Bryan Canning

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Brief

canada, issue 3 · nov 9, 2026

Canadian lawyers collect titles beyond Canada.

McCarthy Tétrault took three ITR Americas tax awards, four Dentons Canada partners became global practice leaders and Goodmans' Andrew Brodkin won a Lexology Index patents award, while Miller Thomson and Aird & Berlis added partners at home.

6 min read

ranking / awardNov 2 · McCarthy Tétrault

McCarthy Tétrault takes three ITR Americas Tax Awards

At the 2026 International Tax Review Americas Tax Awards in New York on Oct 29, McCarthy Tétrault won Indirect Tax Firm of the Year for both Canada and the Americas, and Co-Head of Tax Raj Juneja was named Tax Practice Leader of the Year: North America. The firm announced the wins on Nov 2, noting its indirect tax team also took the Canada title in 2024 and describing its tax group as the largest among Canada's leading full-service firms.

why it matters

A regional title (Americas) and a named practice leader give McCarthy a cross-border tax story, not just a domestic one. Expect the 'largest tax practice' claim to show up in pitches; rivals should have their own size and depth numbers ready.

source Raj Juneja and McCarthy Tétrault's Indirect Tax Team Honoured at the 2026 ITR Americas Tax Awards

leadershipNov 6 · Dentons Canada

Four Dentons Canada partners named global practice leaders

Dentons' Global Management Committee named a slate of global practice leaders on three-year terms, and four are in Canada: Kimberly Burns (Vancouver) as Corporate/M&A co-chair, Esme Cragg (Toronto) as Real Estate co-chair, Kenneth Kraft (Toronto) as Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy co-chair, and Larry Nevsky (Toronto) as Tax deputy. Global CEO Kate Barton said the framework is meant to make the firm more accessible and consistent for clients.

why it matters

Four of the global practice seats sit in Canada, which Dentons Canada can use to show clients it shapes the global firm rather than just feeding it. Competitors selling 'Canadian firm, global reach' face a sharper counter-pitch.

sources Dentons appoints new global practice leaders to enhance the global client experience Dentons' new global practice heads include four across Toronto, Vancouver

ranking / awardNov 6 · Goodmans

Goodmans' Andrew Brodkin wins a Lexology Index patents award

Goodmans partner Andrew Brodkin was named IP – Patents Lawyer of the Year at the Lexology Index Awards 2026, which cover more than 70 jurisdictions. The firm says it is his eighth 'Lawyer of the Year' recognition since 2024; he heads Goodmans' Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group and co-chairs its IP Group.

why it matters

Goodmans is turning one partner's run of awards into a firm-level IP brand. Counting the recognitions ('eighth since 2024') is a simple, repeatable way to make a star practitioner's profile compound.

source Goodmans Awarded at the Lexology Index Awards 2026

lateral hireNov 2 · Miller Thomson

Miller Thomson adds Jason Wang to its Calgary corporate team

Miller Thomson announced that Jason Wang joined its Corporate, M&A and Securities Group in Calgary as a partner, effective immediately. He advises companies, issuers, underwriters and agents on M&A, equity and debt financings and capital markets work. Business Law Group chair Jay Hoffman tied the hire to Antonio Nadaira's arrival in Montréal and the Mogan Daniels Slager team joining in Vancouver.

why it matters

Miller Thomson is presenting its laterals as one national build-out, not one-off hires. Framing each arrival as part of a series is a cheap way to make a mid-market firm look like it has momentum.

source Miller Thomson expands Calgary Corporate, M&A and Securities team with Jason Wang as Partner

lateral hireNov 4 · Aird & Berlis

Aird & Berlis adds real estate partner Aleksandra Finelli

Aird & Berlis announced that Aleksandra Finelli joined its Real Estate Group as a partner. Her practice covers commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, development, leasing and financing. On the financing side she acts for senior and mezzanine lenders and for borrowers, with a focus on construction financing. Her clients include institutional investors, pension funds, REITs and developers.

why it matters

Construction-lending experience is a targeted addition to the firm's Real Estate Group. The firm also put her on its homepage banner, a quick signal that the hire is a priority.

source Aird & Berlis Welcomes New Partner Aleksandra Finelli

ranking / awardNov 3 · McCarthy Tétrault

McCarthy Tétrault's François Giroux inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers

McCarthy Tétrault announced that Montréal partner François M. Giroux, co-head of its class actions group, was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers at its annual meeting in New York. Fellowship is by invitation only and requires at least 15 years of trial experience.

why it matters

An invitation-only US credential gives a Montréal litigator a cross-border signal clients recognize. It is McCarthy's second cross-border honour in a week, after its ITR Americas wins.

source Partner François Giroux admitted to the American College of Trial Lawyers

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