The fourth annual Canadian In-House Counsel Celebration, co-hosted by CBA In-House Lawyers and Legal 500, brought Canada's in-house legal community together on October 8 for an evening of recognition, dinner, and conversation.
In-house lawyers from across sectors and regions, along with the firms and service providers who support them, gathered in the Ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, to celebrate this year's award winners.
“As in-house lawyers, we do more than manage legal risk. We help shape how organizations think, decide, and grow.”
David Mousavi
2026–2027 President, CBA In-House Lawyers
2026 Award Winners
Congratulations to this year's winners, recognized by their peers for their leadership, innovation, and contributions to Canada's in-house legal community.
Action in Diversity & Inclusion
Recognizes concrete, original approaches to building diverse and inclusive workplaces, within an organization or across an industry.
2026 WINNER
Ashley Jane Butts — BDO Canada LLP
Ashley Jane Butts has turned a sustained commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into meaningful action. During her time at BASF, she was selected for the company's inaugural Global Legal DEI team, helping advance its mission across the global legal function. A respected speaker, mentor, and leader, she elevates and inspires others.
Finalists: Manitoba Hydro Legal Department, Melanie McGrath, CIBC Legal Department
In-House Counsel Up & Comer
Recognizes emerging counsel whose work stands out, through transactions, strategic initiatives, litigation, mentorship, or pro bono.
2026 WINNER
Cydney Kane — Nova Scotia Department of Justice
A government solicitor, transformative board chair, and passionate legal educator, Cydney Kane pairs complex public sector legal advice with community advocacy, mentorship, and access to justice. She mentors junior lawyers, chairs the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia, and is Vice-President of the Nova Scotia Young Lawyers’ Section.
Finalists: Justin DeMerchant, Agostino Lucarelli, Vivian Wilson, Kenny Okunola
Innovation Impacting the Profession
Recognizes legal departments that moved management forward in ways that go beyond technology.
2026 WINNER
Andrea Campbell — Greater Toronto Airports Authority
By combining AI-driven legal operations, disciplined change management, and innovative contracting models, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority Legal Department turned a complex control function into a modern, data-driven business enabler for the entire airport enterprise. It has built a repeatable model for improving service delivery at scale while preserving judgement and the trusted-advisor role.
Finalists: Jen Ruddick, Farah Ismail, PFX Group Legal Department
Employee Wellness Initiative of the Year
Recognizes departments that addressed workload stress with a specific wellness initiative.
2026 WINNER
Melanie McGrath — CBCL Limited
A visionary leader and EDIA champion at CBCL, Melanie McGrath turns commitment into impact by embedding equity, psychological safety, and meaningful inclusion at every level of her organization. Her work has strengthened CBCL’s ability to foster workplaces where people feel respected and empowered, and that are healthier and more authentic.
Transition to Business
Recognizes counsel who moved into business, strategic, or leadership roles such as HR, risk management, or finance.
2026 WINNER
Chuck Andary — Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
Chuck Andary leads the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority as Interim CEO and CLO through a complex, billion-dollar, bi-national project that drew daily headlines this summer. Legal peers and members of the judiciary praise his dispute resolution skills, strategic business acumen, and commitment to professional excellence.
Finalists: John Sulman, Luca Di Donato, Fernando Garcia
Legal Team of the Year
Recognizes a team whose work shifted boundaries and delivered exceptional outcomes within the Canadian in-house community.
2026 WINNER
Vancity Legal Affairs Team
Through a ground-up transformation, Vancity's lean six-lawyer team redefined the role of in-house legal: halving external spend, modernizing client intake, introducing a relationship-lawyer model, and changing how legal is experienced across the organization. The team also acted as lead counsel on the credit union's historic $41B merger.
Finalists: BC Hydro Legal Services, Shared Health Legal Services, I.M.P. Group Legal Department
In-House Legal Leader of the Year
Honours leadership, strategic insight, and legal expertise that advance ethical standards, innovation, and organizational and community goals.
2026 WINNER
Isabelle Durand — iA Financial Group
Isabelle Durand is explicit: legal is not a cost centre. It protects iA and helps move it forward. In 2025, she made that vision concrete with a Legal “flywheel” and annual deliverables tied to a distinct Legal DNA. A dealmaker, inclusive team builder, and community leader, she has made iA’s legal department a strategic partner in the company’s growth.
Finalists: Fatima Shariff, Conni Gibson, Heather Mullen
RVA Jones Award
Recognizes an outstanding contribution to the in-house bar through its development, research and writing, or advocacy that reflects the highest standards of service.
2026 RECIPIENT
Nick Slonosky
A leader across four decades in corporate law and public service, Nick Slonosky is honoured for his contributions to the Canadian in-house bar and his dedication to access to justice in Manitoba. A past Chair of the National CBA In-House Lawyers, he helped create the Certified In-House Counsel Program with the Rotman School of Management. Today he teaches and supervises at the L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic, and has likely mentored hundreds of students and lawyers.
Event Partners
Thank you to the firms and service providers who made the evening possible.
Cornerstone Sponsor
Awards Sponsors
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Event Sponsors
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Entertainment Sponsor  |
Wine and Food Pairing Sponsor  |
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Opening Reception Sponsor  |
Networking Sponsor  |