Saluted for their skyrocketing careers are five 2000s alumni: Melissa Binns, Law’06, Kyle Brunner, Law’08, Kwang Lim, Law’05, Andrew E. Stead, Law’05, and Clarke Tedesco, Law’07. They have been named to Canadian publisher Lexpert’s 2018 honour roll of “Rising Stars – Leading Lawyers Under 40.”
All five of these dynamos talked to Queen’s Law Reports about their career satisfaction, law school experience, and advice for students and new lawyers.
Melissa Binns, Law’06 (Artsci’01)
Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, Hamilton, Ontario
With expertise in a broad range of areas, including patent and trademark litigation and trademark prosecution, pharmaceutical law, copyright and commercial litigation, Melissa Binns’ practice at Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP spans the biotechnology, pharmaceutics, apparel, software, food/beverage and manufacturing industries. After obtaining a degree in Life Sciences, Binns worked in the molecular biology and microbiology field. She is a registered trademark agent and provides advice to clients on the protection and enforcement of Canadian trademark rights.s She has acted in IP litigation proceedings, including Gilead Sciences v. Idenix Pharmaceutical. Outside of her practice, Binns is involved in a number of local and national organizations related to the life sciences and technology fields, supporting and liaising with a broad range of emerging businesses. She is also a leader in Gowling WLG's biologics and biosimilars practice area. (Lexpert, November 2018)
What do you find most fulfilling in your career?
I love working in a fast-paced team environment that allows me to combine science and technology with law. IP litigation has allowed me to pursue both of these areas working with a wide range of clients. I am also particularly passionate about working with and supporting technology and life science innovation in my local community.
How did Queen’s Law prepare you for your career?
I have so many fond memories of Queen’s Law from the engaged faculty and the close student community to the local community and pro bono program involvement. While I enjoyed taking a broad range of courses at Queen’s Law, it was my involvement in the Competitive Moot Program that really sparked my interest in litigation and had a significant impact on the direction of my career. Through mooting, I developed both written and oral advocacy skills, as well as effective teamwork strategies with mentoring from our dedicated faculty coaches.
What advice would you give law students and new lawyers for a successful legal career?
I would encourage law students to take full advantage of the programs and opportunities offered at Queen’s Law, including a moot and extracurricular involvement. I also have the benefit of working alongside a number of great mentors throughout my career (both in formal and informal capacities) and would encourage students to seek out a diverse range of mentors as well as become mentors themselves throughout their careers.
Kyle Brunner, Law’08
Vice-President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Seven Generations Energy Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
Throughout his career, Kyle Brunner has worked on commercial arrangements, financing transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. As Vice-President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Seven Generations Energy Ltd., he has led the execution of a number of significant transactions and manages all other legal matters for the company, including litigation files, regulatory, employment and income tax matters. Leading a team of four lawyers, Brunner is continuously involved in Seven Generations’ business development opportunities and he is also a Director and Officer of the company’s US subsidiary. Brunner is a member of the External Engagement Committee of the Board of Directors of the Calgary Science Centre Society. He volunteers with the Calgary Drop-in Centre, and has volunteered as an instructor for the Legal Education Society of Alberta and as a camp counsellor with the Kids’ Cancer Care Foundation of Alberta. (Lexpert, November 2018)
What do you find most fulfilling in your career?
When I began my undergraduate studies, I had my sights set on obtaining a BCom (finance) degree and a law degree. My hope was that I would eventually be able to work my way into an executive management role with a company. It is a privilege to have the role that I want with a company that I love working for. The law and business environments are constantly evolving and my work is fascinating, challenging and intellectually stimulating. I relish opportunities to leverage my education and experience to help my colleagues and provide legal advice in furtherance of our company’s objectives.
How did Queen’s Law prepare you for your career?
Everything I learned at Queen’s Law has helped me at various points during my legal career. The professors at Queen’s were first-rate, the faculty had a genuine concern for the well-being of students, and I appreciated the camaraderie among my classmates.
What advice would you give law students and new lawyers for a successful legal career?
It will always serve you well to have integrity, work hard and be dependable. Building friendships with co-workers has been one the most enjoyable parts of my career to date and is something that I would highly recommend. I think it is useful to set long-term career goals and make a conscious effort to ensure that work and extra-curricular activities are well-aligned with such longer-term objectives. If you keep your goals in mind, it is easier to calibrate when you are trending off course and determine when it may be time to pursue other opportunities that would be better aligned with your longer-term objectives. This probably seems obvious, but I have observed that many smart, hard-working, lawyers progress rapidly in their careers by excelling at whatever challenges and opportunities come their way, but such progress does not always take them where they ultimately want to be.
Kwang Lim, Law’05
Partner, Bennett Jones LLP, Vancouver, B.C.
Kwang Lim’s Business Law practice at Bennett Jones LLP includes Corporate Finance and M&A. He advises entrepreneurs, start-ups, scale-ups, public companies, agents/underwriters and other advisors across various industry sectors involved in domestic and international financings and transactions. He also advises on Securities Law compliance and Corporate Governance issues. Lim is a member of the Firm’s Cannabis and Fintech & Blockchain practice groups and its Information Technology Committee. He is the Firm’s Regional Co-leader in BC for the Technology Fast 50 Program. Lim is a regular guest lecturer for the Capstone Business Law course at the Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia. He is also a member of the International Association of Korean Lawyers (Co-chair for the M&A/Corporate Committee), the Canada Korea Business and the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, and 100 Men Who Give a Damn (Vancouver). (Lexpert, November 2018)
What do you find most fulfilling in your career?
Every day presents an opportunity for me to assist clients in creative and meaningful ways. In doing so, I get to interact with and learn from smart, ambitious and talented clients and colleagues.
How did Queen’s Law prepare you for your career?
Queen’s Law equipped me with the practical knowledge and skills, resources and tools that I needed to launch into the legal field. Queen’s Law also provided me with an invaluable network of friends and colleagues that I remain in close contact with.
What advice would you give law students and new lawyers for a successful legal career?
Anticipate and prepare for what’s next.
Andrew E. Stead, Law’05 (Artsci’03)
Partner, McMillan LLP, Calgary, Alberta
Andrew Stead leads McMillan LLP’s Calgary litigation team. His practice includes product liability defence and commercial litigation with a focus on the energy sector, construction and regulatory law. Stead has successfully obtained precedent-setting judgments on issues of contractual limitation of liability, the duties parties have in construction litigation, awards of solicitor-client costs, and the application of Section 121 of the Constitution. His pro bono activities include spearheading and supervising McMillan Calgary’s participation in the Duty Counsel program at the Calgary Courts Centre. Stead volunteers at Calgary Legal Guidance and he is the Marketing Chair for the Fire Science Litigation Specialized Litigation Group. (Lexpert, November 2018)
What do you find most compelling in your career?
No clients enjoy litigation; compared to our transactional sisters and brothers, it’s akin to being the undertaker instead of being the obstetrician. Given that reality, I enjoy strategizing with clients to identify the best possible endgame, and then aggressively working to get our clients out of litigation as efficiently as possible.
However, it’s critical to be part of a great team, and I enjoy mentoring our junior lawyers and students to ensure that we have the team we need to do excellent work. It’s a pleasure to be a part of recruiting great talent and then helping to provide an environment that fosters success.
How did Queen’s Law prepare you for your career?
I had a wonderful, enriching Queen’s experience. I was there for seven great years. The wonderful classmates, extra-curricular activities, and gorgeous campus (plus Mac-Corry) all shaped who I am. But, we benefit so much from our great professors. The names that immediately come to mind are Geoff Simpson, Anthony D’Elia, Sue Miklas, Mark Weisberg and Kim Brooks.
What advice would you give law students and new lawyers for a successful legal career?
Think about the kind of clients you want to work for. They are all important, but they all present different benefits and challenges. Then, after putting yourself in the position to act for those clients, focus on finding opportunities and working hard when they come available. Perfect doesn’t exist; working hard to go as far as you can on the path available to you is really good.
Clarke Tedesco, Law’07 (Com’04)
Partner, Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP, Toronto, Ontario
Clarke Tedesco’s practice at Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP focuses on civil litigation and enforcement proceedings before securities regulators. He successfully defended a technology company and certain of its directors and officers in Halsey v. Genoil. Tedesco led a firm initiative to create a standardized precedent system, has been at the forefront in pushing for electronic integration and has had a key role in mentoring the firm’s juniors. He has also been actively involved in the development of new lines of business for the firm. Tedesco has acted as a mentor for young lawyers through the Toronto Lawyers Association. He participates in events put on by legal associations, including The Advocates’ Society, and he takes a leading role on the Governance Committee of a local golf club. He has a longstanding commitment to community sports, having organized a local hockey association for the last five years. (Lexpert, November 2018)
What do you find most fulfilling in your career?
I find my interactions with colleagues – both within and outside my firm – to be very rewarding. My firm, Crawley MacKewn Brush LLP, is a true boutique (it currently has fewer than 15 lawyers) and I always make an effort to foster an environment of collegiality within the firm. I learn new things every day from colleagues both my senior and junior, and I try to provide mentorship, guidance and support to my newer colleagues in the profession wherever possible.
How did Queen’s Law prepare you for your career?
The focus on writing skills, combined with the opportunities provided to practise oral advocacy and public speaking, was instrumental in learning the skills that are now important to my litigation practice. In particular, participating in the Competitive Moot Program at Queen’s Law was an excellent way to develop those skills.
What advice would you give law students and new lawyers for a successful legal career?
My advice would be to seize the opportunities presented to you when they arise, and distinguish yourself from there. While it can be difficult to recognize it when going through the standard recruitment process, ‘success’ is different for everybody and there is more than one path to get there.
Queen’s Law congratulates its five Rising Stars!