Experience and Commitment to Change. Elect Jeff Cowan for Bencher!
April 1, 2019
Jeff Cowan is a Partner at WeirFoulds LLP and former Managing Partner of the firm. He is a past director of The Advocates’ Society, past Chair and current executive member of the OBA Administrative Law Section, and a recipient of the SOAR Medal for outstanding service to the administrative justice system of Ontario and the OBA dedicated service award. Jeff is currently Co-Editor (with Derry Millar), of the Ontario Annual Practice and has been recognized by Lexpert, Best Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell.
If given the privilege to serve as Bencher, Jeff is committed to continued change in three key areas:
Self-Regulation – It is important that the LSO continues to be proactive in its public interest regulatory role, as well as listening to lawyers and assisting them in adapting to the rapidly evolving legal environment and the need for change. Importantly, the LSO must defend its members’ independence and that of the judiciary and tribunals.
Access to Justice – Vulnerable and marginalized people continue to face barriers in the justice system. Access to justice must be improved through ongoing collaboration and advocacy with government, courts and tribunals, Legal Aid Ontario, ACLCO, ProBono Ontario and other justice stakeholders.
Diversity and Inclusion – As a managing partner and the father of a daughter who is a lawyer called in 2013, the challenges facing young, racialized, Indigenous and women licensees in law, and the need for continued promotion of meaningful equity, are very important to Jeff. As a profession, it is also important to Jeff that we support and advocate for greater inclusivity, and make equity a priority.
“Jeff has demonstrated time and again his commitment to the profession and to listening to diverse voices with a view to how we as a profession can do and be better,” says Hayley Peglar, Associate at WeirFoulds LLP. “Jeff has been a consistent and strong supporter of our WeirFoulds Women initiatives and is unfailingly generous in sharing his expertise with his fellow lawyers.”
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WeirFoulds LLP
www.weirfoulds.comFor more than 160 years, the lawyers of WeirFoulds have been proud to serve our clients in their most difficult and complex matters. We are the firm of choice for discerning clients within our core areas of practice: (1) Litigation; (2) Corporate; (3) Property; and (4) Government Law. Within these core areas, as well as key sub-specialties, we address highly sophisticated legal challenges. We have acted in some of Canada's most significant mandates and have represented clients in many landmark cases. Reflecting the firm's focus, our lawyers are consistently recognized as leaders in their chosen areas of practice and in the profession at large.
Jeff Cowan
WeirFoulds LLP
Area Of Practice
Administrative