Twelve New Partners Strengthen Bennett Jones Leadership Across Key Sectors

Bennett Jones is pleased to announce the introduction of twelve lawyers to the partnership: Margaret (Meg) Bennett, Nina Butz, Kees de Ridder, Alexis Fol, Laura James, Samantha Lush, Tyler McDonough, Shelby Morrison, Mike O'Grady, Bronwynn Shaw, Jenna Vivian and Xenia Wong. This group brings exceptional strength across several of the firm’s most significant practice areas, from complex disputes and regulatory matters to market‑shaping transactions and critical advisory work in high‑growth industries. Their experience and leadership will further strengthen our service to clients across all major sectors of the Canadian and global economy.

Margaret (Meg) Bennett acts on a broad range of complex, bet-the-company commercial litigation and arbitration matters. She has extensive experience with breach of contract claims, fraud and employment matters, investigations, injunctive relief, commercial real estate disputes and insurance coverage issues.

Nina Butz has a diverse commercial litigation practice with a focus on class actions, including product liability, privacy and consumer protection, systemic negligence and competition matters. Her practice frequently involves national and cross border disputes, multi-jurisdictional issues and high-profile, business-critical cases. Nina's practice also regularly includes appellate litigation, where she has handled a wide range of appeals, including on novel issues of law, at all levels of court.

Kees de Ridder is a skilled technology lawyer, patent agent and trademark agent, with a practice focused on intellectual property and privacy. He has significant experience in managing complex IP portfolios and prosecuting patent and trademark applications. He regularly advises clients on information security and breach mitigation, as well as IP, IT and privacy aspects of commercial transactions.

Alexis Fol practice focuses on infrastructure project development, project finance, P3s and investment in the infrastructure and energy sectors across Canada. He works with private and public entities on developing tenders and the drafting and negotiation of commercial and partnership agreements. Alexis brings international experience from his time working abroad on projects in Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Laura James maintains a broad corporate and commercial law practice, advising private companies, fund sponsors, institutional investors and not-for-profit organizations on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, with a primary focus on mergers and acquisitions. She has extensive experience in complex mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and divestitures, fund formations, complex corporate reorganizations, shareholder disputes and venture capital investments.

Samantha Lush has a diverse practice in commercial real estate law, advising clients in relation to leasing, acquisitions and dispositions, real estate advice on mergers and acquisitions, real estate-based financing, property development (including condominium projects) and transactions involving distressed properties. Her real estate expertise includes all sizes and varieties of properties, including office, retail, mixed-use, industrial, multi-family, agricultural and bare land properties.

Tyler McDonough advises clients on large-scale commercial disputes. Tyler has deep experience in bet-the-company litigation, having prepared for and acted in multiple months-long trials with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. Organized, strategic and efficient, Tyler provides thoughtful advice to companies navigating complex disputes and works hard to achieve targeted outcomes for all his clients.

Shelby Morrison is an IP and life science regulatory lawyer. Her IP practice focuses on trademark and copyright matters, including litigation and prosecution. Shelby advises clients on strategies to protect and enforce their intellectual property. She also supports clients in IP commercialization, licensing and transactional matters across a wide range of industries. Shelby provides regulatory and compliance advice related to cannabis, food, medical devices, natural health products and pharmaceuticals.

Mike O'Grady practice focuses on real estate financings, including syndicated and bilateral secured lending, project and construction loans, revolving credit facilities and traditional mortgage term loans across all commercial asset classes. Mike also advises on acquisitions, dispositions, co ownerships, joint ventures, development projects and leasing.

Bronwynn Shaw advises clients on a broad range of corporate commercial and securities matters, including M&A, capital markets transactions and corporate governance issues. Her experience includes public and private M&A transactions, restructurings, public offerings, private placements, shareholder activism and advising public issuers on disclosure obligations and securities law compliance.

Jenna Vivian acts for clients in mining, construction, oil and gas, shareholder and contract disputes. She assists organizations with regulatory compliance, workplace investigations, OHS issues and employment law matters, including policy development, terminations, human rights complaints and due diligence in transactions. Jenna also represents physicians in regulatory and malpractice matters.

Xenia Wong practices Canadian corporate law in New York, advising US based and international clients on complex cross border transactions, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions and private equity. She brings international experience from leading law firms in Singapore, Hong Kong and London, as well as in house secondments with Bank of America and Deutsche Bank, where she advised on securities and M&A matters.

About Bennett Jones

Bennett Jones is one of Canada’s premier business law firms and home to 500 lawyers and business advisors. With deep experience in complex transactions and litigation matters, the firm advises businesses and investors with Canadian ventures and connects Canadian businesses and investors with opportunities around the world. Serving clients since 1922, we are proud to be the firm that businesses trust with their most complex legal matters.