helpful, as were the efforts to arrange the interviews throughout the organization. We would definitely use ZSA again.
David Miller
Co-Founder, General Counsel | The Flowr CorporationI saw an exciting opportunity posted by ZSA and made contact with Warren Bongard as my consultant, which resulted in being placed as an Associate. Warren was excellent and the lines of communication were always open which allowed things to move very swiftly and positively. What was great in the hiring process was the guidance at each step as every firm is different so it was most helpful.
I dealt with Warren Bongard and Orit Sinai at ZSA because of their stellar reputation and access to a broad net of candidates. Working with them was excellent – as good as can be due to their expedient service which resulted in getting a great new hire. They brought tremendous value to the hiring process in that they identified a good pool of candidates that fit our hiring criteria. We have used other recruiters in the past but ZSA is results driven and was able to provide the best pool of candidates. We will definitely use their services again in the future.
Eli Cranley
Senior Legal Counsel | Canerector Inc.Warren handled our search for an Employment Law lawyer. Our search needed to be confidential and although we reached out within our external counsel network, we could not find a suitable candidate. Working with Warren was excellent. He was very responsive and only qualified candidates were brought forward who were high quality and well screened. The screening was particularly of great value and saved considerable time and effort in the recruiting process. I would use ZSA again in the future as the need arises.
Eric Notkin
CGI Inc.Warren handled our search for a Senior VP and General Counsel. I engaged ZSA due to their specialization in legal affairs. Working was Warren was really good – especially with the sourcing and screening process. I would definitely use the services of ZSA again!
Stacy Brown
Livingston International Inc.We engaged ZSA looking to support the ongoing lateral growth of our firm. Warren was excellent, as he was able to identify and recruit strong candidates in a short order. Over the years, ZSA has been a strong partner in our firm’s growth. I have used other recruiters in the past, and ZSA compares favourably.
Mark Shapiro
Partner and Canadian Litigation Practice Group Chair | Dickinson Wright LLPI contacted ZSA seeking career guidance and placement and my experience with Warren was excellent. I always felt like I was being considered as he checked in consistently with me. Warren was able to set up meetings with firms that were within my scope of interest – I never felt like I was being forced to consider firms that were not a fit for me. I have used other recruitment firms in the past, but ZSA was the best experience and very professional. I would very much use ZSA’s services again, although I hope that I don’t have need of them again! Thanks ZSA.
Wayne Lewis
Beard Winter LLPOrit and Warren totally owned my search and presented amazing opportunities in quick succession. (I dare say I almost could not keep up!) The team was very professional and had a calmness that showed a deep familiarity with the hiring process. I have dealt with several other recruiters, including outside Canada. In comparison, ZSA is unrivalled by all standards of measurement I can conjure. The confidence of ZSA’s clients is apparent in the sheer volume and variety of opportunities that were brought to my attention. I would absolutely use ZSA again and I’d also recommend to others – clients and candidates alike.
O. Oshen
Legal CounselI worked with Warren Bongard and Orit Sinai, who were both exceptional from start to finish. They were interested in understanding my goals and objectives and responsive in answering my questions along the way. They made the whole process as painless as possible. I particularly appreciated the fact that they spent the time to explain the market to me in advance of my interviews so I knew what points to emphasize with firms during the recruiting process. I would use ZSA again, without a doubt. They would be my first call if I am ever looking to make another move.
Mid-Level Associate Placement
Borden Ladner Gervais LLPI worked with Warren when interviewing for a legal counsel position. Warren was excellent. He was particularly helpful in coordinating the logistics of my offer package. I would definitely use ZSA’s services again and recommend ZSA.
Lauren Lefcoe
OpenText CorporationHaving utilized ZSA in past searches, we initiated contact with them right away. Working with Warren was an excellent experience – he understood our needs, and the process was quick in presenting vetted candidates. He was able to provide confirmation of market data for in-house legal counsel as well as being able to share the motivations of the potential candidates. I would use the services of ZSA again, and would recommend that others contact them as well.
Alicia Flynn
Human Resources Manager | NWMOWarren and Siobhan were excellent! I was looking for supplementary contract work, and they found me a great position as Contract Counsel. Since it was an unadvertised position, I would not have known about it without their help. I haven’t had success with any other recruitment agency before and will definitely use ZSA again.
Jessica Bookman
I engaged the services of ZSA after I had seen a posting on their website I was interested in. My experience with ZSA was excellent – Warren Bongard contacted me and assisted in securing my position as Senior Legal Counsel, helped me negotiate salary and benefits and gave me advice I may not have received otherwise. Warren advocated for me, getting me things I wasn’t confident I’d receive in my offer. He was always available, gave great advice and insight. ZSA was absolutely wonderful and I would definitely use their services again.
Jason Lewis
Senior Legal Counsel | WSPI contacted Warren Bongard at ZSA after seeing an ad in the Ontario Reports. I hadn’t used a recruiter before and my experience with ZSA was excellent. Warren had great knowledge of the firm and acted as a sounding board for my questions and concerns. I would definitely use ZSA’s services again.
Katy Pitch
Wildeboer DellelceI saw a posting in the ORs, and contacted Warren Bongard to discuss further. Warren was great in all respects: timely, accommodating to my schedule, he followed-up and kept me in the loop throughout the process. I have used other recruiters in the past, and while both experiences were positive, ZSA seemed better aware of the exact needs/interests of the clients, which was helpful. Should I have a need in the future I would definitely contact Warren again.
Teresa Tropea
Vanguard InvestmentsZSA have been the most helpful recruitment company I have ever dealt with. Very efficient service from the initial introduction phone call, to the final ‘congrats’ email, ZSA exceeded my expectations and I will certainly recommend ZSA to my contacts. Working with Warren, Lana and Sanoja brought great value to the process as they kept me updated throughout, which I found very reassuring. I have worked with other recruiters in the past, and I have found ZSA to be the best – they made the recruitment process enjoyable.
Louise Meegan
Warren had originally reached out to me with a prospective opportunity in 2012 and we maintained semi-regular telephone contact since then about prospective placements. I was not otherwise looking for a change, but Warren always had interesting prospects for my consideration. My experience with ZSA has been excellent – Warren is professional, engaging, knowledgeable and approachable. I often called him for advice during the offer negotiation process and felt that he was a valuable and reliable resource in navigating the discussions. Warren was very supportive throughout the process and made himself available at any time for my questions. He gave me periodic updates, was very encouraging and made the process much easier than I had anticipated. I had been in my previous position for twelve years, so the prospect of moving firms was very intimidating and foreign, but Warren was instrumental in easing the stress of the decision-making process and the finalization of the offer acceptance. Over the years, I have been called by various recruiters and have found them to be pushy, overbearing and that they generally have missed the mark in identifying appropriate opportunities (misunderstand my practice, etc.). Warren is by far the best recruiter I have dealt with and I have highly recommended him to various contacts of mine who are looking for a legal career change. I am very appreciative of the opportunity Warren has secured for me at McMillan LLP and am very much looking forward to my start date! Thank you, ZSA!
Lydia Pilch
McMillan LLPZSA is our preferred choice of legal recruiting partner. I have always found them enormously responsive, thorough and pragmatic. ZSA recruiters have a keen understanding of our business and are very diligent in their efforts to understand our hiring needs. This shows in the quality and suitability of the candidates that they present to us for consideration.
Simon A. Fish
Executive Vice President & General Counsel | BMO Financial GroupI worked with Warren Bongard and Travis Usher on securing a candidate for our vacancy. OBSI was specifically looking for a lawyer to fulfil a Deputy, Ombudsman role. I knew that ZSA could find candidates that had the unique characteristics we were looking for. I’ve known Warren forever and he’s always managed to find excellent candidates. My experience was excellent. ZSA has specific knowledge that allows a recruit to speed along. The fees are reasonable as compared to others. I would definitely use ZSA’s services again.
Krista Derksen
OBSIThey presented us an excellent pool of accomplished, top quality candidates from which to choose. They were prompt, responsive and highly professional. They added significant value to our search efforts. I would highly recommend the services of ZSA to any firm or company looking to attract high quality legal talent.
Andrew Black
Former President & CEO | Virgin Mobile CanadaThroughout our seven-year history with ZSA, they have proven a valuable partner time and again. In particular, I am pleased with the excellent service we receive from Warren Bongard, Christopher Sweeney and others at ZSA. Their dedication to our relationship is impressive, their knowledge of the Canadian legal scene is excellent and the candidates they bring match what we are looking for. I highly recommend ZSA.
Winn Oughtred
Former Managing Partner | Borden Ladner Gervais LLPWe contacted Warren as I had worked with him before in the past. Overall, my experience in working with Warren was excellent! What I appreciated the most was the very qualified short list of candidates with different experience. I would definitely use ZSA again!
Tracy Connelly McGilley
VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary | Vector AerospaceMy main contact at ZSA, Warren Bongard, is a highly ethical, dedicated and professional recruiter. Over the years Warren has helped me find and hire securities lawyers, general counsel, litigators, and clerical staff – and his track record remains virtually infallible.
Krista Derksen
Director, Human Resources | Canadian Bankers AssociationI was most impressed with ZSA’s speed of service as they guided us through a successful search for our Corporate Counsel position. Where our previous internal efforts took three months, Warren Bongard helped us achieve a result in three weeks. We looked for ZSA to guide us through the process and keep the project on track and Warren responded swiftly. From the outset, Warren’s depth of knowledge proved invaluable. The considerable time he spent with us at the outset to help us clearly define our requirements ultimately made for a very efficient search and a desirable outcome.
Paul Dykeman
CEO | Summit ReitZSA brings a valuable skill set when it comes to sourcing legal professionals. Their specialized process for attracting and screening brings us high caliber and appropriately qualified candidates. Warren Bongard at ZSA has always been very intuitive and thorough in his commitment to understanding our needs at UBS. In my experience with ZSA, the outcome is worth the investment.
Thomas Johnston
Former Executive Director, Legal Counsel, Chief Compliance and Risk Officer | UBS Global Asset ManagementI contacted ZSA because I had used Warren Bongard in the past. I did contact another recruiter, but did not proceed with them. Warren is excellent in every respect. He understands the market, he understands your needs and he knows the right strategy. He is also a believer and will never give up. He is excellent in following up and communicating. I’ve used a recruiter once before and ZSA was by far my best experience!
Anonymous Candidate
ZSA helped us with that and we had a lovely experience. Warren was very proactive and also very helpful in setting expectations – my expectations and the candidates expectations as to compensation, culture and development opportunities. We will use the services of ZSA again!
Donna Parish
Associate General Counsel, Litigation Management, P&C Canada | BMOWarren Bongard of ZSA Placement has successfully placed about 30 lawyers with the firm of Fogler, Rubinoff LLP (“FR”), of which I am the Managing Partner. The vast majority of the lawyers that Warren has placed with FR are still with us, and many have become equity partners. I would have no hesitation in recommending ZSA Placement, and in particular Warren Bongard, to anyone seeking to hire legal talent or to any lawyers interested in re-locating their practices.
Michael H. Appleton, Q.C.
Managing Partner | Fogler, Rubinoff LLPWarren Bongard assisted me in obtaining the Associate Chief Counsel position at John Deere Credit. Overall, working with Warren was excellent! He provided me with advice and guidance at each stage of the process. I would definitely use ZSA again!
Steve Watson
Associate Chief Counsel | John Deere CreditWarren Bongard managed our search for Lead Counsel. It was an excellent experience working with Warren! Warren provided trustworthy advice and guidance throughout the entire process. We will definitely use ZSA’s services again.
Brian Wise
AssurantIt was an excellent experience working with Warren Bongard at ZSA. Warren’s in-depth understanding of the applicants and his attention to the specific requirements for the role were particularly helpful during the hiring process. I would definitely recommend ZSA to other companies and use their services again.
Aurelio Baglione
Winchester Financial GroupI really enjoyed working with Warren. Warren and his team at ZSA were very patient, professional and client-focused. I would definitely use ZSA’s services again and recommend ZSA to other companies.
Christy O’Connor-Khan
The Weather NetworkI really enjoyed working with Warren! He was very straight forward and found opportunities that were perfectly suited to my interests and expectations. Warren is very professional and I appreciate all of his hard work.
Sara Diament
It was an excellent experience working with Warren! Warren had the foresight to match me with a complementary firm with a niche focus, which I would not have considered before. Warren was a very helpful resource throughout the recruitment process and very encouraging. I would definitely recommend ZSA’s services.
Miriam Tepperman
Having known Warren for many years, we engaged ZSA because of their reputation for excellence, and they did not disappoint. Warren was extremely well-informed about the candidates, and honest about their capabilities. What we found very valuable was Warren’s solid understanding of our firm’s needs and his honesty and integrity in advancing particular candidates to satisfy those needs. We would definitely use ZSA’s services again in the future.
Paul Stoyan
Gardiner Roberts LLPZSA is the leader in legal recruitment and they have the best candidates. They were also able to meet our insanely tight timeline. Of particular value is ZSA’s organization throughout the recruitment process, including coordination with candidates, and assistance/advice when making the final deal with the preferred candidate. ZSA is exponentially better compared to other recruiters and we will continue to use their services.
Stu Miller
Senior Vice President, Financial Operations | SkyPowerWe worked with Warren in our search for an associate lawyer. Having used ZSA in the past successfully, we went straight to ZSA again. Our experience with ZSA has been excellent. Warren is great at narrowing down the field of suitable candidates and completing salary negotiations. We have always used ZSA and will continue to do so.
Marc Isaacs
Isaacs & Co.ZSA brings a lot of value to the hiring process. Rather than simply filling my inbox with resumes like some other recruiters, ZSA worked to ensure I only saw resumes they had vetted and believed were suitable. Warren also provided me with tables and spreadsheets of candidate assessments and summaries with rankings and high-level notes. ZSA’s approach is different than my experience with other recruiters, which has involved little analysis or follow up. Working with Warren and ZSA in general was excellent and I will use them again.
Jeffrey Ellis
Canadian Pacific RailwayWe knew ZSA would find us a great candidate. All of the candidates presented by ZSA fit our search very well, as Warren was able to find candidates that were exactly what we were looking for. We will definitely use ZSA’s services again!
Heather Devine
Partner | Isaacs & Co.Warren Bongard handled our search for an Employment and Pensions Counsel. We engaged ZSA because we have a longstanding relationship and have always been pleased with the results, professionalism and cost. Warren provided us with a good selection of candidates and a trusted view of their strengths, weaknesses and fit to us. We will continue to use ZSA in the future.
Anonymous
After checking with my own contacts, I enlisted Warren to assist in our search to hire a labour lawyer. Working with Warren was an excellent experience; we got what we needed in good time and he was able to accomplish what I hadn’t been able to do on my own. I will use the services of ZSA again.
Hugh Christie
OgletreeWildeboer and ZSA have a long history together. We contacted ZSA because Warren has familiarity with our needs and had a connection with a top candidate. We have used other recruiters in the past and our experience with ZSA has been excellent. Warren had timely responses, good advice and obviously a good rapport/trust with the candidate. I will be using ZSA’s services again.
Kevin Dane
Wildeboer DellelceI saw a posting in the ORs, and contacted Warren Bongard to discuss further. Warren was great in all respects: timely, accommodating to my schedule, he followed-up and kept me in the loop throughout the process. I have used other recruiters in the past, and while both experiences were positive, ZSA seemed better aware of the exact needs/interests of the clients, which was helpful. Should I have a need in the future I would definitely contact Warren again.
Teresa Tropea
Vanguard InvestmentsWarren was responsive and attentive while handling our search in an area difficult to recruit in, and was able to successfully deliver a top notch candidate. We regularly use ZSA for our recruitment needs, and will continue to do so in the future.