Law Times

PAGE 16 The Inside Story MCFARLANE, LEPSOE JOIN LAVERY John McFarlane and Paul Lepsoe have joined Lavery de Billy LLP's Ottawa office along with their entire team at the McFarlane Lepsoe firm. "McFarlane Lepsoe's arrival is a strategic development that enables us to expand our ser- vice offering and strengthen our competencies and resources to better meet the needs of our clients based in Ottawa and in eastern Ontario," said Lavery managing partner Elise Poisson. McFarlane, who was called to the bar in 1977, focuses on business law, particularly cor- porate and commercial transac- tions, mergers and acquisitions, purchase and sale of business entities, software licensing and development, information tech- nology outsourcing and con- tracting, and estate and business succession planning. Lepsoe, who was called to the bar in 1988, focuses on com- mercial litigation, representing clients from the private sector and non-profit organizations. NEW COO AT CASSELS BROCK Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP has appointed John Tsio- fas as its chief operating officer. Tsiofas, who previously served as interim CEO at legal consulting firm Kraft Ken- nedy Inc. in New York, will oversee all operational areas at Cassels Brock. During 20 years in the legal industry, Tsiofas has provided a wide range of management and technology consulting services to a number of Am Law 100 law firms. He has also done work for major corporations in the United States, Canada, and Britain. "I am very pleased to join Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and assist the firm with its ongoing drive to improve the quality and depth of the services it provides to its clients around the world," Tsiofas said. In other news, the firm an- nounced last week that Ravi Shukla had joined its intellec- tual property and information technology group. CONSTANCE SUGIYAMA ON THE MOVE Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP has brought Constance Sugiyama across the street to become its [ Untitled-5 1 new deputy chairwoman. Sugiyama, who joins FMC from Gowling Lafleur Hen- derson LLP, will also be a part- ner with the firm's corporate finance, securities, and merg- ers-and-acquisitions groups. "Connie brings a wealth of experience, talent, and leader- ship to FMC," said CEO Chris Pinnington. "Her broad legal knowledge and expertise combined with her track record of accomplish- ment in senior leadership roles and ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility will be a great asset to our firm, our people, and our clients." Sugiyama brings with her 30 years of experience, having advised numerous national and international businesses with a focus on mergers and acquisi- tions and corporate finance and governance. She's also chairwoman of the board of trustees at the Hospi- tal for Sick Children and is a special adviser to the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. MARC DARMO JOINS DAVIES Marc Darmo has joined Da- vies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP as a partner in the firm's tax practice group. Darmo joins Davies from McCarthy Tétrault LLP, where his practice focused on corporate tax planning with a particular emphasis on cross- border and international trans- actions. "We are very pleased to wel- come Marc to our firm," said Richard Cherney, co-managing partner at Davies. "His depth of knowledge is adding to that of our team of experts in Montreal, Toronto, and New York in a practice area where the firm has had a lead- ing national and international presence since its foundation in 1895. His vast experience with cross-border, international, and broad spectrum transactions will enhance our capacity to advise and guide our clients in connection with these highly complex matters." Darmo has authored sev- eral international tax articles and has been a guest speaker at a number of business and tax conferences. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. "You know that Japanese satellite which recently failed to go into orbit around Venus? It's either that or the law society's new e-voting system." Commercial and Residential Title Insurance Solutions At Stewart Title, we know it's our relationship with our customers that determines our success. That's why service is the foundation of our business and integrity, the keystone in all our dealings. Keeping real estate transactions where they belong – in your office! Call us today at (888) 667-5151 or visit www.stewart.ca. www.lawtimesnews.com 7/19/10 2:39:54 PM ] BARBERS' DISPUTE GETS HAIRY HAMBURG, N.Y. — A dis- pute between two barbershops in Hamburg has made its way up to the U.S. District Court, the Buffalo News reports. The Men's Room Haircut- ters, having operated from the same location since the 1960s, has brought legal action against the Gentlemen's Room Hair- cutters & Salon. Two former employees of the Men's Room reportedly left to begin their own barbershop while choos- ing a similar name, logo, sign, and location. The Gentlemen's Room is located a mere three kilome- tres away from the original barbershop on the same street. According to the Buffalo News, Linda Tiburzi and Melanie Makowski-Foley left the Men's Room last year. Approximately three months ago, they opened the Gentlemen's Room. The owner of the Men's Room, Lori Sandel, alleges her former employees opened their own barbershop using very similar means of advertising to create customer confusion. In fact, Sandel claims many of her customers have been calling to ask why she would open a sec- ond shop on the same street. Sandel's lawyer, John J. Keenan, alleges Tiburzi and Makowski-Foley chose the name and logo to appropri- ate the loyal customers of the January 24, 2011 • Law Times Bizarre Briefs By Viola James Men's Room. But Richard S. Juda Jr., a lawyer for Tiburzi and Makowski-Foley, claims the logo, which involves an old-fashioned barber pole, is common in the haircutting world. This case is now before the U.S. District Court, where the two salons will cut it out at the end of the month. WIZARD DETAINED OVER SPELLS MANCHESTER, U.K. — Something tells me Harry Pot- ter wouldn't have approved of this bomb-making, dark-arts nonsense. The Sun is reporting that 24-year-old Gregory Whit- tam, also known by his Harry Potter pseudonym The Wiz- ard, was arrested after police seized chemicals that could be used to make bombs. The Wizard, who lives with his parents, allegedly claims to participate in pagan spells. After evacuating nearby homes and forcing young chil- dren at area primary schools to go inside during recess, officers dealing with hazardous materi- als went to the suburban semi- detached home. According to the Sun, Whit- tam was arrested and held on suspicion of making explosives but has been released until his trial in July while scientists test the chemicals allegedly found and seized in his bedroom. FOX SHOOTS MAN IN SELF-DEFENCE MINSK, Belarus — Yes, we're talking about the animal. According to Reuters, an unnamed hunter from the northwestern part of Belarus was shot by the fox he was hunting. The hunter had shot the fox from a distance. As he ap- proached the wounded animal, the fox leapt up and a struggle ensued. The hunter attempted to deliver one final punch to the fox with the butt of his rifle, but the animal beat him to it. Reuters reported that during the scuffle, the fox "ac- cidentally" pulled the trigger with its paw. The animal then escaped after sending the hunter to hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg. MOM GETS BEST PRESENT EVER GREEN BAY, Wis. — A woman from Green Bay re- ceived a rather novel gift from her children for Christmas after they purchased a refur- bished vacuum at a local de- partment store. When the woman actu- ally opened the vacuum, she found drugs inside. Hidden away were less than a kilo- gram of crystal meth and about a kilogram of cocaine shrink-wrapped to fit inside. The local sheriff's office has estimated the street value at approximately $280,000. Police suspect a smuggler from the Juarez region of Mexico, where the cleaners are refurbished, most likely hid the drugs in the vacuum before it ended up at the de- partment store. LT

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