TORONTO, ON — June 22, 2026 — CBA In-House Lawyers' evening conversation with Marie Henein, moderated by Bianca Thomas, Senior Counsel at BMO, hit capacity well ahead of its June 17 date, drawing a full room of in-house counsel to the new Toronto offices of Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP.
Henein, one of Canada's most recognized legal advocates, spoke to the future of the rule of law in Canada: rising polarization, eroding trust in democratic institutions, and the role of an independent legal profession, including in-house lawyers, in defending them. The evening closed with audience questions and a reception.
Her message to the room was direct: be fearless. Don't be afraid to push back.
"Demand for this conversation told us something: in-house lawyers want substantive engagement with the issues shaping their profession, not only professional development in the traditional sense," said Christine Staley, Director of Professional Development, CBA In-House Lawyers. "We'll continue building more exclusive events like this into our programming."
"The conversation was a good reminder that we, as in-house counsel, have an obligation to protect the rule of law in Canada by having discussions with the communities where we live and work about its importance in our society and the foundations that uphold it", says Thomas.
The event drew from a curated audience of CBA In-House members, including CIC.C designation holders and Leadership Retreat alumni, and was held in partnership with Henein Hutchison Robitaille LLP.