Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi highlight 2014 CCCA National Conference

  • March 07, 2014

Toronto — Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin will headline the Canadian Bar Association’s (CBA) Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA) 2014 National Conference. The Chief Justice’s talk is titled Women and the Law: A Look at the Past and the Future. 

The conference, Energy Matters, takes place April 6-8 in Calgary at the Westin Calgary. “The conference theme is a nod to the host city of Calgary, but more importantly, is symbolic of the passion and enthusiasm demonstrated by in-house counsel across the country, as well as the growth and influence of the in-house profession,” says CCCA Chair Heather Innes of Toronto.

Also addressing the conference is Naheed Nenshi, Mayor of Calgary, who will share the business continuance lessons learned during the Calgary flood. Jim Leech, recently retired President and CEO of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, and Jacquie McNish, senior writer with the Globe and Mail, will discuss their new book, The Third Rail: Confronting our Pension Failures.

On the conference agenda are 14 professional development workshops taking place on April 7 and 8. These programs, targeted specifically to in-house counsel’s unique needs, include the following:

  • Taking a Seat: Practical Tips on How to Get on a Board
  • Winds of Change: Canada EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
  • The Arrival of Anti-Corruption Enforcement in Canada: What you Need to Know to Protect Your Company
  • Powered by Privilege: Protecting Communications with Counsel
  • From a Spark to a Wildfire: Protecting your Brand and Reputation in the Digital Age
  • Resource and Energy Projects: Assessing, Managing and Mitigating Risk.

Conference Co-Chairs, Monique Mercier, Executive Vice-President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Telus, and Rob Van Walleghem, Executive Vice President HSE & General Counsel, Tervita Corporation, note that in-house counsel’s participation in the conference ensures better connections to peers and potential mentors from across Canada and the skills to deal with a variety of future challenges.

The 2014 CCCA award winners will be honoured at a gala dinner on April 7. Among the five awards being presented is the Robert V.A. Jones Award, recognizing excellence in corporate counsel service.

Full details about the 2014 CCCA National Conference are available on the conference microsite. Sessions are open to accredited media. Accreditation may be obtained by contacting Hannah Bernstein. 

An integral group within the 37,500-member CBA, the CCCA is dedicated to supporting and enhancing the interests of Canadian corporate counsel. CCCA provides uniquely Canadian perspectives, resources, tools, professional development, conferences, and peer-to-peer networking opportunities.