Corporate counsel association taps new chief

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Toronto lawyer Geoff Creighton has been named chairman of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA), taking over the organization -- which has been at the centre of controversy -- from its interim chairman, Halifax lawyer Robert Patzelt.

A long-time member and volunteer who had been the CCCA's vice-chairman, Mr. Creighton is senior vice-president and general counsel at IGM Financial Inc., which includes Mackenzie Financial, Investors Group and Investment Planning Counsel. He was a senior corporate partner at Torys LLP in Toronto until 2008.

Until recently, the CCCA was embroiled in a turf battle with its parent, the Canadian Bar Association, over funding and independence. One legal trade publication called it a "civil war." The CBA ended up firing the CCCA's entire volunteer board, replacing it with an interim one and promising to make changes in January of this year.

The 10,200-member CCCA has also been facing competition from the U.S.-based Association of Corporate Counsel, which has been expanding its Canadian membership lately. Both groups offer conferences with learning and networking opportunities for in-house lawyers, and speak on their behalf to governments and regulators. Corporate counsel have occupied increasingly important roles in many companies in recent years.

"This is an exciting time for CCCA as we embark on new initiatives and expand our advocacy for in-house counsel," Mr. Creighton said in a statement. "I am delighted to take up the position of chair in what is clearly a time of growth of the in-house counsel bar across the profession."

The announcement was made at the CCCA's annual conference, taking place at the same time as the Canadian Bar Association's Canadian Legal Conference.

The Canadian Bar Association, which has 37,000 members, also announced its new president on Monday: Trinda Ernst of Kentville, N.S., is to take over from Whitehorse lawyer Rod Snow.